Kyle Dubas stayed mainly quiet for the 2026 Trade Deadline with prices being way too high and being more of a sellers market as he acknowledge that today in his post deadline presser.
Today the Penguins acquired forward Elmer Soderblom from the Detroit Red Wings in exchange for a 2026 third round pick (originally San Jose's pick acquired in the Erik Karlsson trade).
Soderblom was a surprise acquisition as he is mainly used as a left winger and there are very little roster spots open to begin with. This can be a bit of a head scratcher for some Penguins fans.
The Penguins were in the market for a center but did not address a blaring need as they are down Sidney Crosby who is nearing close to a return and now Evgeni Malkin who is set to be suspended possibly several games after slashing Buffalo's Rasmus Dahlin in the head. They also are getting killed in the face-off dot and failed to acquire any help at that position.
Soderblom, 24, acquired by the Penguins today is a six foot eight depth winger. The winger is signed through the 2027-28 season (RFA) at a cap hit of $1,125,000 AAV. He has been in sheltered small minutes for the Wings with very little production this year for a Red Wings team they is set for a long overdue playoff berth. Soderblom has notched 2G, 1A, 3P in 39GP with the Wings this season, he has only 86 career games under his belt and hasn't found his footing in the NHL.
This is very much another reclamation project trade that Dubas mentioned was in the Penguins trade deadline cards if it came at the right price. Much like Egor Chinakhov this will be Soderblom's chance to finally find his game and unleash it under Head Coach Dan Muse.
This in a way feels like a trade that says Noel Acciari might not be back as he is a pending unrestricted free agent in the off-season. Soderblom if he pans out could be a viable option on the fourth line and bottom six heading into next season.