Pittsburgh Penguins: 5 Possible Offseason Trade Targets

Dec 22, 2014; Vancouver, British Columbia, CAN; Vancouver Canucks defenseman

(6) reaches over Arizona Coyotes forward

(89) during the third period at Rogers Arena. The Vancouver Canucks won 7-1. Mandatory Credit: Anne-Marie Sorvin-USA TODAY Sports

Mikkel Boedker – Arizona Coyotes

Mikkel Boedker is the epitome of what the Pittsburgh Penguins need to fill a top-six role. He’s a 25-year old wing with the potential to put up sixty points playing alongside talented centers. At 6’ and roughly 205 lbs. he has good size, boasts a great set of hands, and can flat-out fly. Although he has had some injury concern, he did put together three consecutive healthy seasons prior to this year in which he suffered an injury to his spleen and had to have surgery.

Boedker is a restricted free agent this summer. Basically, Jim Rutherford and the Pittsburgh Penguins would need to put together a package that could acquire his rights from Arizona in order to negotiate a deal. From what I can dig up there hasn’t been a lot of dialogue between Boedker and Arizona on an extension, so a deal like this is very possible.  I can’t imagine that a young forward of his caliber is going to voluntarily stay with a team in a rebuilding phase… again.

Arizona is in need of centers, which makes this deal seem all the more fitting. They’re also a team that fights to hit the cap floor each season, so maybe it wouldn’t be out of the question for a Sutter/Scuderi for Boedker’s rights transaction. He’ll likely be looking for something in the $3.5 to $4 million range on a multi-year deal. As I said, perfect fit for the Pens.  That’s extremely affordable and they aren’t wagering on old veteran’s.

Boedker is a guy that will be a solid contributor for many years.