Penguins Trade Targets: Finding Young Players Ready for NHL
SAN JOSE, Calif. — As a matter of principle and strategy, this season’s Pittsburgh Penguins trade chatter has focused far more on the exit door than who or what might be the return. Gone are the days of debate surrounding which useful veteran would serve the Penguins best, instead replaced by the current state of the 2024-25 Penguins, whose trade targets will reflect general manager Kyle Dubas’s forward-looking strategy.
There are no longer hopes of acquiring the big names that dominate the NHL trade boards at every national outlet.
No, the Penguins will not be chasing J.T. Miller, Brock Nelson, or taking a peek at Rasmus Ristolainen. The days of big game hunting leading to the trade deadline are behind the Penguins.
Even some of the young players on the market, such as the Buffalo Sabres (the Bills were hosed on Sunday) Dylan Cozens, are most likely off limits because they would cost too many of the precious assets the Penguins have accumulated over the past year.
Certainly, headlines of being involved in a blockbuster trade are eminently possible. Dubas and the Penguins have the salary cap space to be involved in an attention-grabber, but they won’t be on the receiving end of the best players. The Penguins’ more likely role in those earth-moving trades will be as a third team able to hold salary for Stanley Cup contenders in exchange for draft picks.
Sorry.
So, we might as well make the best of the situation and begin looking for young players on the bubble with their current organization who could get a chance of consistent NHL ice time with the Penguins. Winger Philip Tomasino is a perfect example of Dubas’s willingness to gamble on talented players who haven’t put it all together yet.
Of course, numerous young players are caught between the ceiling of the AHL and the floor of the NHL. For example, one player we’ve tried to figure out a Penguins path to acquire is the 2022 ninth-overall selection, Matt Savoie. On July 5, the Buffalo Sabres traded him to the Edmonton Oilers for Ryan McLeod and Tyler Tullio.
Savoie is a small forward (5-foot-9, 179 pounds) with a big offensive upside, speed, energy, and a so-so defensive game. He was briefly teammates with former Penguins top prospect Brayden Yager and helped Moose Jaw to the 2024 Memorial Cup. Coaches paired Yager and Savoie together when trailing in the third period, and Savoie was electric.
Alas, we can’t figure out what Edmonton would need from the Penguins. Early season chatter connected Edmonton to Marcus Pettersson, but that seems unlikely based on Edmonton’s cap structure, as well as their already full left side.
Perhaps this summer if Edmonton wants to replace Evander Kane, but that’s the difficulty Dubas faces in getting his hands on these players he seeks. Teams won’t just hand them over; they have value as trade chips, and the Penguins don’t have many trade chips.
Boston’s Fabian Lysell, the 21st overall pick in 2021, is another player who can’t crack the NHL roster but is too good to give away.
Potential Trade Targets
Aatu Raty, C, Vancouver Canucks
Raty, 22, is already well-traveled. The Finnish center, with a big shot and quick hands, has been tantalizing close to full-time NHL duty but hasn’t cracked Vancouver’s lineup. Of course, president of hockey operations Jim Rutherford and GM Patrik Allvin have much bigger issues right now as they navigate the dissolution of their team nucleus by trading J.T. Miller or Elias Pettersson before their season is ruined.
Raty was the New York Islanders’ second-round pick in 2021. He’s played 20 NHL games this season, notching four points. He’s not small at 6-foot-2, 190 pounds, and has put up a point-per-game at the AHL level.
The Penguins depth chart could use centers with offensive ability under the age of 37, but Vancouver is three points out of a playoff spot with a messy house.
If Vancouver remains interested in Penguins trade chips such as Marcus Pettersson, Drew O’Connor, or a player higher up on the food chain, Raty makes a lot of sense.
Hendrix Lapierre, C / Andrew Cristall, LW, Washington Capitals
The Penguins and Capitals already hooked up once this season when Dubas dealt center Lars Eller back to his long-time hockey home on Nov. 13.
Will Washington GM Chris Patrick remain aggressive and not be afraid of veterans with term? If so, the Penguins have some talent to spare. Washington’s penalty kill is vastly improved, but they could fortify their top six. NHL trade chatter has linked Islanders center Brock Nelson to Washington, but what’s Plan B?
Lapierre, 22, is a playmaking center who lost the fast track to the NHL. He played 51 games last season, but only 27 this season, and Washington relegated him to the Hershey Bears of the AHL. Thus far, Lapierre has struggled to shoot the puck. He had 34 shots in 21 AHL games last season and is doing somewhat better in that department this season, with 22 in eight games.
He will turn 23 next week and had eight points in 27 NHL games this season.
Window shopping:
Andrew Cristall is probably out of the price range here unless it’s a hockey trade with top-six talent, such as Rickard Rakell. Cristall was the Capitals’ 2023 second-round pick, but he’s blown away the competition this season in the WHL. He scored 60 points in 28 games for Kelowna before being traded to Spokane, where he has 18 points in seven games.
He was one of many surprise cuts for Team Canada at the 2025 World Juniors (Wow, did Hockey Canada make a mess in 2025). Cristall’s offense is creative, and he has a clue defensively … when he chooses.
Mavrik Bourque, F, Dallas Stars
Dallas needs some top-six help, but it has plenty of salary cap space and is reportedly interested in one of the Vancouver duo. However, if Dallas fails to land Miller, they could use some talent upfront.
