Penguins Were Big Losers at Trade Deadline
The Pittsburgh Penguins fell well short of expectations at the trade deadline.
PITTSBURGH – The Pittsburgh Penguins were lined up to host an extensive auction at this year’s NHL trade deadline. With postseason ambitions at a new low and key faces not fitting in in Pittsburgh, president and general manager Kyle Dubas was set to have a busy few weeks in his first deadline with the Penguins.
As the dust settled on the deadline and the league shifts its focus to the postseason, the Penguins were relatively quiet. They dealt Jake Guentzel, but that was an expected outcome for months leading up to the deadline. On deadline day, with numerous names possibly available, the Penguins only made two trades.
Chad Ruhwedel was sent to the New York Rangers for a 2027 draft pick, and American Hockey League goalie Magnus Hellberg was dealt to the Florida Panthers organization for goalie Ludovic Waeber.
Daily Faceoff concluded that the Penguins were big losers at the deadline, and it’s clear why. They barely made any moves of importance, and the one headlining trade didn’t fall entirely in their favor.
The initial announcement that Guentzel was being traded occurred before the Penguins dropped the puck against the Washington Capitals. No official trade call was made until after the brutal loss, causing many to speculate about the return.
Michael Bunting was a suspected piece all night, but the Penguins had long been looking for a haul of prospects and picks in return for Guentzel. When the final deal was announced, the Penguins got their prospects and picks, but none of them were what was rumored all game.
The Penguins think highly of the prospects they got, but the picks are conditional and based on the Hurricanes becoming Eastern Conference Champions and reaching the Stanley Cup Final.
Upwards of 12 or Penguins were, in one way or another, floated in trade rumors and speculation. When the deadline closed, only two NHL roster players and three AHLers were sent packing.
Considering what was expected for the Penguins, it’s safe to say Dubas’ first deadline in Pittsburgh was a bit of a letdown. It'll be up to Dubas to transition into retooling the team over the summer.
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