Yes folks, Jim Rutherford’s done it again. Beating his fellow GMs to the punch in his customary aggressive manner, the spry 70-year-old Hall-of-Famer landed arguably the biggest prize on the trade market in speedy winger Jason Zucker.
Is JR done dealin’?
I’ll answer that question by referencing an old Carpenters song from the ‘70s. We’ve Only Just Begun.
Indeed, most insiders think Rutherford will try to add another player or two ahead of the February 24 trade deadline. While I certainly wouldn’t look for a blockbuster…the Pens simply don’t possess the assets to make one…it seems almost certain he’ll try to add depth.
Although the situation could be remedied somewhat with the returns of Dominik Kahun and Nick Bjugstad, the Pens have struggled for some time to piece together a capable fourth line. They’ve tried internal options Andrew Agozzino, Anthony Angello, Joe Blandisi, Thomas Di Pauli, Adam Johnson and Sam Lafferty. All, with the possible exception of Lafferty, have been found wanting.
Let’s face it, you simply don’t survive in the playoffs, let alone win a Stanley Cup, as a three-line team.
Another area of need is defense. With top-four defenders Brian Dumoulin and John Marino on the shelf and the coaching staff apparently lacking confidence in Juuso Riikola, it’s almost a guarantee Rutherford will try to import a blue-liner.
Depth-wise, the Pens are in a little better shape on the right side. Zach Trotman, presently skating for the Baby Pens, has 88 games of NHL experience on his resume and generally does a solid job at the big-league level. I think our brain trust is comfortable that Zach can plug a gap in a pinch. As an aside, so do I. I rate him ahead of incumbent Chad Ruhwedel in terms of physicality and stay-at-home steadiness.
Look for the addition to be left-handed, especially since Dumoulin isn’t even skating yet.
Okay, so I’ve identified our needs. But what do we have to barter with?
The answer is, not much. Rutherford pretty much peddled our last disposable assets to secure Zucker. We have a third-round pick available, but that’s about it on the draft side of the ledger.
Nor do we have a whole lot in the way of surplus talent to entice opposing GMs. It was hoped Bjugstad might serve as a trading chip, but given his slow recovery (and recent setback) from abdominal wall surgery and high cap hit ($4.1 million) I can’t imagine there’d be any takers. It’s been suggested that other organizations may regard Riikola as a prospect, but again that’s murky.
Speaking of prospects, power forward Samuel Poulin is having a spectacular season in junior (32 goals and 71 points, a plus-43 in 40 games). Nathan Legare (27 goals in 48 games) is lighting it up, too. I hope they’re considered untouchable.
Aside from that…a lot of Tom, Dick and Doms (Simon).
The lone position of tradeable strength? Goaltender.
The Pens presently have three NHL-caliber goalies under contract in Matt Murray, Tristan Jarry and Casey DeSmith. The latter’s toiled all season long with the Baby Pens after serving as Murray’s primary backup last season.
Does JR part with one of his goalies?
Just to spice things up a bit, Murray’s contract expires at the end of the season. While he’s a pending RFA, which means the Pens maintain control, he’s rumored to be looking for an eight-year deal for $8 million a season.
I’m all for rewarding guys. And Murray did backstop us to two Cups. But all you have to do is look around the league to see Sergei Bobrovsky, Braden Holtby, Carey Price…and, yes, Marc-Andre Fleury…struggling to live up to pricey (pun intended), long-term deals. And as well as Murray has played recently, he has a disturbing habit of dissolving into funks, especially early in the season.
Does Tristan Jarry’s sudden emergence make him expendable?
A wild thought. I wonder if Bill Guerin in Minnesota would have any interest? They’re not pleased at all with incumbent Devin Dubnyk, who’s had a rough season. Defenseman Matt Dumba’s name popped up recently in trade rumors. His career thus far has tracked a lot like a young Kris Letang.
Could something along the lines of a Murray and Justin Schultz for Dubnyk and Dumba deal be worked out? Perhaps with an eye toward flipping Dubnyk to another team and calling up DeSmith on the back end?
Probably not. But just supposin’.
Back to my original thoughts about a depth forward and a left-handed defenseman. If we’re, indeed, shopping for extra help, an element I’d love to add is push-back. I still think we’re vulnerable to teams that play with an edge like Boston, Tampa Bay and Washington.
Calgary’s Sam Bennett intrigues me. Tough kid, can play either left wing or center, isn’t shy about dropping the mitts. Probably isn’t on our radar. But I’d love to add a guy like that.
Another player who interests me…Ottawa’s Mark Borowiecki. Again, a tough customer who’ll drop the gloves with anyone, including Capitals bad boy Tom Wilson. At age 30, “Boro’s” enjoyed a bit of a breakout season, too, with seven goals and 18 points.
For the record, neither he ($1.2 mil) nor Bennett ($2.25 mil) would break the bank.
Again, knowing Mike Sullivan’s aversion to tough guys, I can’t image we’d acquire either. But a Pens fan can dream, can’t he?
Names that might be in play? Pensburgh mentioned former Pens Trevor Daley (Detroit) and Ron Hainsey (Ottawa) on defense. I’ll toss out another expatriate…forward Scott Wilson (Buffalo).
We’ll see what transpires. But I’m bettin’ the Pens aren’t done dealin’.
Rick
Good article – it will definitely be interesting to see what direction JR
takes to add another player or two. We have 4.3 million to play with
so you would think he can make at least a couple of minor tweaks to
the roster.
i still think they should take a look at Wayne Simmonds if the price
is right. Not having a great year (7) goals (16) assists but thats still
better production than any of the Pens 3rd and 4th liners with the
exception of Tanev (23) points.
We definitely need someone to keep Tom Wilson in check when we
play the caps – i also think Simmonds could give us a net front
presence on our 2nd PP unit.
