Penguins Trade for Faded Prospect Tomasino from NSH; Full Analysis

The Pittsburgh Penguins made a minor trade Monday that they hope will eventually pay more than small dividends. They acquired former first-round pick Philip Tomasino from the Nashville Predators for a 2027 fourth-round pick.

Update: The pick will be the New York Rangers’ selection that the Penguins acquired for Chad Ruhwedel at the 2024 NHL trade deadline.

The slight irony of the deal is minutes before the trade, the Penguins re-assigned Sam Poulin to the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins. Poulin was the Penguins 2019 first-round pick, 21st overall. Tomasino was Nashville’s 2019 first-round pick, selected 24th overall.

Like Poulin, Tomasino, 23, has not been able to solidify his spot in the NHL. Since making his debut in the 2021-22 NHL season, the right-wing has played in 159 NHL games, scoring 23 goals with 71 points while averaging 12:35 of ice time.

Tomasino will be a restricted free agent after this season and carries an $825,000 salary cap hit.

Scouting reports on Tomasino tout his hockey IQ and above-average skating, but his strength leaves something to be desired. He’s listed at 6 feet, 179 pounds, but has just one assist in 11 games this season. Last season, he split time between Nashville and their AHL affiliate in Milwaukee. He scored 18 points (11-7-18) in the AHL and 20 points (7-13-20) in 41 NHL games.

Despite spending big on the free agent market in July, Nashville has struggled early in the season. They’re just 7-11-3 with a new lineup featuring longtime Tampa Bay Lightning forward Steven Stamkos and Vegas Golden Knights fan favorite Jonathan Marchessault.

Penguins general manager Kyle Dubas and Nashville GM Barry Trotz hooked up on a trade in August when the Penguins acquired Cody Glass because Trotz also included a third-round pick so the Penguins would accept Glass’s $2.5 million salary cap hit.