DETROIT, MICHIGAN - JANUARY 10: Tyler Bertuzzi #59 of the Detroit Red Wings skates against the Winnipeg Jets at Little Caesars Arena on January 10, 2023 in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)
Forward Brock McGinn and defenseman Mark Friedman cleared waivers today. If the Penguins assign both players to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, they would have a total of $4 million in prorated cap space to work with to swing a trade. The number would’ve been considerably higher…$5.7 million…had McGinn been claimed.
Neither player has been designated for assignment at the present time, although it’s virtually assured Friedman will be sent to the Baby Pens. Glad we didn’t lose the feisty defenseman, who I’d still rate ahead of Chad Ruhwedel as a spare due to his wheels, aggressive nature and ability to capably man either the left or right side.
In terms of the trade front? According to published sources, talks with Vancouver involving forwards J.T. Miller and Brock Boeser have cooled.
Arizona defenseman Jakob Chychrun, who we were loosely tied to, was dealt to Ottawa for a conditional first-round pick in the 2023 NHL Draft, a conditional second-round pick in the 2024 NHL Draft and a second-round pick in the 2026 NHL Draft.
Pittsburgh Hockey Now floated the idea of Detroit’s Tyler Bertuzzi, a fast, gritty left wing who appeals to me even though he’s having a down year due to a hand injury. However, he’s a UFA-to-be and GM Ron Hextall stated he wouldn’t pursue rentals. Too, Detroit GM Steve Yzerman is one shrewd negotiator. GMRH might get taken to the cleaners without realizing his pants are off.
Meanwhile, except for the aforementioned players and perhaps the Ducks’ Adam Henrique, John Klingberg and Dmitry Kulikov, the market has pretty much been picked cleaner than a wild boar that accidentally waded into piranha-infested waters.
Begging the question. Given the crazy prices and frenzied activity, was Hextall right to be patient? Or did he wait too long to make a move?
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View Comments
Rick
Not sure how you feel but I think Hextall has sealed his fate. Picking up Granlund
while he passed over players who cost much less and would of been a much better
fit for the Pen's - He's lost his mind.
I never want to hear anyone complain JR. I'll take him anyday over Hextall.
Hey Mike,
Yep, my first text after I heard about this was "Nashville has to be paying some of this or Hextall has lost his mind."
Another small guy, but with better scoring potential than Blueger. His breakaways the other night reminded me of Carl Hagelin, but the cost is ridiculous.
Maybe he is a replacement third line center for Carter. I could get behind that. Carter as a backup or buy him out.
Phil
This is a head scratcher especially if this is his "big move". Hopefully theirs
more bodies coming and going over the next two days.
Hey Mike,
I am sorry, but if yesterday was an example of how GMRH is handling this season's trade deadline, I hope this is his last deal. I truly fear how much damage he could cause, how much smaller, softer, and older he could make this team. I pray I am worrying over nothing, but GMRH has not done a thing that could give me hope that change (Positive) is in the air - status quo or less.
The scary truth is Our Pens are a weaker team this morning than they were yesterday morning.
Hey Mike & TOR,
If Blueger and Granlund cost the same, I would take Granlund. I don't believe it made the team worse, I just question the amount of money spent on Granlund. I too had high hopes for a bigger guy.
I was willing to part with Kapanen/Carter for nothing and bring up WBS guys. I would rather have O'Conner than Kapanen, so that worked out.
Granlund can dish the puck, he has put up some really good numbers, if he can get the third line on the score sheet again that's a huge plus. If Hextal plans on using a $5 mil guy on the fourth line, he's lost his mind.
I guess one way to put this into perspective, Granlund has put up way better numbers then Kapanen.
I'm talking myself into this not being that bad the more I look at Granlund's numbers. lol.
Rick
I'm all for moving Blueger but picking up 31yr old Granuland. Another finesse player
on our 3rd or 4th line - more of a passer than goal scorer and his defense is nothing
to write home about, not to mention he carries a 5M cap hit. We can't do better than
this??
The Penguins have acquired forward Mikael Granlund from the Nashville Predators in exchange for a 2023 second-round draft pick.
Granlund, 31, is signed through the 2024.25 season and carries an average annual value of $5 million.
Trade alert! The #Sens have acquired defenceman Jakob Chychrun from
@ArizonaCoyotes in exchange for a conditional first-round draft pick in ’23,
a conditional second-round selection in ’24 (previously acquired from
@Capitals) and a second-round pick in ’26. 1/2
Conditions: The ’23 1st-round pick is top-5 protected. If met, pick becomes ’24
1st-round unprotected. Additionally, should #Sens reach ’23 ECF, the 2nd-round
pick becomes ’24 1st-round top 10-protected. If that condition is met, the pick
becomes ’25 1st-round unprotected. 2/2
Rick
Pens traded Blueger to Vegas for defenseman Peter DiLiberatore
and a 2024 third-round draft pick.