After a brutal start to the 2024-25 season, the Pittsburgh Penguins have turned things around and put themselves right back into the thick of the playoff race. Before finding themselves tied for the second wild card spot in the Eastern Conference, it seemed like the Penguins were ready to make quite a few big trades ahead of the deadline.

While obvious names weren’t going anywhere, the Penguins may have to shift their outlook on deals as they keep stacking wins. According to Elliotte Friedman on the 32 Thoughts Podcast, the Penguins are open to making moves all over the lineup, but for certain targets.

“I look at Pittsburgh, the GM there, Kyle Dubas, has let everybody know that he still wants to get younger,” Friedman said. “He’s got defensemen, he’s got goalies, he’s got forwards, he’s got a bit of cap room. He’ll take a contract that you want to move, he’ll consider it as long as you give him something he wants.”

It’s not a new thing that Dubas and the Penguins have their eyes on a certain type of player, and it’s been clear since the offseason. The Penguins want to add young players who may just need a change of scenery to really reach their full potential.

Adding Cody Glass in the offseason was the first sign, before signing Anthony Beauvillier, and eventually trading for Phil Tomasino. Low-risk, high-reward pieces that can help the Penguins win now and possibly play a role on a successful team in the future.

“He prefers the Tomasino’s of the world,” Friedman said about Dubas. “Young players who are either in the NHL or ready to play in the NHL who need something a little different.”

Currently out with an injury, but Tomasino has scored four goals and three assists in 16 games with the Penguins this year. Beauvillier has 12 points in 42 games played and has been able to contribute all over the lineup. Glass has also delt with injuries, but has nine points in 30 games.

The Penguins have an 18-17-8 record for 44 standings points, tied with the Columbus Blue Jackets for the second wild card spot.

Names like Ryan Graves, Tristan Jarry, and Marcus Pettersson are all likely on the Penguins trade block as they look to take swings ahead of the deadline. The Penguins have certain targets in mind, and it sounds like they are open for business.

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The captain of the Pittsburgh Penguins continues to climb the NHL’s all-time scoring list in his 20th season. With an assist in the first against the Edmonton Oilers, Sidney Crosby registered his 1,642nd career point and took sole possession of ninth place on the list. In the process, he surpassed Colorado Avalanche legend and Hall of Famer Joe Sakic.

The Penguins’ star now sits behind none other than fellow franchise legend Mario Lemieux on the NHL’s all-time scoring list. Crosby trails Lemieux by 81 points, as “Le Magnifique” finished his career with 1,723 points.

Humorously enough, the play that gave Crosby his latest accolade was one that barely featured him. His line mate Bryan Rust did most of the work on the play as he worked behind the net and the perimeter wall with the puck before making an excellent backhand feed to Drew O’Connor, who netted a fantastic wrist shot past the Oilers’ goalie.

But in almost every other play this season, it seems like Crosby is the one doing the scoring or setting it up. He leads the team in points this season, with 46 points in 43 games, and is guiding his team back into the postseason picture in the Eastern Conference at age 37.

Crosby’s also made a habit of adding more tallies to his Hall of Fame resume this season. He notched his 600th goal earlier in the year and set a new Penguins franchise record for assists. It’s been a record-collecting 20th season for arguably the greatest player in the history of Pittsburgh hockey.

The Pens are right on the bubble of the playoff picture. They are currently the third place team in the Eastern Conference Wild Card race but are tied with the Columbus Blue Jackets in points. After a poor start to their 2024-2025 campaign, they’ve managed to get their team back to 17-17-2

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