Who’s Who of the Pittsburgh Penguins Trade Rumor Circus

The Pittsburgh Penguins have been attached to some trade rumors. Here’s a rundown on the names you might hear in the coming weeks.

It’s that time of the year again and with the NHL trade deadline rapidly approaching on February 26, 2018 at 3:00pm Eastern, the Pittsburgh Penguins are in an interesting spot. They’re not quite at the top of the league, but they have been one of the hottest teams since January. The Penguins are currently in second place in the Metropolitan division, but have played a couple more games than some of their division rivals. Additionally, the lineup as currently constructed has been making a good run, minus the recent injuries to Conor Sheary, Patric Hornqvist, Tom Kuhnhackl, and others.

The big question is what the Penguins will do on trade deadline day (if anything). With only a little under $1 million in cap space available at the deadline, the Penguins might need to clear some space to make moves or limit who they bring in. There are a lot of names and a lot of question marks out there, so hopefully this list will help guide you through the craziness or laziness that is the NHL trade deadline day.

Real Possibilities

• Mark Letestu (Edmonton Oilers, Center) [$1.8m, UFA] – This former top-line center used to work between Alexei Kovalev and James Neal… Yes, that happened, but Mark Letestu, who spent most of his career in Pittsburgh as the 4^th pivot behind Crosby, Malkin, and Staal, has seen a slight resurgence in his career as a bottom-six center with the Oilers, while also working the point on the powerplay (until this year). Letestu could be had cheap, is good on faceoffs, and could solve the Penguins 4^th line center dilemma.

• Patrick Maroon (Edmonton Oilers, Left Wing) [$1.5m, UFA] – If you ask Oilers fans about Maroon, it seems everybody has an opinion, but almost none form a consensus. Depending on who you ask, he’s either a versatile power forward that can play on any line or he’s a goon with no ability. Maroon could be on the Penguins radar as the team considers what to do with an aging Patric Hornqvist, who is set for a considerable raise this offseason. While Maroon is only a couple years younger than Hornqvist, he could provide a bridge until someone like Aston-Reese is ready to step into the fray more regularly.

• Matt Cullen (Minnesota Wild, Center) [$1.0m, UFA] – Matt Cullen holds a soft spot for most of Pittsburgh fandom. He was well-liked and contributed to both Stanley Cup championships squads, but has struggled in his time in Minnesota to fit into the Wild’s lineup. Could Cullen come to Pittsburgh for a conditional pick (a la Bill Guerin) and potentially slot into that 4^th spot? It’s definitely possible.

• David Desharnais (New York Rangers, Center) [$1.0m, UFA] – Similar to Cullen and Letestu, Desharnais could probably be had on the cheap and would provide a decent 4^th line center option.

• Derick Brassard (Ottawa Senators, Center)[$5.0m, 1 year] – This is one of the more intriguing hypotheticals available, but also the most expensive out of the realistic options. The Senators are having a fire sale, but Brassard won’t come cheap. He would slot into the 3^rd line center spot, bumping Sheahan down to the 4^th. This could give the Penguins a legitimate scoring threat on the 3^rd line, especially with Kessel. While the price to acquire him is high, the biggest hang-up is his $5m/year salary. That means current roster players would have to go out the door to make room.

• Thomas Vanek (Vancouver Canucks, Left Wing) [$2.0m, UFA] – If the Penguins are looking for help on the left side, especially with the uncertainty of the current injury situation, he could provide a scoring boost. With 38 points this year, Vanek has been a solid, but not spectacular member of the Canucks and might be one of the cheaper winger options available on the market.

• Antoine Vermette (Anaheim Ducks, Center) [$1.75m, UFA] – Another depth-center option that could slot in on the 4^th line, but more unlikely than Cullen or Letestu as a result of additional cap space that would be needed.

Not Happening

• Tomas Plekanac (Montreal Canadiens, Center) [$6.0m, UFA] – The cost for Plekanac would have to be bargain-bin cheap to take on any of that contract. Even as a rental, even with some of it retained, the numbers just don’t add up.  With only 20 points in 55 games this year, this doesn’t seem like something the Penguins would be interested in even exploring.

• Rick Nash (New York Rangers, Left Wing, Right Wing) [$7.8m, UFA] – It’s just not happening. He’s too expensive and will cost too much for the Penguins to acquire.

• Tyson Barrie (Colorado Avalanche, Defense) [$5.5m, 2 years] – The Avalanche are unlikely to trade him, unless for big return, which eliminates the Penguins.

• Erik Karlsson (Ottawa Senators, Defense) [$6.5m, 1 year] – Unless the Penguins are trading Kris Letang, this isn’t going to happen.

• Oliver Ekman-Larsson (Arizona Coyotes, Defense) [$5.5m, 1 year] – See Barrie, Tyson.

• Marc Staal (New York Rangers, Defense) [$5.7m, 3 years] – Not a need for the Penguins and too expensive.

• Benoit Pouliot (Buffalo Sabres, Left Wing) [$1.15, UFA] – I’m not sure he brings much to the table in terms of filling the Penguin’s needs.

• Mike Green (Detroit Red Wings, Defense) [$6.0m, UFA] – Likely heading back to DC or to Nashville, but Green is too expensive anyway, and not what the Penguins are looking for.

