The Pittsburgh Penguins don’t need to chase the loudest name on the board to make a meaningful move this summer. In a Metro Division that has been shaken up by Washington, Philadelphia, New Jersey and Carolina, the cleaner path might be the one that comes through Raleigh.
Carolina has made defenseman Alex Nikishin available, but only if the acquiring team also takes Jesperi Kotkaniemi, according to TSN’s Darren Dreger. That wrinkle changes the equation, and for the Penguins it may actually make the deal more attractive, not less.
Nikishin, 24, looks like the kind of young left-shot defenseman Pittsburgh could use. He’s big, physical, skates well and is still early in his career.
Last season was his first in North America, and he played 81 games, scored 11 goals and finished with 33 points while averaging more than 18 minutes per game. His playoff ice time dipped to under 15 minutes, and there were moments when he pushed too far offensively or stepped out of position to throw a hit, but the overall rookie season was strong.
Kotkaniemi is the other half of the package, and that’s where Carolina’s ask gets interesting. The 25-year-old was once viewed as a dynamic shutdown center with offensive upside in Montreal before Carolina signed him to an eight-year, $38.56 million deal in response to Montreal’s offer sheet for Sebastian Aho.
Since then, his production has fallen off hard. Over the last three seasons, he has posted 27, 37 and nine points, and this season brought just nine points, including two goals, in 42 games while averaging less than 11 minutes.
He still has four seasons left on a $4.820 million cap hit, which is a number that becomes easier to swallow as the cap rises. For a team with room on the roster and the patience for a reclamation project, that can be workable.
The Penguins’ interest in this kind of deal makes sense because it fits the stage they’re in. A huge offer sheet for a star RFA can be tempting in this chaotic market, but a two-player swing for younger talent lines up better with Pittsburgh’s process. Nikishin’s reported long-term ask is in the $8 million range, and the price for him alone would go well beyond a simple first-round pick.
Carolina’s own needs are less obvious. The reigning champions don’t have many obvious holes, though they could use a forward upgrade or a long-term answer for Jordan Staal. They might also want the Penguins’ 2027 first-round pick, top-10 protected.
Compared with surrendering four picks for an RFA or paying a massive haul for an impact player like Jason Robertson, a first-rounder for Nikishin and Kotkaniemi would be a major win. Even if the final price rises above that, Pittsburgh has to look hard at it, because this kind of move would push the rebuild forward without stripping away more assets.
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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 🡒]