Something to be aware of ahead of Friday's 3 p.m. trade deadline: A player who was on the NHL roster has to be on an AHL roster at the time of the trade deadline in order to be eligible to play in the AHL for the rest of the year. That rule is commonly misreported as one to keep playoff eligibility, but it's eligibility to play in the AHL for the full remainder of the season, playoffs included.

The only player this applies to on the Penguins is Avery Hayes, since Ben Kindel can't be assigned to the AHL and none of the waivers-eligible players were put on waivers today. Expect Avery Hayes to be sent to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton early tomorrow, then likely recalled after 3 p.m. If the moves are made in a single day like that, he wouldn't be required to report to the AHL and play a game. But he would cost the Penguins one of their four standard recalls that they have for the remainder of the regular season.

Players not currently in the NHL, like Harrison Brunicke, remain free to join Wilkes-Barre after their team's season is over.

Another thing to remember: Trades are allowed after Friday, but those players can't play in the NHL for their new teams for the rest of the year. But it's not uncommon to see teams trade NHL-contracted players in the AHL after the trade deadline, as long as they don't expect them to earn an NHL recall the rest of the year.