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Pittsburgh Penguins: Off Season Moves Yet To Be Made

By Conor Sherman

PITTSBURGH, PA - MARCH 23: Phil Kessel #81 of the Pittsburgh Penguins celebrates his third period goal with Derick Brassard #19 of the Pittsburgh Penguins against the New Jersey Devils at PPG Paints Arena on March 23, 2018 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Joe Sargent/NHLI via Getty Images)
PITTSBURGH, PA - MARCH 23: Phil Kessel #81 of the Pittsburgh Penguins celebrates his third period goal with Derick Brassard #19 of the Pittsburgh Penguins against the New Jersey Devils at PPG Paints Arena on March 23, 2018 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Joe Sargent/NHLI via Getty Images) /
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The Pittsburgh Penguins haven’t been that active during this year’s offseason.

As we come closer to the preseason, there are still some moves the Pittsburgh Penguins should make in order to stay serious contenders for next June.

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Key Moves Made

General manager, Jim Rutherford made a great move by trading away the contracts of both Conor Sheary and Matt Hunwick. The Penguins gained more than five million dollars back towards the salary cap.

The Penguins also went out and signed veteran defenseman, Jack Johnson (31) , who  scored 11 points in 77 games last year. Johnson signed five years at 3.25 millions AAV. Johnson sat out all of the 2017-2018 Stanley Cup Playoffs under Tortorella. Although, Johnson still has the opportunity to redeem himself and show how good of a defenseman he still has the ability to be.

The Penguins resigned D-man Jamie Oleksiak for three years and 2.1 million dollars. Oleksiak took over the role of Ian Cole after Rutherford sent him over to Columbus.

Tristan Jarry, Daniel Sprong, and Dominik Simon also inked new contracts.

Future Moves

With the Penguins close to the salary cap, expect an off-season move to be made where a big contract gets moved. Realistically the Penguins have five players that are untradeable. Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, Kris Letang, Matt Murray, and Jake Guentzel are all players that will not be spoken about in any trade offers.

Phil Kessel and Derick Brassard are atop of the list of names with a possibility to be moved.

Kessel, who had a career year last season, is known to be unhappy with coach Mike Sullivan. Though it is very unlikely that Kessel gets moved, it is a name that I have heard thrown around.

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Brassard is more likely between the two forwards to get moved. The Penguins are so heavily in depth at center that the Penguins can save 5 million dollars a year by moving him. If the Penguins are able to move Brassard, they can use that money to sign a winger or more importantly another defenseman.

Carl Hagelin, who is entering the last year of his contract can be moved as well. At 3.66 million AAV. Hagelin has been a solid penalty killer and a solid third and fourth line winger for the Penguins the last two years, but do not be surprised if you see him get moved to free up cap space or even to let one of the younger guys have a spot in the line up.

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