Pittsburgh Penguins Rumors: 3 Players Linked to Offseason Trades

The Pittsburgh Penguins were a mess this season as ex-general manager Ron Hextall made a series of mistakes which ended up costing the team in the long run. Ownership continues to interview candidates for the vacant management positions and there's already been some talks about who is likely on their way out from the Pens roster. Here's a few players already generating some trade buzz:

Mikael Granlund

Needless to say, this was the straw which broke the Camel's back, or Hextall's in this case. Granlund was acquired from the Nashville Predators for a second-round pick and did not fit in at all in Pittsburgh. Hextall should have been more focused on a shut-down third-line center and instead snagged the versatile Granlund. Look for the new GM to try and move on from Hextall's mistake at the NHL Entry Draft.

Jan Rutta

Another one of Hextall's moves which didn't work out, defenseman Jan Rutta is a prime trade candidate from the Penguins. He's signed through the 2024-25 season at $2.75 million and last season finished with nine points in 56 games. With Pierre-Olivier Joseph and Ty Smith in line for more minutes in 2023-24, look for Pittsburgh to move on from Rutta this summer.

Casey DeSmith

It's time for the Penguins to completely overhaul their crease and it starts by letting Tristan Jarry walk in free agency and then sending down/or trading Casey DeSmith. DeSmith is signed for $1.8 million in 2023-24, and after a season where he appeared in 38 games, posting a .905 save %, it's time for some fresh faces in net in Pittsburgh. The goalie movement across the NHL is supposed to be early and often this summer so the new management regime should have lots of options for transactions.