Categories: PenguinPoop

Penguins Trade Rumors: Much Ado About Nothing?

There’s been a lot of trade buzz surrounding our Penguins lately. Usually, as the old saying goes, where there’s smoke there’s sure to be fire as well.

But in the case of our Pens?

Perhaps it’s more like smoke and mirrors.

I believe POHO/GM Kyle Dubas when he said we’re not holding a clearance sale. Here’s why.

For starters, take a look at our roster. Who do we have that might be available and of interest to other teams? Especially given that our lineup is a lot like a sandwich with bread on the top and bread on the bottom, but nothing in between.

Okay, Rickard Rakell and Bryan Rust would no doubt be welcome additions for a contending team, provided the asking price isn’t too steep.

However, there are obstacles. For one, Rust has a full no-movement clause in his contract. Rakell’s contains a modified no-trade clause. Then there’s the not-so-small matter of who would play with Sidney Crosby should you trade either or both. Sid didn’t sign his extension to skate with the likes of Cody Glass or even Philip Tomasino.

Too, if Dubas’s intent, while still a bit fuzzy at the present, is to execute a Capitals-style, retool-on-the-fly, you need a core to build around. And I’m not talking Sid, Evgeni Malkin and Kris Letang, all who are a bit long-in-the-tooth. In essence, you need guys like Rakell and Rust to keep you at least reasonably competitive.

To my eye, our most logical trade chips, or least the ones likeliest to fetch a decent return, are UFA-to-be defenseman Marcus Pettersson and left wing Michael Bunting.

Pettersson to Jimmy Rutherford’s Canucks seemed like a slam dunk for the longest time, but hold the phone. In disarray over the J.T. MillerElias Pettersson situation, the Canucks are currently on the outside of the Western Conference playoff picture.

Given the paradigm shift, would they still be seeking to acquire “The Dragon?’

PP colleague Caleb DiNatale thinks so, and that our return will be Nils Höglander.

A skilled 24-year-old left wing, Höglander has a high motor but is short on stature (5’9” 185) and production (three goals). He did score 24 goals last season, albeit while sniping at a generally unsustainable 20 percent clip.

A bit of a gamble, especially since a three-year extension at $3 million per kicks in next season (shades of Kasperi Kapanen). However, Höglander fits the description of what Dubas is searching for to a T, i.e.: young players with pedigree who may need a change of scenery to fully develop.

Speaking of, we’re said to be interested in a number of the Sabres’ prospects. Among those mentioned, forwards Jack Quinn (a former eighth overall pick), Isak Rosen and Noah Ostlund and defenseman Ryan Johnson.

Again, it begs the question, “Who do we have to offer in return?” Young talent, they got. What the Sabres are reportedly seeking are established players to help put them over the hump. Remove Rakell and Rust, and the only players we have of that ilk are Pettersson and Bunting.

Neither seem like a fit.

I do think Bunting could be a nice add for a contender looking to spice up its power play, especially since he’s under contract for another season and a bargain at $4.5 million per. I could see us landing a second-round pick (or maybe even a conditional first) and a mid-level prospect for Bunts.

I also wonder if exiled netminder Tristan Jarry might be worked into a deal with the Canucks for equally out-of-favor and pricey Thatcher Demko. I could also see hulking 6’7” right-shot defenseman Vincent Desharnais coming this way. He’s out of favor in Vancouver, and we know how Rutherford likes to fix his mistakes.

Any or all of Anthony Beauvillier, Matt Grzelcyk and Drew O’Connor could be dealt for modest returns.

The real changes could occur this summer, when the partially retained salaries of Jeff Petry and Reilly Smith come off the books. I wouldn’t be shocked to see a former Norris Trophy-winning defenseman in play.

We Got Beef!!!

This just in, and frankly I almost fell off my chair when I read it. The Pens have recalled heavyweight forward Bokondji “Boko” Imama from Wilkes-Barre/Scranton and returned defenseman Owen Pickering to the Baby Pens.

Wish I could’ve been a fly on the wall and seen coach Mike Sullivan’s expression when he learned of the transaction.

A tough customer, Imama’s stock in trade is fighting and physical play, and he’s pretty adept at both. Aside from a lone scoring spurt (nine goals in 31 games with the Ontario Reign back in ’20-21) the 6’1” 220-pounder isn’t much of an offensive threat, although buried deep in his past is a 41-goal season with the Saint John Sea Dogs back in ’16-17.

However, he’s quick to defend a teammate and doesn’t pick his spots, as witnessed by his tussles with ex-Pen Ryan Reaves and the Devils’ ultra-tough Kurtis MacDermid.

Just how much ice time (if any) he’ll receive from Sully is anyone’s guess. It’s most likely a case of the Pens needing a warm body in the wake of recent illnesses and Rust’s injury and not wanting to disrupt the kids at Wilkes.

