Pittsburgh Penguins: What Could Carl Hagelin Fetch?

You heard the rumours that have popped up recently. Carl Hagelin may be one of the Pittsburgh Penguins best options for trade bait.

In a recent article, Sportsnet listed a bunch of players who may be dealt during the offseason. For the Pittsburgh Penguins, Carl Hagelin was one of the players who was named as possible trade bait.

Now after failing to secure the three-peat everyone wanted, the Penguins have a number of different options for how they can improve this team in the offseason. If they feel like trading people away, would Carl Hagelin be a good piece to move? And also, what would he even get us?

Why Hagelin?

Hagelin will seem attractive to other teams for sure, and that’s why he could be good trade bait. He has one year left on his contract worth just $4 million. That’s a very good deal considering you’re getting a solid, experienced second or third line winger who can put up a decent amount of points. He’s also very effective on the penalty kill.

Pittsburgh Penguins

Teams, especially teams who are looking to make a Cup run this season, may find him very attractive. Freeing up his contract can also free up cap space for us to sign more free agents (like Joe Thornton?).

What’s His Value?

The tricky part here if figuring out what Hagelin can fetch us. He’s a third line winger who can crack the second line on many teams. He’s very fast and teams like this. At his best, I can see him attracting a second round pick if we’re lucky. Otherwise, he might be worth a fourth round pick.

We can always go young and look to the future though, and that’s what I think we should do. Hagelin could be sent to a contending team who has the cap space to take him on for a B level prospect at best. This is still a very good trade because we are ainly freeing up that cap space which we can use to find a replacement.