The Pittsburgh Penguins are gearing up for a pivotal offseason, armed with an impressive 30 draft picks over the next three drafts. General Manager Kyle Dubas faces critical decisions, particularly around salary cap management. The likelihood of trading defenseman Erik Karlsson increases, considering his hefty $10 million cap hit and no-movement clause. Simultaneously, the Penguins aim to offload the contracts of goaltender Tristan Jarry and defenseman Ryan Graves—potentially freeing up nearly 20% of their salary cap.

Meanwhile, the Montreal Canadiens have been actively seeking a top-six center but fell short at the trade deadline despite making numerous inquiries. General Manager Kent Hughes expressed frustration over the inability to secure a suitable asset without relinquishing quality players for short-term solutions. The Canadiens reportedly rejected a second-round pick for Joel Armia, valuing the player more than the draft selection.