Penguins Update: Options for Long Pants Hockey

While commenting on management’s stated desire to play “long pants” hockey a couple of months ago, I suggested tongue-in-cheek that we try to get right wing Ryan Reaves back from Vegas. (I also wrote that such a move would surely illicit a bitter-beer face from coach Mike Sullivan.)

Maybe my idea wasn’t as far-fetched as I thought. The big guy was a healthy scratch for the Golden Knights’ final three playoff games against Montreal. Nor did he enjoy a banner season out west (a measly goal and five points in 37 games). He has one season left on a deal that pays him $1.75 million.

Could Reaves possibly be packaged along with a certain goalie who shall go nameless (Marc-Andre Fleury) in a trade for, say, Jason Zucker and Tristan Jarry?

In addition to filling the Pens’ stated desire to add a veteran goalie, re-acquiring Reaves would take care of our enforcement issues in one fell swoop. Although it’s doubtful the Winnipeg native would provide much in the way of offense at this stage of his career, there isn’t a more forceful, feared and intimidating presence in all of hockey.

Assuming the Pens don’t re-sign Zach Aston-Reese, the 225-pound hammer could provide a bristling bookend (an astounding 760 hits over the past three seasons) on an ultra-physical fourth line with Brandon Tanev.

Such a deal would remove a salary-cap albatross in Zucker and open up roughly $250 thousand in cap space for the black and gold.

Of course, there’s the not-so-small matter of how much he would play under the speed-besotted Sullivan, who meted out ice time to “Reavo” with tweezers during his all-too-brief stay in the Steel City. At 34 years of age, you wonder how much he has left in the tank. Too, it doesn’t appear that either Fleury or Reaves are especially anxious to leave Vegas.

Perhaps a better option would be right wing Wayne Simmonds, presently Maple Leaf property but soon to be a free agent. Simmonds isn’t quite in Reaves class as a fighter, but he’s darn close. The Pens were actually kicking the tires on the Scarborough, Ontario, native at the 2020 trade deadline, but opted for Patrick Marleau instead.

The drawbacks? Simmonds is injury prone and probably an old 32. He’s a shadow of the player he once was when he racked up back-to-back seasons of 30-plus goals for Ron Hextall’s Flyers from 2015-17. And even in his hey-day, he was never an especially good skater or 5-on-5 player. But he’s tough as nails, a great leader (former Messier Award winner) and he could still be a factor on the power play as a handsy, snarling net-front presence.

Best of all, he’d likely come cheap.

Okay, we’ve looked at forwards. What about defense?

Assuming we won’t be able to re-sign Cody Ceci, Buffalo’s Rasmus Ristolainen could be a prime target. He’s a coveted right-hand shot who hits like a freight train, and he’s got puck skills to boot (four 40-plus point seasons). The rampaging 6’4” 218-pounder wants out of Buffalo in the worst way. And at 26 years of age, he should be entering his prime.

Ristolainen’s a bit pricey…$5.4 million signed through the coming season. Perhaps the Sabres could be induced to bite on Marcus Pettersson ($4.083 million/AAV) and retain some of the big Finn’s salary.

Such a trade would also open up a spot on the left side for emerging prospect Pierre-Olivier Joseph.

If not? Former Pens Ian Cole, Erik Gudbranson and Jamie Oleksiak are pending UFAs. Cole and Sullivan weren’t exactly bosom buddies during Ian’s go ‘round in the ‘Burgh, but he was nonetheless an integral cog on our back-to-back champions and he can play either side. He and Gudbranson (particularly the latter) could probably be signed at a favorable rate.

Oleksiak will likely command a significant raise over the modest $2.1 million he earned on his last contract, signed when he was a member of the Pens.

A few “long pants” options to consider.