NHL Rumors: Penguins Discussing Several Trade Scenarios

The Pittsburgh Penguins are struggling to open up the 2023 calendar year. The Pens now sit two points out of a Stanley Cup Playoff position in the Eastern Conference and general manager Ron Hextall is getting desperate to make a trade.

Rumor has the Penguins are in trade discussions with several teams. Hextall is looking to add a top-four defenseman and two forwards for his bottom-six, including a third-line center.

Pittsburgh has Pierre-Olivier Joseph and Ty Smith who they are dangling to other teams, along with Kasperi Kapanen, who has gone from the dog house and back into the lineup on a regular basis. With the financial issues currently facing the team under the hard salary cap, moving Kapanen and his $3.2 million salary this season could do wonders for adding more talent to their defense core.

Another issue hampering the Penguins is their injury troubles. Starting netminder Tristan Jarry is on the shelve rehabbing a lower-body injury, with no timetable to return. Casey DeSmith takes over as the Penguins number one goalie, which isn't necessary the best recipe for success. Pittsburgh has lost three games in a row and heads into the desert to take on the Arizona Coyotes on Sunday night. If another loss is the result, Hextall may be a busy executive on Monday making moves.

Per Moneypuck the Penguins are at a 50.5% chance of making the playoffs as of this morning.

Currently down 3-0 in first to Vegas.

Likely to drop below 50%

Ron Hextall might want to like... do something
— Ryan Wilson (@GunnerStaal) January 6, 2023