The Minnesota Wild aren’t locking themselves into one path as they sort through their options this offseason. With just under $3 million in projected salary cap space, they still have room to maneuver, and they can also create more flexibility by moving a player if the right opportunity comes along.
Asked whether Minnesota could land a top center, GM Bill Guerin kept the door open without making any promises.
“We remain flexible. Right now, we’re just gonna focus on the guys that we’ve got, and we’ll continue to look at everything that’s out there. If there’s something that makes sense that’ll make our team better, we will do it.”
That same kind of wide-open approach applies to the Pittsburgh Penguins, who are sitting on just under $17 million in cap space and are being linked to a range of possible trade targets.
At the top of the board is Jason Robertson of the Dallas Stars, though any serious pursuit would come at a steep price - at least three first-round calibre assets, and probably another piece on top of that. Carolina’s Alexander Nikishin and Jesperi Kotkaniemi are also on the list, with the cost expected to be high for a player viewed as a future top-pairing defenseman. Kotkaniemi, meanwhile, is described as someone who needs a change of scenery.
Kirill Marchenko of the Columbus Blue Jackets is another name to watch. He’s been their leading goal scorer for the past three years, with 23, 31, and 27 goals, and the note here is that the two teams’ general managers have dealt with each other before.
The Anaheim Ducks could also become part of the conversation if they need to shed salary. Frank Vatrano carries a $4.57 million cap hit, while Alex Killorn is at $6.25 million, and the question becomes what kind of sweetener a buying team could get back.
There’s also a second group of players framed as possible reclamation swings. Cole Perfetti of the Winnipeg Jets, a natural center who has been playing left wing, saw his production dip from 18 goals and 50 points to 12 goals and 32 points last season, and he has filed for salary arbitration. Kirby Dach of the Montreal Canadiens, a 25-year-old third overall pick, has never topped 14 goals or 38 points and was qualified at $4 million.
Shane Wright of the Seattle Kraken rounds out the list. The fourth overall pick in 2022 wants to be a top-six center, but his numbers fell from 19 goals and 44 points to 12 goals and 27 points last season, and Seattle would be looking for a strong return if it ever moved him.
In Other News...
Penguins Suddenly Linked To The Kind Of Star Fans Have Wanted
The Penguins search for a real difference-maker has not exactly been subtle, and that is why the latest chatter around their forward group has caught attention. Sportsnets Elliotte Friedman said Pittsburgh could be a team to watch in the market for a high-end center, while also noting the club has already been active in talks with Dallas about winger Jason Robertson. It is the kind of name-shopping that suggests the Penguins are still trying to thread the needle between staying competitive now and reshaping the roster for what comes next.
There is also a familiar Pittsburgh wrinkle to the conversation: the potential fit with Andrei Kuzmenko, who could make any offensive target easier to picture in black and gold. At the same time, the Penguins are keeping one eye on their own pipeline, with Owen Pickering coming off a strong playoff run in Wilkes-Barre/Scranton and Ville Koivunen facing an important summer as he tries to prove he belongs in the NHL. The front office has several moving parts in play, and the next step could say plenty about how aggressive it intends to be. [Read more 🡒]
Penguins Trade Board Just Shifted As Dubas Faces A Murky Market
The NHL trade market is still waiting for the Leo Carlsson-Philadelphia Flyers situation to settle, but the ripple effects are already being felt in Pittsburgh. The Penguins have been adjusting their trade target list as the board changes around them, with names coming off and the broader market getting harder to read. Around the league, restricted free agent offer sheets are another variable to watch, with clubs such as the Columbus Blue Jackets and Detroit Red Wings among the teams that could be forced to react if that route gets tested.
For Kyle Dubas, the challenge is less about finding interest than finding the right opening in a market that keeps shifting. ESPNs view of the Washington Capitals as one of the offseasons leading teams, thanks to their recent acquisitions and contract moves, only adds to the sense that the Eastern Conference landscape is moving quickly. Pittsburgh is still in the mix, but the path to a deal may depend on how many more dominoes fall before the Penguins can make their next move. [Read more 🡒]
Why Penguins Fans Should Be Excited About Hendrix Lapierre
Hendrix Lapierre arrives in Pittsburgh as one of those low-risk moves that can pay off if the fit is right. The Penguins added the 23-year-old forward from Washington and quickly gave him a two-year contract, signaling that they see more than a depth piece here. After a modest season with the Capitals, Lapierre still brings the kind of offensive pedigree that made him an intriguing young player in the first place, and the Penguins are banking on a change of scenery helping unlock more of it.
For a team looking to keep adding speed and skill without overcommitting, Lapierre is a worthwhile bet because he is expected to compete for a regular role right away. His earlier production showed he can contribute when given the chance, and Pittsburghs forward mix offers him a path to carve out meaningful minutes. If he settles in quickly, he could end up being more than just a reclamation project, which is exactly why his arrival is worth watching. [Read more 🡒]