Penguins Have Trade Options for Veteran Forward

The Pittsburgh Penguins have options if they want to trade one of their vets

PITTSBURGH -- The Pittsburgh Penguins are due for roster changes in the coming months. The transformation is underway already, with the team adding goaltender Filip Larsson and re-signing forward Sam Poulin. More impactful moves are coming, and several veterans could be finding new homes. 

One of those players is forward Reilly Smith. He was a dud in his first season with the Penguins, failing to find consistent chemistry with Sidney Crosby or Evgeni Malkin. After an underwhelming 13-goal and 40-point season, general manager Kyle Dubas is likely to trade Smith and his $5 million cap hit. 

Trading Smith benefits both parties, but the Penguins especially can gain something from moving on from the scoring winger. Entering the final year of his current contract, the Pens can simultaneously free up cap space and give another opportunity to a young forward if they eliminate Smith's cap hit. 

Across the league, Smith's reputation has yet to take much of a hit. It seems a consensus that he wasn't a fit in Pittsburgh and can rebound his game with a change of scenery. With that in mind, here are a few organizations the Penguins may try to iron out a trade with. 

If the Penguins trade Smith, the betting favorite has to be the Vegas Golden Knights. One of the original expansion draft selections for the Golden Knights, it isn't a stretch to think Smith desires a reunion with the team he succeeded with. Smith had three 20+ goal seasons there and was a two-way contributor. The Knights are facing a bevy of pending free agents, and they may turn to a trusted player to help keep their winning ways alive. 

A mirror of the trade that brought Smith to Pittsburgh could occur again if the Penguins and Knights link up. Dubas would ask for a mid-round draft pick if it meant clearing his whole salary. 

The Detroit Red Wings are building towards breaking through their playoff drought in 2025, and they may be an ideal trade partner with the Penguins this summer. They have several pending UFAs like David Perron, Patrick Kane, and Daniel Sprong, so they'll need reinforcements on their second and third lines.

Armed with ample cap space and assets that the Pens will be interested in, look for the former foes to be making trade calls this summer. 

If the Penguins sell off Reilly Smith, they will likely send him to the Western Conference. One of the teams that could take a shot on Smith would be the Anaheim Ducks. Like the Knights and Wings, they have some critical holes to fill in their middle six lines. The Ducks also have a ton of cap space, so they'd easily absorb the costly cap hit Smith comes with. 

General manager Pat Verbeek is trying to build a winner in Anaheim. The Penguins can use Smith's playoff experience as a bargaining chip and get a draft pick or prospect in return from the Ducks. 

The Penguins will surely have suitors for Smith, even after a down season. While he may not command an impressive return, the flexibility it allows is worth more than whatever middling draft pick or young player comes back. And while the Smith experiment in Pittsburgh failed, getting out of his contract would be the first step in improving this roster for next season. 

Make sure you bookmark Inside the Penguins for the latest news, exclusive interviews, breakdowns, and so much more.

Penguins Respond to Mike Sullivan Rumor

Penguins' Kris Letang Isn't Stopping Despite Injury

Penguins Defenseman Saved Late in Season

Penguins Sign Former Red Wings Goalie

Penguins Sign Top Prospect to New Contract