• Alex Galchenyuk (Center, Left Wing, Right Wing)[$4.9m, 2 years] – Galchenyuk has struggled to find his place on the Canadiens. If available, he’ll be a hot commodity around the league. For the Penguins, that will price him even more outside of their reach this trade deadline.

• Ryan McDonagh (New York Rangers, Defense) [$4.7m, 1 year] – See Staal, Marc.

• Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, (Edmonton Oilers, Center) [$6.0m, 3 years] – As much as the Penguins would love RNH and could probably pry him away from Edmonton. It would take a severely reduced cost and a lot would have to happen to make it a reality.

• Brandon Saad (Chicago Blackhawks, Left Wing, Right Wing) [$6.0m, 3 years] – While I’m pretty sure most of Pittsburgh would love to see the hometown boy return and play for the Penguins, the cost of both acquiring him and fitting him under the salary cap make this unlikely. Add into that a less than stellar showing this year, even seeing time on the fourth line in Chicago, this trade becomes less than ideal for the Penguins.

• Zack Smith (Ottawa Senators, Left Wing)[$3.25m, 1 year] – Not the kind of the depth the Penguins are looking for this year and on a bad contract.

• Mats Zuccarello, (New York Rangers, Right Wing) [$4.5m, 1 year] – Just not what the Penguins are looking for or can afford right now.

• Jack Johnson, (Columbus Blue Jackets, Defense) [$4.357m, UFA] – Considering every Penguins fan would love to see Johnson give some payback physically to the Blue Jackets in the playoffs this year, Columbus is not trading him to Pittsburgh and he’s too expensive for the Penguin’s pockets.

• Andrew Shaw, (Montreal Canadiens, Center, Right Wing) [$3.9m, 4 years] – With 19 points in 43 games, a long contract at a higher than hoped-for price, Shaw just wouldn’t fit into the Penguins plans this year or next.

Penguins Trade Bait?

• Conor Sheary (Pittsburgh Penguins, Left Wing, Right Wing) [$3.0m, 2 years] – Sheary is a difficult one to judge, as he’s shown flashes alongside Crosby but has also disappeared at times. Rumblings came out that several teams were scouting Sheary before his injury. He could be an attractive piece in a trade heading out of Pittsburgh.

• Carl Hagelin (Pittsburgh Penguins, Left Wing) [$4.0m, 1 year] – Hagelin is another tough candidate to analyze this year. Through the first part of the year Hagelin had one of his worst campaigns in his career. Recently though, Hagelin has been scoring and when he hasn’t been, he’s been making plays to help create chances. Hagelin’s price tag makes him an attractive option to jettison if the Penguins need the room.

• Daniel Sprong (Pittsburgh Penguins/Wilkes-Barre Scranton Penguins, Right Wing) [$0.693m, RFA] – If the Penguins make a splash to land a coveted forward, they’ll have to include Sprong as a top-tier prospect.

• Zach Aston-Reese (Pittsburgh Penguins, Center, Right Wing) [$0.925m, 1 year] – The same logic applies for Aston-Reese, but he’s more likely to be included in a deal for a power-forward.

• S. Dea (Pittsburgh Penguins/Wilkes-Barre Scranton Penguins, Center) [$0.650m, RFA] – I’m not sure Dea is really someone the Penguins want to move, but they may not have a choice. If they need to move a prospect not named Aston-Reese or Sprong, Dea could very well be on his way out.

• Frank Corrado (Wilkes-Barre Scranton Penguins, Defense) [$0.650m, RFA] – Corrado didn’t get a great start with his time with the big-club this year. With little time remaining on his deal, they could include Corrado as a piece heading out.

• Ian Cole (Pittsburgh Penguins, Defense) [$2.1m, UFA] – This might be the hardest piece of the Penguins to figure out prior to the deadline. There’s something going on in this relationship and I’m not sure anyone, including Cole or the Penguins, has a good grasp on it. Cole has been a solid upon his return to the lineup as a regular, but it seems like the Penguins don’t have long-term plans for him in Pittsburgh. Trading Cole and bringing in a cheaper defensive defenseman could free-up some cap space and ease what has been a tense and strange situation.

• Matt Hunwick (Pittsburgh Penguins, Defense) [$2.250m, 2 years] – I believe the Penguins would trade Matt Hunwick if given the chance. I don’t believe Sullivan is particularly impressed by Hunwick’s decision-making with the puck. At $2.250 million for two more years, he is eating valuable cap space while eating nachos in the press box. Unfortunately for the Penguin’s brass, there aren’t likely many buyers for what Hunwick has to offer.

Here’s my predictions for two paths the Pittsburgh Penguins could take:

Playing it safe:

• Cullen to the Penguins for conditional 5^th
• Hunwick and a 4th to the Coyotes for Luke Schenn
• Vanek to the Penguins for Corrado and a 3rd

Taking a risk:

• Hagelin, Sprong, and a 2^nd (2019) to the Senators for Brassard and Oduya
• Hunwick to the Coyotes for a conditional 4^th (If Pittsburgh Penguins make Conference Finals, pick becomes 3^rd)
• Corrado and a 2^nd (2018) to the Rangers for Grabner

Next: Building a trade for Evander Kane

With about two weeks left until the deadline, things can change, including injuries and teams moving in/out of the playoffs. It’s anyone guess but this list could change by the NHL Trade Deadline Day.