With the 2025 NHL Draft concluding, the Penguins are now going to pivot into the upcoming free agency set to open up on Tuesday this coming week.
Amidst the draft coverage, Penguins forward Noel Acciari was mentioned in trade talks. Even though the draft is over, the Penguins should continue these talks, even if it doesn't immediately impact the team with the return.
Elliotte Friedman: Pittsburgh could move Noel Acciari - SN 590
— NHL Rumour Report (@NHLRumourReport) June 28, 2025
Acciari's Profile
Acciari, 33, is in the final year of his contract which will be worth $2M dollars this coming season. With the addition of Connor Clifton via trade with Buffalo on Saturday, the Penguins have about $2M on the books that they didn't have before.
It almost makes too much sense for the Penguins to send Acciari elsewhere to get back that cap space for the chance to spend in free agency. Freeing up Acciari's conract would give Pittsburgh over $20M in cap space for 2025-26.
He had 12 points (5 goals, 7 assists) in 79 games last year with a Corsi% around 44. His role was to be an energy guy. He tossed his body around with 100 blocked shots and 180 hits.
For what he was supposed to do, Acciari did fine. But now the Penguins have a defenseman that does both of those things better. Connor Clifton is more hardnosed than any Penguin other than Boko Imama. Acciari doing this as a forward isn't super valuable, so shipping him off would be smart.
Potential Suitors
The best fit I could see for Noel Acciari is the San Jose Sharks. With Logan Couture's premature retirement, the Sharks are in need of a veteran presence to supplement their promising youth movement.
Every young team needs an old scrapper to stick up for them, and Acciari could be just that for a young San Jose squad. A potential deal could look like this.
Perhaps a 3rd round pick is steep, but the Sharks have been known to overpay, at times. Even a 4th round pick would equate to something similar to a 3rd rounder with the way the Sharks are projected to finish this season. They're still a long way from relevance, but Acciari would be a perfect bridge for them.
Ottawa could be another suitor. They're losing several forwards to free agency, including some elder statesmen. Acciari fits the tough-guy personality that would gel well with the Senators, so perhaps a buy-low option could help get money off the books for Pittsburgh.
Understand also that Kyle Dubas has done an unbelievable job of asset management in the last calendar year. Just look what he's done with just a 5th rounder in the last 6 months.
A+ asset management from Dubas. He turned a fifth round pick into Connor Dewar, Connor Clifton, and a 2nd rounder (Peyton Kittles).
— Dan Kingerski (@TheDanKingerski) June 28, 2025
Time will be the judge on whether the assets turn into team success, but for right now, the next objective should be seeing how they can get Acciari on a team that he fits better with. He's a hard worker and a great guy, but he's not what Pittsburgh needs right now.