Once Crosby, Malkin, LeTang and Karlsson retire in a few years, Pittsburgh will be heading for a massive rebuild. So why would Guentzel, Pesce and Hanifin want to commit long term with a team in flux?

Once you traded Jake Guentzel you lost the 8th year. And you can only sign Hanifin for 7 years as well.

Pittsburgh is the oldest in the league, And I can't see any of those UFAs committing to an aging team that's more than likely heading for a massive rebuild in another 3-4 years if not sooner.

AZ passes - rackell 4x 5m (31 yo) is not in the rebuild plans

ott declines

Karlsson to Ottawa doesn’t make sense for them. Ottawa doesn’t lack Offence they lack League average goaltending and stability on the blueline. Karlsson comes with a large cap hit and doesn’t fill a defensive need on their back end.

Hawks easily decline. They are not a team that needs another LD, and they definitely want nothing to do with that contract. Unless Pens buy him out or retain a good chunk of his deal, Graves will be part of the Pens blue line for at least 2 or 3 more seasons.

And getting rid of Rackell won't be as easy as that either.

I personally wouldn't mind EK back at 50% but for basically nothing in return.

In my description I wrote that the smith and graves trades could really be to anywhere not necessarily where I traded them

Forgot about losing the 8th year. Ur totally right. Idk why those free agents would want to sign in Pittsburgh but that wasn’t the point, the point was logistics

Where's the retention on Karlsson?


Sanderson - Karlsson
Chabot - Zub
Kleven - Brannstrom
JBD

Trade Chyhrun for a forward

Two things, though. One, CHI isn't your "could be anywhere" team, find another team for your dumps, or at least make it make sense for the team you are making the proposal to. And, two, it's going to cost significantly more to move a contract of that size, unless you find a team with a need for LD that still believes in Graves enough.

Everyone one of those deals is incredibly bad for the team Pittsburgh would be trading with.

Penguins would have to pay way more to move Graves and Rackell.

Karlsson would only return a 1st round pick (maybe) if the Penguins retain 50% and it would have to involve a competitive team, not a non-playoff team.

San Jose much like Chicago may be willing to take Smith but they wouldn’t be paying for him and more then likely would want a sweetener.

SJ accepts. If you throw in a 1st well take Rakell too