Sizing Up Potential Penguins Trade Partners: 4 Teams With Cap Space

A Pittsburgh Penguins trade may hinge on the four teams lying in wait. Four teams with ample salary cap space and expectations that veer from winning the Stanley Cup to rebuilding, retooling, or simply spending as little as possible.

If Penguins GM Ron Hextall or a dozen others around the league were musically inclined, they could be humming the Beatles, “Money, that’s what I want.” After a raucous free agent frenzy in mid-July, the NHL trade market from here to the start of the 2022-23 season will be about money. Some teams need to spend less, while a few teams are prepared to reap the rewards.

There are 13 teams that are over or at the NHL’s $82.5 million salary cap. A couple more teams have a little bit of space but won’t have enough to make a recall in the event of injury or illness.

The resulting situation puts upward pressure on the value of salary cap space. Teams with valuable cap space will set the market and choose which expendable players with salaries they want. Those cap-friendly teams also get to pick what assets, picks, or prospects that caps-trapped teams must attach to those players to complete the trade.

We should also lay out Penguins trade possibles, too. Marcus Pettersson, Brian Dumoulin, Jason Zucker, and Teddy Blueger are the players with salaries beyond the Penguins’ untouchables. Perhaps Kasperi Kapanen finds his way on the list, too. He was highly sought after in the summer of 2020 and did not disappoint in the COVID-shortened 2020-21 NHL season before a flatline last season.

In theory, Jeff Carter would also be on the list, but that seems highly unlikely.

Dumoulin, 31, has one year remaining on his contract with a $4.1 million AAV. Pettersson has three seasons at $4.025 million. Blueger is a valuable bottom-six center that makes $2.2 million.

Sizing Up Potential Pittsburgh Penguins Trade Partners:

There are four teams with lots of salary cap space., including the Arizona Coyotes, which are still $1.5 million below the salary cap floor. They have $23 million in cap space, while the Buffalo Sabres and Anaheim Ducks have about $19 million. The Chicago Blackhawks are in full teardown mode, too.

Buffalo Sabres: $23 million cap space.

The Sabres defense is where the Penguins and Sabres lineup. Buffalo is competent down the middle with Tage Thompson, Dylan Cozens, and Casey Mittlestadt, at least while the organization gives the young pivots time to find their place in the game.

However, the Buffalo blue line is both thin and undertalented, especially on the left side. *ahem. Owen Power has top-pick pedigree, but Mattias Samuelsson and Jacob Bryson are the other left-siders. It’s fair to call both inexperienced. Samuelsson was a second-round pick in 2018 and has played just 54 NHL games over the last two seasons.

Buffalo could surely use some experience on the blue line.

Arizona Coyotes: $19.4 million.

The Coyotes are the opposite of the Sabres. The left side of the Arizona defense is the strength of their team. Shayne Gostisbehere, Jakob Chychrun, and Patrik Nemeth are on the left, which negates much chance of a Penguins trade involving a defenseman.

However, the Arizona forwards crew is undertalented and could be much improved via the NHL trade market. Travis Boyd is perhaps the top center. Jack McBain and Lawson Crouse are likely in the top-six unless third-overall pick Logan Cooley changes course and opts for the NHL instead of the University of Minnesota.

The Coyotes might be convinced to take on some offensive talent to help Cooley and fill their 5000-seat arena.

However, since Arizona is already over the cap, they can be as stingy as they want. Kapanen or Blueger would make the most sense in this scenario.

Anaheim Ducks: $18.84 million.

This is an interesting match. Last week, Anaheim signed top RHD UFA John Klingberg to a one-year deal. On paper, they appear to be a team that could challenge for a playoff spot despite the paltry payroll.

They have the best of both worlds. Troy Terry and Trevor Zegras are at the top of their forward lines. Jamie Drysdale, John Klingberg, and Cam Fowler lead the blue line in front of top-notch goalie John Gibson.

The left side of the Ducks’ defense could use an upgrade on the left side, as could the Anaheim middle six and their bottom six.

All options would be on the table, but so too could Anaheim pick and choose the best expendable players of the other dozen teams near the cap.

Chicago Blackhawks: At least $10 million

It’s the biggest firesale in Chicago since Mrs. O’Leary’s cow kicked the lantern. Chicago already jettisoned Kirby Dach and Alex DeBrincat on the NHL trade market. It’s very possible Jonathan Toews and Patrick Kane are next.

Chicago has no reason to get better, but they have every reason to accept a salary attached to a high draft pick or prospect. For the Penguins’ trade hopes, this would be an expensive proposition. However, if Chicago trades Kane and Toews, they could need a salary to reach the cap floor.

If Chicago needs to add salary, they will certainly lessen their demand for prospects and picks to accept salary. However, until Chicago needs another salary, they’re a seller, not a buyer.