The Pittsburgh Penguins made a significant move on Monday, acquiring forward Philip Tomasino from the Nashville Predators. In exchange for Tomasino, the Penguins sent the Rangers’ 2027 fourth-round pick to Nashville. The trade comes as Pittsburgh assigned center Samuel Poulin to AHL Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, creating room on the active roster for Tomasino.
At just 23 years old, Tomasino is looking forward to a fresh start in Pittsburgh after facing limited playing time and restricted usage with the Predators. Since being drafted 24th overall by Nashville in the 2019 draft, his minutes have been significantly reduced. However, the Penguins are optimistic about his potential and have confirmed that he will join the team for practice tomorrow with hopes of being available for their upcoming game against the Vancouver Canucks on Wednesday.
Although Tomasino has been an effective depth player in terms of points-per-hour throughout his first three NHL seasons, this season has been more challenging for him. He has struggled to contribute offensively on a struggling Nashville team, registering only one assist in 11 games while averaging a career-low 11:18 of ice time per game.
Despite his struggles this season, Tomasino managed to stay on the Predators’ roster due to concerns about losing him on waivers. However, with this being his first season without waiver exemption, Nashville decided it was the right time to part ways with him and recoup an asset in return. The Penguins may have acquired him for a mid-round pick that won’t materialize for several years, but they believe there is untapped potential in Tomasino’s game.
Throughout his career so far, Tomasino has had periods where he was a healthy scratch and struggled to find consistent ice time. This lack of usage led to the Predators’ decision to move on from him under new general manager Barry Trotz’s control. Despite his limited playing time, Tomasino has yet to come close to his rookie season’s career-highs of 11 goals and 32 points in 76 games, even though he averaged less than 12 minutes per night.
However, the Penguins see a chance for Tomasino to rebound and potentially break out if given a prominent role within their lineup. With 23 goals and 71 points in 159 career games, Tomasino has shown flashes of offensive talent. Deploying him in a top-nine or even top-six role alongside Sidney Crosby or Evgeni Malkin could be the key to unlocking his full potential. However, he will have to prove himself quickly as he signed a one-year, $825K deal at the start of training camp after a lengthy contract negotiation as a restricted free agent.
In terms of possession impacts, Tomasino’s numbers have been relatively neutral throughout his Predators career. He holds a career +1 rating, and Nashville controlled 49.6% of shot attempts with him on the ice at even strength compared to 48.7% without him.
The Penguins’ offense has struggled this season, averaging just 2.52 goals per game. In light of this struggle, there is an opportunity for Tomasino to make an impact in Pittsburgh’s top-nine or potentially even top-six forward group. The Penguins will closely monitor his performance and give him a fair chance but will also keep a short leash due to his contract situation. If he fails to deliver in Pittsburgh, especially considering his eligibility for salary arbitration next summer, there is a possibility that he may not receive a tendered offer.
It is worth noting that Pittsburgh previously acquired the Rangers’ 2027 fourth-round pick during last year’s trade deadline when they sent defenseman Chad Ruhwedel to New York.
As the Penguins welcome Philip Tomasino into their organization, all eyes will be on his development and how he adapts to his new surroundings. Pittsburgh hopes that this trade will provide him with the opportunity to showcase his skills and contribute to their offensive struggles. Only time will tell if Tomasino can fulfill the potential that made him a first-round draft pick and establish himself as a valuable asset for the Penguins.