The NHL Draft will begin on Wednesday night and the Pittsburgh Penguins will have the 14th overall selection in the 2023 NHL Draft. President of Hockey Operations Kyle Dubas has a lot of options with that selection. He could trade down, trade it away, or make the selection with that pick at 14th.
That draft pick won't contribute for the Pittsburgh Penguins for at least a few years anyways, but they need all of the young talent they can get. They have one of the worst farm systems in all of the NHL. For that hockey team to be relevant again, they need talent within the farm system. Also, which players can be dealt this offseason?
Jeff Petry, Defenseman
Jeff Petry's contract could be unloaded this offseason. He is rumored to potentially land in a trade with the San Jose Sharks. Petry is 35 years old and has $6.25 million per season for the next two years on his contract. The Pittsburgh Penguins blueline was a disaster last season and it would be a nice thing to unload his contract.
Petry was not very good for the Penguins last season. They need to fix the blueline as fast as possible and Jeff Petry isn't a part of their long-term plans.
Mikael Granlund, Centerman
It remains a mystery as to why former general manager Ron Hextall traded for Mikael Granlund last season for a second-round pick in the 2023 NHL Draft to the Nashville Predators. Granlund was unproductive and a lot of Pittsburgh Penguins fans want him bought out.
He is owed $5 million per season for the next two years. Mikael Granlund is 31 years old and Kyle Dubas needs to find a way to trade him or buy him out. Him being on the Pittsburgh Penguins roster in the first place is totally clueless.
Jeff Carter, Centerman
Jeff Carter is in the final year of his contract with the Pittsburgh Penguins and will be owed $3.125 million this upcoming season. He has a no-movement clause on his contract so he would have to waive it in order to get dealt! Carter is 38 years old and it is possible it could be his final season as an NHL player.
There have been a lot of Pittsburgh Penguins fans that have complained that he is old and slow. He is also one of Ron Hextall's buddies and Kyle Dubas has no ties to him really. That would be an excellent move to find some team to take Jeff Carter for the final year of his contract while they can contend for a Stanley Cup one final time in the Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, and Kris Letang era.