The Pittsburgh Penguins have initiated their trade activity ahead of the NHL deadline, moving defenseman Marcus Pettersson and forward Drew O’Connor to the Vancouver Canucks. In return, the Penguins received a conditional first-round pick for 2025, forward Danton Heinen, defenseman Vincent Desharnais, and forward prospect Melvin Fernstrom.

This first-round pick is contingent on the New York Rangers' performance; if they finish in the top-13, they can either keep their pick or defer it to 2026. Penguins GM Kyle Dubas expressed gratitude towards Pettersson and O’Connor for their contributions, emphasizing that this trade aligns with their strategy of acquiring young prospects and draft capital to revitalize the team's competitive edge.

With the Penguins holding more draft picks than any other team in the next three drafts, there are expectations for further trades, particularly involving pending unrestricted free agents like Matt Grzelcyk and Anthony Beauvillier. Grzelcyk's potential trade could yield significant value given the scarcity of defensemen in the market. Moreover, the increase in salary cap next season positions the Penguins to make impactful moves that would benefit both short-term and long-term roster improvement.