Should the Penguins be Buyers or Sellers at the Deadline?

About a month ago, I wrote an article titled, “What Should Dubas Do Now,” sharing my thoughts about the then-distant trade deadline.

With the Olympics about to wrap-up and the NHL set to resume play this coming week, the March 6 deadline looms just around the corner.

Too, our situation has changed since I posted my piece. Sidney Crosby’s recent injury aside, generally for the better. Beginning on January 19, our Pens lit out on a 7-1-1 run to strengthen their grip on a playoff spot. Conventional wisdom suggests if we play a touch above .500 hockey the rest of the way, no gimme considering our schedule, we’ll land a postseason berth.

Some folks, including PP colleague Other Rick, think the deadline provides a golden opportunity to clear out some veterans in order to make room for kids whose engines are revving at Wilkes-Barre/Scranton while continuing to stockpile draft capital.

Fellow PPer Caleb DiNatale thinks Kyle Dubas should swing big, as in Jason Robertson big.

With all due respect to both, I disagree.

My reasoning? This group has absolutely earned the right to compete for a playoff spot and more. Given our surprising success and obvious chemistry, I think it would be a grave mistake to break up the gang now. At least to an extreme.

If anything, a low-key deal or two to buttress our depth on defense might be the order of the day. And even that may not be absolutely necessary, given how well guys like Connor Clifton, Jack St. Ivany and Ilya Solovyov are performing.

One player I would consider trading, through absolutely no fault of his own? Noel Acciari. The UFA-to-be’s done absolutely everything you could ask of him and more, including winning faceoffs at a 54.8 percent clip (second to Sid). “Cookie’s” been a huge and underrated part of our fourth-line’s success.

He is 34 and on an expiring contract, but that’s not why I’d consider moving him. The play of Baby Pens’ winger Avery Hayes is. I’ve already documented the kid’s incredible recent production, 10 goals and 13 points in his past 11 games, including a pair of hat tricks. It would seem he has little left to prove in the AHL.

As an added bonus, Hayes plays a fast, spirited game that would dovetail nicely with those of current fourth-liners Blake Lizotte and Connor Dewar. Plus, as we witnessed during his sensational, two-goal NHL debut against the Sabres, the kid’s perfectly capable of filling a top-nine role.

What kind of return could we reasonably expect for Acciari? Probably a light one. Still, I make a deal if there’s a demand for his services.

I’d also be willing to trade spare forward Kevin Hayes. The 33-year-old vet, uber-popular with his mates, is likely untradeable unless we retain of a healthy portion of his $3.5 million cap hit, which we certainly have the cap space to do.

As for other oft-suggested trade chips, including forward Anthony Mantha, defenseman Brett Kulak and goalie Stuart Skinner? Pending UFAs all?

At least in the cases of Mantha and Kulak, unless the return for their services is lights-out, uh uh, I don’t move ‘em.

With his 20 goals, second-best to Sid, and 42 points, third-most, Mantha’s far too productive and valuable to part with. Plus, the big guy with the ever-present mouthpiece just seems to be a very positive and popular presence.

Kulak’s been a stabilizer for Kris Letang. Full stop. Deal him, and it’s liable to cost you two effective defensemen. Plus, his skating and mobility support the way Dan Muse likes his defensemen to play.

I’d be a skosh more open to trading Skinner, or 1A Arturs Silovs, to make room for Sergei Murashov. However, as promising as Murashov is, there’s no guarantee the kid’s minor-league success will automatically translate to the bigs. Maybe the Skinner-Silovs tandem hasn’t been spectacular, but it’s certainly been good enough.

I say, if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it. Ride things out with who we got.

Oddly, and this suggestion comes completely out of left field, one totally off-the-radar guy I would consider moving? Justin Brazeau. The big guy’s blown hot-and-cold since his jack-rabbit start. Certainly still effective, just not the revelation we thought he might be. Contract-wise, he’s under control for another season at a very affordable $1.5 million. Combined with his surprising production, it might make the super-sized winger an attractive get. One who could possibly bring some added depth on ‘d.’

At the same time, it would open a permanent spot for Rutger McGroarty, who would appear to be ready (17 points in 14 games at Wilkes).

Again, I have absolutely no qualms about keeping Brazeau, who I like.

In closing, I don’t think the Pens will be super-active at the deadline. However, when it comes to predictions, I’ve been wrong once or twice a lot. And Sid’s injury, still of unknown severity but serious enough to keep him out of the gold medal game, may influence Dubas’s approach.

Stayed tuned…

USA!!! USA!!!

Speaking of the Olympics finale, Team USA nudged aside Team Canada, 2-1, in a pulsating game between hockey’s superpowers, thanks to an overtime winner by Devils star Jack Hughes.

The Jets’ Connor Hellebuyck turned aside 41 of 42 shots in a heroic performance worthy of the gold. The first for the United States since the epic “Miracle on Ice” triumph back in 1980.

Congratulations to the members of Team USA and in particular those with Pittsburgh connections: coach Mike Sullivan, assistants John Hynes and David Quinn, GM Bill Guerin and assistant GM Tom Fitzgerald, and forward Jake Guentzel.