Penguins Trade Deadline Moves Rumored To Set Up Huge Summer Of Transactions

The Penguins made one very big move before the trade deadline this year with the trade of Jake Guentzel and Ty Smith to Carolina for Michael Bunting and prospects/draft picks.

But according to insider Elliotte Friedman on the 32 Thoughts podcast on Monday, he believes this was part of a set up to move other players this coming summer.

Friedman Suggests a Reunion Between Penguins Defenseman and Former Team

Friedman suggests that the Ottawa Senators could still be very interested in Erik Karlsson returning to the team. He did say that this trade would be very difficult to pull off, but former Sens captain Daniel Alfredsson, now an assistant coach with the team, could try to make it happen.

Friedman on Erik Karlsson (32TP): "It's not going to be an easy one to move, it definitely isn't...I'll say this, there is going to be a lot of focus on Ottawa, if there's one team that you would think would consider it, it would be them with Daniel Alfredsson there"— NHL Watcher (@NHL_Watcher) March 11, 2024

Cont'd: "If it's not Ottawa, and don't forget, Karlsson has a lot of control here, it's hard to see where it makes sense. I think the Sens are going to be a really, really busy team in the offseason, I think they had a lot of conversations that will get punted into the summer"— NHL Watcher (@NHL_Watcher) March 11, 2024

Dubas Hints At Youth Movement In Pittsburgh This Off Season

Kyle Dubas made it clear that the Penguins were going to make some changes this summer, wanting to bring in a younger group. The Senators are looking to get veterans to help their younger core.

Karlsson would have say in this, as his deal holds a no-movement clause. It would be his decision to waive that to move back to Ottawa. In addition he comes with a heavy price tag of $11.5 millions, $10 million of which the Penguins carry through 2026-27.

With so much in play for this to happen, it seems unlikely. But with the Penguins seemingly on a youth movement soon, anything is possible.

As Read On: Hockey Feed - Penguins' hectic trade deadline : possible set up for monster move this summer!