Nobody knows if the recent flurry of trades by the Penguins will result in them hoisting the Stanley Cup.

Nobody knows if it will prevent them from an early-round exit for the fourth consecutive year.

And, certainly, nobody will ever know if the Penguins would have gone on to win the Cup without making any of these deals.

But there is one thing we all know.

General manager Ray Shero isn’t afraid of bolstering his roster no matter how strong it may already be. But the Pens’ GM is always wary about what he’s giving up to acquire such talent.

What he pulled off this year is downright incredible.

Shero acquired a veteran, rugged NHL defenseman, two captains from other teams, and a veteran center with a year left on his contract in exchange for nobody from his team’s active roster.

For Doug Murray, Brenden Morrow, Jarome Iginla, Jussi Jokinen and a third-round draft pick, the Pens coughed up minor league defenseman Joe Morrow, current collegiate players Ben Hanowski and Kenny Agostino, a first-round, two second-round picks, a fifth-round pick and a sixth or seventh round pick.

On the surface, one may criticize Shero for mortgaging the future. But for this guy, the future is always now.

And with the NHL’s salary cap due to reduce by $8 million next year, now is the time to chase Lord Stanley.

The Pens may get a couple of draft picks back in other trades after the season, as a means to stay under the new salary cap.

They may have to part with a Kris Letang or Evgeni Malkin, so what’s wrong with going after the Cup before they have to do so?

Morrow and Iginla were captains of the Dallas Stars and Calgary Flames, respectively, before waiving no-trade clauses to come to Pittsburgh.

Those guys want to win a Stanley Cup, too.

No player waives a no-trade clause to come to a certain team unless he is willing to provide whatever missing piece that team needs. Morrow and Iginla have both said they will serve any type of role the Penguins need heading down the stretch.

Murray joins the pair as an unrestricted free agent once the season is over, but if Shero wants to re-sign any of that trio, he will probably be able to do so.

Jokinen was only acquired from Carolina because of Sidney Crosby’s injury, but the guy is only 30, in the prime of his career, has scored 346 points in the NHL and is signed through next season.

When Crosby does return, Jokinen certainly isn’t headed toward the bench. He’ll just make the Penguins’ depth that much stronger.

Even if the Pens go belly up in the playoffs — like they did in Madison Square Garden Wednesday night — these moves can’t be considered a disaster.

This will be a strong team again next year — and the year after that, and the year after that.

Ray Shero will see to it.

John Enrietto is sports editor of the Butler Eagle.