Drew O'Connor is an important piece to the Pittsburgh Penguins puzzle.

Kyle Dubas was tasked with rebuilding the Pittsburgh Penguins' bottom six this summer. The additions of a few veteran centers, Noel Acciari, Lars Eller, and winger Matt Nieto, provided an upgrade from the Penguins' horrendous depth at forward last season.

However, with the offseason at a standstill, Drew O'Connor has become the center of discussion for his pivotal role in the potential Erik Karlsson trade to Pittsburgh. The Penguins are not flush with assets at the moment. A mostly baron prospect pool, next to no cap space, and a currently overstaffed NHL roster make it near impossible to see how a trade like that could work.

Thanks to O'Connor's decision to file for salary arbitration, the Penguins were given more time to work on the potential landscape shattering deal. The 25-year-old forward's arbitration not only gives the Penguins time but could potentially net extra cap space as it triggers a second buyout window for Dubas and the Penguins.

While O'Connor has already played a significant role for the Penguins off the ice this summer, he could play an integral role in turning around their bottom six during the season. 

O'Connor has seen his opportunity grow each year since signing with the Penguins in 2020. Last season, he became a pseudo-everyday NHL player, playing 46 games and averaging 9:49 of ice time. 

He has endeared himself to the coaching staff, becoming one of the few players under 26 years old on the NHL roster. His speed and forechecking make him a perfect fit for head coach Mike Sullivan's system, and showed glimpses of offensive upside as he has gotten acclimated to the NHL game.

If O'Connor continues progressing as he has through the first three years of his career, he could become a solid depth piece for a Penguins team in desperate need of improvement in that area. 

O'Connor has played wing since joining the Penguins in 2020 but showed versatility when he moved to center for Team USA at the 2023 World Championships. He scored 8 points (3G-5A) in 10 games, raising the eyebrows of fans back in Pittsburgh.

The Penguins will need contributions from all around the lineup to return to the postseason in 2024, and O'Connor could find himself in a pivotal position once again.

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