The offseason has started for the Pittsburgh Penguins, and there are a number of things we have to get done in order to keep a contending team in tact.
With the playoffs over and the offseason started, the Pittsburgh Penguins management have a lot of work to get back to. Yes, we’re still celebrating our back-to-back Stanley Cup championships, but there is still things to do if we want to try and go for a three-peat.
Pittsburgh Penguins
Expansion Draft Business
With the Vegas Golden Knights coming into play next season, the Penguins have their own business to handle.
On Sunday, the protected lists of all teams were made available. This included which players are available and are not available to be picked by Las Vegas. The Penguins were able to protect most of their core players, but some had to be left exposed. The most significant being Marc-Andre Fleury, who is presumed to be chosen by the Golden Knights as he is the best goaltender available.
The Penguins can still wheel and deal their way out of certain things to do with this expansion. They may be looking to make some trades with the Golden Knights or other teams to ensure their players are protected.
The Draft
The 2017 NHL Entry Draft is this Friday and Saturday. The Penguins have the #30 pick along with five other picks. For a win-now team, prospects may not be the most important thing. Don’t be surprised if the Penguins are looking to make deals and manage assets here.
We should be looking to turn picks into players, as long as the cap serves right. We may want to upgrade in some positions, especially considering who we may lose to Vegas.
Contracts and Free Agency
The Penguins have a number of restricted and unrestricted free agents heading into next season, including Justin Schultz, Chris Kunitz and Conor Sheary. The Penguins will be trying to resign most players in order to keep their Stanley Cup winning core together.
When it comes to free agency, the Penguins will have a few options to debate. They could try and bolster their team by signing a big name if their cap allows, or they may go for smaller depth players.
The Penguins have a busy offseason, so let’s get ready!