Penguins forward Is most likely the next piece of trade

Pittsburgh dealing Reilly Smith, the Stanley Cup winner, to the Vegas Golden Knights in exchange for a third-round pick was one of Kyle Dubas's first major decisions as the Pittsburgh Penguins' president of hockey operations. Early in the 2023–24 season, it looked like a wise decision.

But as the season progressed, it became obvious that something wasn't right. Smith's performance declined, and their initial rapport with Evgeni Malkin vanished.

Reports surfaced shortly after the season finished, suggesting that Smith never really got used to playing in Pittsburgh. Smith's name surfaced at least as much as Jake Guentzel's when the trade deadline arrived.

Even if the Penguins decided to hang onto Smith and sell Guentzel, it wouldn't be shocking to see Smith's name surface in trade rumors once more this summer. Josh Yohe of the Athletic claims that Smith appears to be the most likely name to be moving.

When Smith signed with the Penguins, fans anticipated a fitter, more reliable Jason Zucker, but that reliability never materialized.

Dubas supported Smith at his season-ending press conference, stating that while he anticipates a strong return the next year, he probably won't have that opportunity in Pittsburgh. Teams started to contact close to the deadline, and it's possible they are still interested.

The last year of Smith's contract, which pays him $5 million over the salary cap, is set to begin. Teams may be drawn to an affordable, expiring contract for a seasoned winner, and the Penguins would be prudent to seize this opportunity.