However, brief his stay, I’m happy to have Boko.

As for Pickering being demoted? The rangy rookie seemed to regress following a strong start and had a particularly rough game against the Ducks. Young defensemen do take time to develop.

For now, one of the Ryans, Graves or Shea, will take his place.

Rick Buker

View Comments

  • Rick,

    I really wish Imama was an answer but he is 28 years old. In real life he is just a kid. In hockey life, as a forward, he is out of his prime. In 334 AHL games he has a whopping 77 Pnts, only 32 Gs. In 15 NHL GP to date he has 1G and 0A - at 28 years of age.

    Moreover, this move just aged the roster again.

    To me this is more smoke and mirrors. Rig the game to get the outcome you want, NO grit guys.

  • Hey Rick,

    First, Rust has a full blown NMC not a NTC similar but a lot more strict.

    But to your point, I do not believe there is a fire sale or will ever be a fire sale. Dubas has not shown any backbone any spine, any ability to move forward. Last season he threatened to make changes if the team didn't crawl out from under its doldrum by the Thanksgiving break. The team remained mired in its pathos but Dubas did nothing. Our Head of Operations repeated this posturing three more times at the Christmas break and at the All Star Break and still failed to make any changes. Dubas has no integrity.

    Furthermore, I do not trust Dubas or his scouts to find the proper player to lead this team back to Cup relevance. The players he has traded for are at best fringe player cast offs.

    Although I do not see a fire sale in the future, I can see a stupid trade with Buffalo as has been suggested (Roen, Johnson, or Ostlund). Like all of his other fringe players like Beauvillier, Glass, Tomasino et al, they will have good games when opponents trot out their back up Goalies like LAK did the other night (sacrificing Rittich). However, when the rubber hits the asphalt and our Pens start winning too many games and opponents trot out their first string they will get their doors blown off.

    Many fans will be lulled into this trap of thinking the team had turned around and will violently attack those not drinking the Kool-aid for suggesting that the Coach and GM need to go and we will be having this same conversation that we have had for the last seven years for 70 more years.

    As for Imama, although I do like the idea of getting a grit guy on this team, Imama is far below the guy our Penguins need. Also, I would suggest that Imama is only being brought up because of the number of fans clamoring for it and that since he really isn't that good of player, bringing him up will justify Sullivan's allergy to grit guys.

    • Hey Other Rick,

      Good catch on Rust’s no movement clause.

      I guess at this stage I’m still willing to give Dubas the benefit of the doubt. While a lot of his big moves last summer (signing Jarry and Graves, trading for Reilly Smith) turned out to be big swings and misses, they didn’t look that way at the time. And our new director of player personnel, Wes Clark, has a pretty solid reputation.

      What I am seeing? Dubas is beginning to assert himself. Maybe I’m reading between the lines, but to me the Jarry demotion and Imama call-up have his fingerprints all over them. Perhaps our GM grew as weary as the rest of us watching our guys, stars in particular, get knocked around without a whimper of retaliation. My guess is Dubas had had enough, too, his coach’s preferences be darned.

      Heck, Sullivan’s comments about Imama on Pens Inside Scoop are positively glowing.

      “He’s a great addition to our organization. He’s been really good for WBS, a great leader down there, just a good person. I think guys will gravitate to him because of his energy. So, we’re excited to have him.”

      Doesn’t sound like the guy who chased every tough guy and aggressive player out of town, does it?

      Rick

      • Rick
        Like you I was happy to see the Pen's brought up Boko "Its about time"! He played
        just under 9min and IMO played well.
        Regarding Pickering and I may be giving Dubas to much credit but I think the move
        to send OP to WBS is more about getting Graves back on the ice. I assuming their
        trying to move Graves, and it makes it a little tougher if teams can't see him play.
        As for Rust, as much as I love his game and compete level it's tough to win consistently
        when one of your top players is always injured.

Recent Posts

Penguins Claim Kolyachonok

The Penguins claimed defenseman Vladislav Kolyachonok off waivers yesterday from Utah. A left-shot, the 23-year-old…

1 day ago

Penguins Phall to Philly in Pre-Tourney Phinale

In the wake of the Penguins’ hardscrabble victory over the Rangers on Friday night, I…

2 days ago

Penguins Pull the Plug on Puljujärvi

The Penguins have placed forward Jesse Puljujärvi on unconditional waivers for the purpose of terminating…

3 days ago

Pesky Penguins Clip Rangers, 3-2

Way back in 1969-70, a Penguins team that was short on talent but long on…

4 days ago

Penguins Bulletin: Sid to Miss Rangers Game Tonight

Penguins' captain Sidney Crosby will miss tonight’s Metro matchup with the Rangers at Madison Square Garden…

4 days ago

Penguins This ‘n’ ‘At

With a lull between games, I thought I’d cobble together a Penguins This ‘n’ ‘At.…

5 days ago