Pittsburgh has a chance to add a young impact player to their roster to shore up their depth and help them compete

Approximately a month ago, we put out a piece detailing a few restricted free agent (RFA) options that made sense for the Pittsburgh Penguins but also acknowledged that offer sheets rarely happen - and rarely ever work.

Well, Tuesday, there were two of them - both for the same team - and both could actually be successful:

Given the Edmonton Oilers' cap-strapped situation - they're currently $7.23 million over factoring in both offer sheets and not factoring in LTIR, which may or may not be an option for them - it appears likely that at least one of the players, and possibly even both, will be lost to the St. Louis Blues' offer sheet if the Oilers fail to match within seven days and make a trade to be cap-compliant.

So what does this have to do with the Penguins? 

Well, the Penguins were responsible for returning St. Louis's second-round pick in a trade Tuesday morning, and that pick was used to offer sheet Broberg:

This takes away the Penguins' only second round pick in 2025. However, it did give them an extra third round pick in 2025, as well as an extra second round pick in 2026. 

But they weren't done there. 

To some, that third third-round pick the Penguins now have in 2025 may not mean much. 

But, if Penguins' GM and POHO Kyle Dubas is smart, it could end up being pretty significant.

There has been chatter among Pittsburgh fans and media this summer about how the Penguins should target Toronto Maple Leafs' RFA Nicholas Robertson, and - given what transpired today - there may be no better time than right now to write up an offer sheet.

Robertson - a 2019 second round draft pick by none other than Dubas during his tenure in Toronto - registered 14 goals and 27 points in 56 games last season for the Leafs. He requested a trade earlier this summer, seeking a larger role and more playing time with a different team.

The Leafs extended a qualifying offer of $813,750 to Robertson, which he did not accept before the July 16 deadline. So, now, both parties are playing a waiting game. Robertson will either sign a new deal with Toronto, accept an offer sheet that ends in success, or sit out until an agreement is reached.

With an excess of third-round picks in 2025 - and, likely, more cap on its way out in the form of trading one of their excess depth centers on the roster - the Penguins may now have the leverage to extend a legitimate offer sheet to Robertson.

Why? Simple: Because the value matches. If the Penguins offer sheet Robertson anywhere from $1.51-2.29 million, it falls in the third-round draft pick compensation tier, which is where some have Robertson valued anyway, especially after his trade request. And if they offer on the high end of that - say, $2.25 million - and Robertson accepts, it forces a cap-strapped Toronto's hand. 

Toronto would need to offload salary in order to match the offer, since they only have $1.275 million in cap space - which may prove a bit challenging to do within seven days. And given that Robertson wants out, do they really want to pay upwards of $2.5 million for a disgruntled player who doesn't even want to be there - especially since their qualifying offer was much lower?

Maybe, maybe not. So it's well-worth a try by the Penguins to offer sheet a young player who can help now and in the future, especially since there is no harm if the Leafs simply match - and because they have an excess of 2025 third-round picks.

Pittsburgh has a hole in their top-six to Sidney Crosby's left, so Robertson could immediately slot in the top-six and have the expanded role he's looking for. He already has a middle-six tool set, and he has top-six upside. Given the Pens' other options for that role - and his above average shot - Robertson would immediately be the best choice.

As a team, the Penguins are at a critical juncture and can't afford to miss on anything. They need to stockpile as many draft picks as possible so they are able to accelerate a rebuild and get as much young talent as soon as possible. But this doesn't mean Dubas has to hold onto every draft pick. 

If a situation such as this one comes up - where they have excess value in a certain round and can afford to offer a pick with little to no repercussion for a young player with, potentially, a high ceiling - it's a no-brainer to take a chance on it. The Penguins have little to lose and a lot to gain from offer-sheeting Robertson. And given what transpired with their most recent trades, that possibility may have just become a whole lot more likely.

And the worst that could happen? The Penguins pay $2.25 million to a 22-year-old Robertson, who will, more than likely, put up similar, if not better, production than an older player who costs more and would be on the roster instead.

An offer sheet for Robertson just makes too much sense, so it's time for Dubas to create the necessary cap room and pull the trigger.