Bourque is regarded as the best player in the AHL, but has recently made the most of injuries to Tyler Seguin and Mason Marchment at the NHL level. Bourque isn’t really top-six material at the NHL level, at least not yet. In 44 games this season, he has 12 points (5-7-12).
He was Dallas’s first-round pick in 2022 (30th overall), but he’s defined more by his energy and intensity than high-end talent. Bourque is a little ball of hate who has scored at lower levels, notching 77 points in 71 AHL games last season. The 5-foot-11, 181-pound forward is a natural center but has taken the right flank in Dallas amidst their injury woes.
Ethan Gauthier, F, Tampa Bay Lightning
If Tampa Bay comes calling for a left-side defenseman, Gauthier isn’t one of their top prospects, which should make him attainable (see also: The Penguins settling for the second tier of prospects in the Jake Guentzel trade).
Scouting reports show Gauthier, 20, is another high-intensity player with some offense. Some scouts believe he could develop into a top-six winger. This season with Drummondville of the QMJHL, he has 48 points (20-28-28) in 33 games, which is on a similar pace as last season.
At 6-foot, 183 pounds, Gauthier was Tampa Bay’s second-round pick (37th overall) in 2023.
On Saturday, we also connected the Penguins to Tampa Bay LHD Emil Lilleberg. The 23-year-old Norwegian rookie has played 45 games this season with 11 assists in about 15 minutes per game.
Categorized:NHL Trade Rumors Penguins Penguins Trade Talk
Hmmmmm…gotta say, I went and did some deep dives on these guys and can only say that Savoie and Raty look close to be ready to go. The others, men.
So many needs. Forwards and let’s not forget 2nd line D (1st line out of reach)
More midgets. The only one I’d be interested in is Lilleberg. He is Ulfie 2.0, absolutely nasty and doles out thunderous checks. He even drops the gloves. Right up Teflon Mike’s alley!
The bigger question here is KD taking other organ-i-zations’ failures. Implicit in his thinking is those teams have scouted correctly but have failed to develop the talent. It also implies that Teflon Mike will succeed in drawing the very best out of the youth. At this point, I’m laughing so hard I can’t type another word, so I’ll stop and click the post button.
Why sorry? The Pens are rebuilding. Going after young, potential diamonds in the rough and acquiring draft picks is EXACTLY what the Pens should be doing.
Would love to see more information like this; looking forward is more enjoyable than lamenting about how bad the Pens are right now.
Trade whatever roster players you want for draft picks or use your cap space for picks and use those acquired picks to get these types of players. The draft is such a gamble that using some picks on guys that might have an upside might make sense. The other is to go hard for the college free agents that doesn’t cost any assets
Dan, any trade proposals for these types of players?
and everyone wanted nostalgia…..Sid,Geno, and Tanger. Geno shy of 10 goals! Place all the blame on KD you want. He is hamsrtung mostly by the previous regimes.
I don’t think most people wanted nostalgia. Just the best players available, which they were at the time. Geno has been battling a nagging injury all season(wrist injury?) , and seems to now have re-injred his knee. I’m not sure what Letangs issue has been, but with both of these guys, age is rapidly becoming a factor.
Randy, most did really want the return of THE 3! and yest age is mostly/partly the factor. Geno hasn’t been a superstar in years. His 5vs5 number were paltry at best. Remember last year and his lackluster lapse, when his mother had to come over and cook for him? Letang has never been defensively sound, and his speed always has saved his ass, but not anymore. The pens haven’t had as stud defensive defensemen in years! Everyone on the back end is roughly the same player…. Small, non-physical, and mobile. Hextall noticed the same which prompted his trade of Mike… Read more »
If this is directed at me….but I think its for Robert: Looking back at that time I DID want the resigning of “The Three”. Of course Crosby and I hope he stays even after this contract! I believe Geno was slowing down even at the time he resigned and the contract is for too long, I don’t think he should be 2C but I guess the team has few other choices, maybe none better. Letang I really liked when he was younger and even with his in game constant mistakes, he could still be good on the PP put the… Read more »
I noticed Geno struggling with stick handling for a while. Pucks would uncharacteristically dribble off his stick; I was guessing hand or wrist problems. Hadn’t seen or heard any confirmation.
Dribbling? It’s not his prostrate, it’s his decision making at the blue line!
Ouch! I hope the team doesn’t take on salary in a 3 way trade for more draft picks! How bout using that cap space to sign a couple FA’s and just keep Petersson? The team now has draft picks unlike the past.I do like the idea of trying to trade for one or more of the guys listed here in the article and it will probably be Lapierre they get since he doesn’t shoot the puck. He will fit right in with the team.
The Pens have really solid goaltending prospects. I for one would suggest building the team from the back end out. Go after big d-men. Go after a ton of young, large D prospects. Draft them too. In 2-3 years when Sid has played his last game we could have two very solid goalies and a huge blue line.
Maybe we get lucky and get McKenna to start rebuilding the offense.
If you think that AFC championship game was fixed you’re either:
A. Joking (when you have to tell people it’s a joke, that means it’s not funny).
B. A right-wing conspiracy theorist nut job.
Either way, it’s annoying.
Voronkov in Columbus. He is a beast! That is who I like to see in a Pens uni.