Penguins Face Expansion Draft Reckoning with Malkin, Karlsson Looming

Pittsburgh's front office is staring down a complicated future with two of their biggest names potentially heading toward free agency while an expansion draft lurks on the horizon. The Penguins have to navigate the tricky waters of protecting assets and managing cap space in a way that doesn't leave them gutted. How GM Ron Hextall handles this situation could define the next phase of the franchise's competitive window.