Penguins Update: Looking Ahead

“I believe that we will make the playoffs.”

With a singular forceful statement, All-Star center Evgeni Malkin reflected the growing sense of optimism over the fortunes of our Pittsburgh Penguins. Almost overnight, it seems, they’ve transformed from a crew of rag-tag underachievers struggling to keep pace in the Eastern Conference playoff chase into a tight-knit bunch that might do some serious damage come the postseason.

Thanks in no small part to new coach Mike Sullivan, the superstars are thriving. The power play is clicking. The team’s battle level and resilience have taken a quantum leap forward.

Credit GM Jim Rutherford, too, for having the guts to make a needed coaching change. And for adding precious speed. As the Tribune Review’s Bill West aptly noted in a recent article, the Pens have morphed into one of the league’s fastest teams.

Suddenly, it feels like 2009. When we came back from the dead to win a Stanley Cup.

Could it happen again? Don’t laugh. The answer is yes.

Especially if center Nick Bonino returns from the IR hale and healthy. Chris Kunitz rebounds from a lower-body injury. And youngsters such as Derrick Pouliot, Conor Sheary, and Scott Wilson prove they can contribute on a regular basis. If not, the Penguins will need an upgrade at left wing and defense if they’re to go on an extended postseason run.

Let’s peer into the crystal ball. Assume the Pens will be active in the trade market. Who can they offer? Who should they target?

The former group? Far from overwhelming. Spare parts Ian Cole and Sergei Plotnikov won’t excite anyone. Ditto veteran Ben Lovejoy. Beau Bennett offers potential—and at a reasonably attractive price. Too bad he’s fragile.

Wunderkinds Pouliot and Daniel Sprong might fetch a decent return. However, Rutherford must guard against bleeding the future for the present. Especially at positions where the farm system is paper thin. And he needs to be prudent when trading high draft picks.

One position affords Rutherford the luxury of dealing from strength. Goaltender. With reigning team MVP Marc-Andre Fleury and hot prospects Matt Murray and Tristan Jarry in tow, the club possesses enviable depth between the pipes. Assuming the Pens are poised for a postseason run, Fleury’s a virtual lock to remain the go-to guy. Which leaves Murray and Jarry as trade fodder.

Of the two, Murray likely would be the most attractive to other clubs. At 6’4” and 178 pounds, the rangy 21-year-old more closely fits the modern prototype of an NHL goalie. Plus, he’s got an established track record at the pro level. A stunning 1.73 GAA and 16 shutouts in 66 games over the past three seasons with the Baby Pens. Not to mention a 1.72 GAA during a four-game cameo with the parent club.

Still, pinpointing a trade partner could be a challenge. Take Columbus, for example. The Blue Jackets have lost top goalies Sergei Bobrovsky and Curtis McElhinney to injuries. They also have an intriguing young power forward—former first-round pick Kerby Rychel—who can hit, score and fight. Frustrated with a lack of ice time, the 21-year-old left wing requested a trade earlier this month.

Might Rychel be available, straight-up, for Murray? Or in a package deal that includes, say, Plotnikov?

Doubtful, considering that youngster Joonas Korpisalo has emerged to fill the Jackets’ goaltending void. Not to mention Rychel’s recent uptick in playing time and two-point efforts against Boston and Washington.

Elsewhere, Tampa Bay is fielding offers for suspended phenom Jonathan Drouin. Needless to say, there’s no shortage of suitors. And the Lightning—deep in goal—already have a homegrown version of Murray in Andrei Vasilevskiy. Cross Drouin off the list.

Carolina captain Eric Staal is rumored to be on the block. The Hurricanes need goaltending. However, with an annual price tag ($9.5 million) approaching the national debt, Staal’s way too expensive.

The same goes for the batch of high-profile defensemen expected to be on the move, including Winnipeg’s all-purpose hammer Dustin Byfuglien, St. Louis stalwart Kevin Shattenkirk, and mobile Ranger Keith Yandle. None are realistic options for the black and gold, who have roughly $1.3 million of cap space to work with (according to Hockeyscap.com).

So who can we afford? Toronto bruiser Roman Polak ($2.75 million cap hit) for one. Given his preference for puck-moving defensemen, it’s hard to imagine Rutherford having any interest in the burly 29-year-old Czech. But Polak’s teammate, forward P.A. Parenteau? With a bargain-basement $1.3 million price tag and history of decent production, the UFA-to-be could be on JR’s radar.

One thing we’ve learned about Rutherford. Expect the unexpected.