Just a thought – Look forward to your feedback
Go Pen’s
Thank you, Mike. Always good to hear from you.
A couple of years ago I would have been right there with you on Simmonds. There aren’t too many tougher…or guys who have more character. He’d be a great locker room guy and leader to boot., and you can never have enough of those guys.
My concern…I don’t know how well he skates at this stage of his career or how much he has left in the tank. And if he can’t keep up or blend with Sullivan’s up-tempo style…well…we know how that works. Sully won’t play him. Especially since he seems to have a bias against tough guys to begin with.
Having said that, Simmonds certainly would add the physical element I crave. And he’s beaten Wilson…and most of the other top fighters in the league.
Again…I just don’t know how much he has left. But maybe he’d be worth the gamble.
Rick
Hey Rick,
I wouldn’t mind the Wild trade you are talking about, but I doubt Guerin will make any more moves with the Penguins this season. I feel people would start to question all the moves because of his past affiliation with the Pens. Stranger things have happened though.
I feel the Penguins are in need of a quality defenseman and maybe more desperate than others know. Dumoulin may be out the rest of the season and if he is the Pens really need to make a move.
I also wouldn’t put it past JR to deal Shultz with his history of trading guys who won’t sign. Obviously talks have stalled. If Dumoulin doesn’t start skating before the deadline though, I think Shultz stays.
Reading into the “looking out west for a defenseman” rumor, one school of thought is your own conference won’t help you make your own team get better. Flipping that coin, you usually don’t deal someone you wish to not face in the playoffs to your own conference.
That to me really suggests a strong possibility Murray is being shopped. If Murray is being shopped, you could probably add any and western conference defensemen to your trade list, not just the ones being talked about. I’m sure JR won’t pull that trigger without getting something great in return.
If he doesn’t find that, JR may just go last minute for a solid fill in defenseman for a Bjugstad or similar. Hopefully not Daley.
Hey Phil,
Agree 100 percent about Daley. He was really good for us in ’15-16, but he’s been fading ever since.
I still think Hainsey might have a little left in the tank. He was a plus-30 for Toronto last season and he’s a plus-4 for an Ottawa team that’s seen better days.
Rick
Hey all,
Scratch Borowiecki off the list. He was injured last night.
Sheeesh! The injury bug has now spread to guys we’re thinking about acquiring … 🙁
Switching gears, I see Buffalo is pretty much done with Rasmus Ristolainen and is looking to move him. Wonder if Jason Botterill would be open to a Ristolainen for Schultz swap (their cap hits are virtually even)?
The big Finn almost seems to be where Schultz was when we acquired him from Edmonton…loads of talent but struggling to put it all together for a bad team. Perhaps he needs a change of scenery, too.
Just spitballin’ … 🙂
Rick
Rick
Couple of little tidbits.
Read an article (Molinari) he mentions that the Caps have as much
depth as the Pens and possibly more to go along with being a much more
physical team. I hope JR addresses this by the trade deadline.
Kahun is scheduled to return Sunday – great news
I would love to see JR kick the tires on Jeff Petry from Montreal – The Pen’s
scouted the Canadians mid week vs Boston. Petry salary is in the neighborhood
of 5.5 and he’s signed thru next season. We would probably need to throw
another player there way. If we move Schultz then we could easily absorb the
difference in contracts.
Hey Mike,
Agree about 100 percent about Kahun. He’s a really good player and he seems to make those around him better. To me, we haven’t looked the same since he went down.
Petry…hmmm…interesting. I confess, I’m not super familiar with him so I looked up his stats. Impressive…good offensive numbers, especially over the last few years, and great Corsi. Good on breakouts. Logs a ton of minutes and, although he’s not a crusher, has some size and uses the body.
If I’m looking at that level of player, I’d probably prefer Dumba due to his youth and speed. But Petry certainly might be worth consideration.
As an aside, I heard the Pens are looking at the Habs’ Nate Thompson, a 35-year-old center who’s great on face-offs and plays with energy and sand. Not sexy, but he sounds like a Sullivan-type guy.
Switching tracks, there’s no denying the Caps are skilled and physical (the Bruins, too). However, I think their Achilles heel is on defense and in goal. Yes, John Carlson is an amazing player and Dmitry Orlov and Michal Kempny are decent.
But behind them? Radko Gudas has had a good season, but is he really a top-four guy? I don’t think Jonas Siegenthaler is all that great and, frankly, I think Nick Jensen is downright suspect.
Of course, the Caps might try to remedy that with a trade. But as they stand right now, I think they can be exploited.
Holtby, too.
Rick
Hey Rick,
I am on board for a Ristolainen trade. If you recall, I was trying to trade Galchenyuk there earlier this year, but at that time they were looking for Forwards – Probably still are, so I doubt they would flip Schultz for him. Calgary may still be in the market for Schultz though, Toronto too, but with Johnsson hurt, not sure who I would flip him for. Unfortunately, the reason both those teams are interested in Schultz is because of injuries to their D, so the Pens wouldn’t be addressing their D needs.
I know it won’t happen because Sullivan won’t play him, but I would try and get Gudbranson back instead. I may try and get Sam Bennett from Calgary for Schultz and then try and flip some other piece to Anaheim for Gudbranson. Longer term, the team doesn’t need a top 4 RHD, but someone on that 3rd pairing.
Again, personally, I would look to the KHL for Dumoulin’s replacement. The LHD seem to be holding their own for what it is worth, but could use just a little help and I haven’t heard anything yet about Pedan resigning over there, so the team could try and bring him back across the pond and have 2 tougher D-men.
Yes, I know it won’t happen, neither Pedan nor Gudbranson would get playing time. Sullivan would call up Warsofsky and Abt 1st.