Pittsburgh Penguins: Looking Ahead to 2016 Trade Targets

If you read my work here or follow me on Twitter at @Michael29Angelo you’ll know that I’m looking forward to seeing the Pittsburgh Penguins as currently constructed in 2015-16.

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As it stands, the Pens are a team built for entertainment. But, that isn’t exactly a new model in Pittsburgh. The big question is, are they a team built for a Stanley Cup Championship?

There are far too many question marks right now to say yes or no. And, it’s obviously extremely early to have this conversation, which we’ll likely visit numerous times throughout the season. But watching as teams lock up their final roster pieces, mostly on short-term and inexpensive contracts certainly makes us all curious.

How many of these moves are simply gearing up for trades at the upcoming season’s deadline?

Teams Gearing Up for the 2016 Draft

Let’s face it, we already know that multiple teams will be sellers throughout the 2015-16 season. Two teams specifically come to mind and that’s the Toronto Maple Leafs and New Jersey Devils. Considering that Jim Rutherford and Ray Shero have made deals in the past and obviously the Pittsburgh Penguins and Maple Leafs have swapped recently, these players on short-term deals could be worth watching.

There are other teams in the midst of a rebuild and a few that will need to move players in order to free up cap space for future contracts such as the Tampa Bay Lightning. A team like that, however, can push things off until the offseason to avoid any disruption to their chances at another Stanley Cup run.

Will the Pittsburgh Penguins Be Buyers This Season?

The simple answer is ‘yes’. As we’ve discussed in length all summer, Jim Rutherford and the Pittsburgh Penguins have built arguably the deepest offensive team in the East, maybe even the league. This team is thinking nothing less than a championship run and they look poised to make that a reality. Of course, that’s never a guarantee but they’re off to a good start.

The Pens have two major question marks for 2015-16. Will this defense hold up and develop as planned and can they stay healthy?

Either way, the if Rutherford’s past in any indication, the Pens will be looking for suitable moves all season. And, quite frankly, there will be a lot of options in a season that boasts so many short-term and expiring contracts.

Let’s visit some likely candidates to move prior to the upcoming season’s trade deadline.

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