The Avalanche underwent a borderline roster overhaul mid-season this year, yet are still a favorite to come out of the Western Conference and win the Cup. It also helps when you have the world's best defender in Cale Makar and a top-three player in Nathan Mackinnon. Additionally, they are locked up for several seasons.
Who should the Penguins target?
This is an easy answer. The Penguins should trade for Nathan Mackinnon; everyone knows he wants to play with Sidney Crosby, so why not bring over Nate Dog, and he and Sid can make a push for the cup? I can already feel Avalanche fans and Paul Bissonnette preparing their fingers to send me a message asking if I am insane. I am not, it is too bad this article did not come out on April Fool's Day, it is a joke!
Now that I have your attention, the player the Penguins should consider targeting is defender Samuel Girard. Can the Penguins acquire him? Likely not, Girard is a very good second-pair defender and was a key cog on their championship-winning team. So why would the Avalanche ever move of from him?
The answer is Cale Makar. Girard is a UFA in 2028, the same offseason that Makar is a UFA and Mackinnon will need to be paid two years after, as well as Devon Toews. There is not enough money for everyone.
It has already been reported by people like Elliotte Freedman on 32 Thoughts that the Avalanche are setting money aside to pay for Makar. This is the primary reason they lost Rantanen this year. Again, it is unlikely, but Girard is a player who would help the Pens.