The Pittsburgh Penguins are one of the most cap-strapped teams in the NHL right now, and general manager Ron Hextall has a lot of work to do to free up some cash. The team is unlikely to lose any major free players, but Hextall wants to add size and toughness, and freeing up cap space would be the icing on the cake.
Marcus Pettersson's $4.02 million salary for the next four seasons isn't ideal for the type of production the Penguins have been receiving, therefore he's speculated to be on the move. The 6'3 defender, who has nine points in 47 games, could be of interest to the Chicago Blackhawks. The Swedish defenseman isn't a perfect fit for a squad led by Hextall and Brian Burke, with limited offensive numbers and a listed weight of 177 pounds.
This offseason, the Penguins will do everything they can to add some nastiness to their lineup. The club has been pushed around too much for management's satisfaction, and despite their goalie not being on spot when it was needed, Tristan Jarry is slated to start next season. Evgeni Malkin's recuperation after surgery will be closely monitored by management, who will be able to save money by placing him on LTIR. The adventure begins when he regains his health, as the timings aren't lining up for a 'Kucherov 2.0.'
There will be trades out of Pittsburgh, but none of them will be for core players. When it's all said and done, the secondary cast will have a few more characters, and management will hopefully have a few extra dollars in their pockets.
