Penguins Update: Is Rutherford Finished Dealing?

With the recent signing of the ‘Big Rig,’ Jamie Oleksiak, to a three-year deal, the Penguins’ lineup for the coming season appears all but set. Especially since the Pens are down to their last $745,000 in cap space.

To borrow from an old movie title, all’s quiet on the western front.

Or is it?

It’s hard to ignore the persistent rumors out of Montreal the Habs are seeking a significant upgrade at center. The object of their desire? Pens pivot Derick Brassard, who played his junior hockey at Drummondville…just east of ‘La Metropole.’

The Canadiens are thought to be dangling left wing Max Pacioretty, a five-time 30-goal scorer who’s entering the final season of a contract that pays him $4.5 million.

Just my humble opinion. I think Pacioretty would look awfully good in black and gold. Check that…great. The 29-year-old Connecticut native not only boasts an impressive scoring touch (226 goals over a distinguished 10-year NHL career), he’s big (6’2” 206) and reasonably physical (118 hits in ’17-18). Qualities decidedly lacking among the Pens’ current crop of forwards.

It’s no secret the locals are thin on the port side. Postseason marvel Jake Guentzel aside, Carl Hagelin is the only other bona fide left wing presently on the roster, unless you count swingman Dominik Simon. True, free-agent returnee Matt Cullen and hustling Bryan Rust can slot over in a pinch, and rookie Sam Miletic (36 goals in junior) oozes potential.

None can match Pacioretty’s proven pedigree.

So what would it take to get ‘er done? Obviously, taking on Pacioretty’s salary would put the Pens squarely in the red, so they’d need to clear cap space. That’s where things get dicey. Brassard would account for $3 million. But JR would need to free up an additional $1.5 million to even the slate.

While the Pens are hardly thin on defense thanks to the addition of Jack Johnson, they’re not flush either. Which means the additional cap space would need to come from dealing a forward.

So who goes? The knee-jerk reaction is Hagelin…set to enter the final season of a contract that pays him $4 million.

Not so fast. ‘Hags’ still brings a lot to the table. Namely world-class speed…an element in increasingly short supply on the aging Penguins…and penalty-killing prowess. And the supersonic Swede still has a little juice left. Following a terrible first half last season (a paltry six points in his first 42 games), he tallied eight goals and 25 points over his final 39 contests…roughly a 50-point clip over a full season.

Okay. If not Hagelin, then who?

The only other forwards on the roster around the requisite salary range? Riley Sheahan ($2.1M) and prospects Zach Aston-Reese ($925K), Daniel Sprong and Simon ($750K each).

Scratch Sheahan from the list. The Pens like him, and Rutherford surely won’t part with two centers.

That leaves the kids as potential filler. Although he carries the heftiest price tag among the bunch, I like Aston-Reese. Yes, he’s a step slow. But Zach’s smart, reads the play well and displays a nice touch around the net, not to mention some aggression. I see top-six potential for him down the road.

Sprong? In truth, he doesn’t seem to fit into the Pens’ scheme. Given his rep as a bad actor and noted aversion to backchecking, I can’t imagine he’ll endear himself to coach Mike Sullivan. After all, ‘Sully’ already has a purported king-sized headache to deal with in Phil Kessel. Judging by this summer’s small mountain of negative ink, ‘Phil the Thrill’ may be reverting to ‘Phil the Pill.’

Yet Sprong’s a natural scorer. You don’t give those guys away, especially when your core is starting to age. So perhaps JR can get Montreal counterpart Marc Bergevin to bite on the crafty Simon, a decent AHL player who may or may not have an NHL upside.

With over $10 million in cap space, maybe Bergevin can be induced to eat a portion of Pacioretty’s salary, too.

Something to ponder while we while away the summer.