Maybe the Pittsburgh Penguins should have kept goalie Matt Murray and not traded him to the Ottawa Senators last year. NHL trade rumors are starting to circulate that the Penguins will be searching for a goalie this off-season.
Sean Gentille of The Athletic believes Tristan Jarry’s goaltending performance in the playoffs cost the Penguins the series against the New York Islanders.
Gentille feels the Pens will target free agents Jonathan Bernier or Buffalo’s Linus Ullmark or look to the trade market for help.
Toronto Maple Leafs goalie Frederik Andersen is set to become a free agent and with Jack Campbell playing so well, Andersen might not want to re-sign with the Leafs to be a backup or the Leafs might just move on from Andersen.
The Penguins are tight against the salary cap next season. They will need to free up some cap space if they want to sign a proven goalie. They could get some much needed cap space if Kasperi Kapanen is taken in the Seattle Kraken expansion draft.
Either way, this off-season will be very interesting for the Pens. Do they also look at trading one of Evgeni Malkin or Kris Letang?
Pens definitely need to get at least two new goalie prospects for next year;keep our starters; Maulkin; Crosby;Letang intact. Trade Harry, DeSmith away.