The NHL Trade Deadline has passed, and the Pittsburgh Penguins roster stayed relatively the same when the clock struck the proverbial midnight on Friday, Mar. 6.
Penguins General Manager Kyle Dubas only made one move on deadline day. He acquired Elmer Soderblom from the Detroit Red Wings for a 2026 third-round draft pick. Soderblom stands at a towering 6-foot-8, tying him for the tallest player ever to don a Penguins uniform. Moreover, he provides some extra depth for a Penguins lineup that injuries over the last month have battered.
Captain Sidney Crosby is the most notable player who will miss time, suffering a knee injury at the Olympics. However, the Penguins are missing plenty of names up and down the lineup.
Evgeni Malkin was suspended for five games for a slash to the face of Buffalo’s Rasmus Dahlin and will return on Mar. 16.
Finally, Justin Brazeau is week-to-week with what the team is calling an upper-body injury.
The Penguins are currently fighting for a playoff spot in a competitive Eastern Conference. Without their top two scorers, the question is how aggressive Dubas should have been at the deadline.
What Would a “Big Move” Have Looked Like?
Despite the lack of activity at the deadline, there was no shortage of big names mentioned in rumors.
St. Louis Blues’ Robert Thomas was heavily involved in rumors throughout the day, specifically linked to the Penguins. The reported offer the Blues had brought to the table was too much for Dubas and the Penguins.
Despite a down year, Thomas would have provided a scoring bump to Pittsburgh’s lineup in the absence of Crosby and Malkin. However, the cost would be too much, requiring at least one first-round pick, in addition to rookie Benjamin Kindel.
Another name tossed around, although highly unlikely, was Jason Robertson of the Dallas Stars. Robertson is on pace for his highest scoring output since his 109 points in 2022-23. His stellar play causes a high price.
Penguins writer Josh Yohe threw Anthony Mantha‘s name in talks as someone who could be moved. Despite his pending free agency, a move for Mantha would likely include multiple first-round picks.
It’s hard to imagine Dubas didn’t look into these deals at least a little bit, but he decided to stay on the path of building for the future.
Stock for the Future, Live in the Present
While some fans may look at the lack of activity and question the commitment to winning, not selling off valuable assets allows them to put a plan in place for an inevitable rebuild once Crosby, Malkin, and Kris Letang retire.
In terms of this season — in which Pittsburgh is vastly outperforming expectations — the results are easy to live with.
The Penguins have a stockpile of draft picks and a slew of young players coming up through the organization. The team can evaluate their talent and determine who will be part of the future, while also deciding who can be a part of a blockbuster deal.
It’s easy to overreact to a stretch of bad games like the Penguins have been on recently and think the team needs to swing for the fences.
Thankfully, the professionals have the job, and the fans can sit back and enjoy the surprising Pittsburgh Penguins team.
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