{"id":327539,"date":"2026-05-01T19:51:43","date_gmt":"2026-05-01T14:21:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ebiztoday.news\/?p=327539"},"modified":"2026-05-01T19:51:44","modified_gmt":"2026-05-01T14:21:44","slug":"keys-to-the-offseason-for-the-la-kings-ottawa-senators-and-pittsburgh-penguins","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ebiztoday.news\/index.php\/2026\/05\/01\/keys-to-the-offseason-for-the-la-kings-ottawa-senators-and-pittsburgh-penguins\/","title":{"rendered":"Keys to the Offseason for the LA Kings, Ottawa Senators, and Pittsburgh Penguins"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Keys to the offseason for the Los Angeles Kings<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Ryan S. Clark and Kristen Shilton of ESPN<\/a><\/strong>: Taking a look at what the Los Angeles Kings could have in store this offseason.<\/p>\n

Projected cap space:\u00a0$18.5 million
2026 draft picks:\u00a01st, 2nd, 2nd (CBJ), third (WSH), 4th, fifth, sixth, sixth (COL), seventh<\/p>\n

Will the Kings undergo a training search, or will they remove the interim tag for D.J. Smith<\/a>? They\u2019ll need to seek out a top-six forward, and one which can bring some offense. Losing Anze Kopitar<\/a> to retirement leaves an enormous hole down the center. They\u2019ll need to determine in the event that they need to bring pending UFAs Scott Laughton<\/a> and Andrei Kuzmenko<\/a> back. RFA defenseman Brandt Clarke needs a brand new deal.<\/p>\n

Keys to the offseason for the Ottawa Senators<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Ryan S. Clark and Kristen Shilton of ESPN<\/a><\/strong>: Taking a look at what the Ottawa Senators could have in store this offseason.<\/p>\n

Projected cap space:\u00a0$17.3 million
2026 draft picks:\u00a01st, third, third (FLA), third (DAL), 4th (CBJ), fifth, sixth<\/p>\n

Their core is locked, and Claude Giroux<\/a> and Nick Cousins<\/a> are really their only \u2018foremost\u2019 pending free agents. GM Steve Staios<\/a> can see what is on the market on the free agent market. They might use a top-four, right-handed defenseman to play with Thomas Chabot<\/a>. They might look for one more scoring top-six forward. Not a priority as they could prefer internal, but a bottom-six forward like Viktor Arvidsson<\/a> wouldn\u2019t be a foul idea.<\/p>\n

Keys to the offseason for the Pittsburgh Penguins<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Ryan S. Clark and Kristen Shilton of ESPN<\/a><\/strong>: Taking a look at what the Pittsburgh Penguins could have in store this offseason.<\/p>\n

Projected cap space:\u00a0$45.8 million
2026 draft picks:\u00a01st, 2nd, 2nd (WPG), third, sixth (NSH)<\/p>\n

Do the Penguins and Sidney Crosby<\/a> determine to see what trade options are on the market this offseason? He\u2019s got a 12 months left on his contract, and can he need to be a part of their retool? There may be also pending UFA Evgeni Malkin<\/a>. The Penguins weren\u2019t expected to do much this season, but surprised many. How much of that can change Kyle Dubas\u2019 vision going forward?<\/p>\n

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