In the opening frames of the offseason for the Penguins, there was a calamity among fans that something needed to be done in the wake of the team’s less-than-stellar effort in the loss to the eventual Stanley Cup Champion Washington Capitals in the second round. To fans it was clear that there was some dead weight on the team. Players that weren’t contributing, but taking up space both on the roster and on the salary cap.
Two of the players singled out were forward Conor Sheary and defenseman Matt Hunwick. Both players were traded to the Buffalo Sabres for draft picks, temporarily delighting most Penguins fans until the rumors started to spread about how the Penguins might use that newly freed-up cap space.