It may come as no surprise, but the Pittsburgh Penguins have made it known around the league that they would like to trade Alex Galchenyuk according to Pierre LeBrun on last night’s edition of Insider Trading for TSN. Galchenyuk was only acquired last offseason in the Phil Kessel trade, but hasn’t found a fit in the Penguins’ top-six.
Bob McKenzie on the same panel notes once again that the Penguins’ priority is finding that top-six forward (even if that’s not what Galchenyuk will bring back at this point) in order to replace Jake Guentzel. McKenzie also suggests that Pittsburgh GM Jim Rutherford is not necessarily only looking at the rental market.
- Louis Domingue played in last night’s 6-3 loss for the New Jersey Devils, meaning the Tampa Bay Lightning are getting an extra draft pick. The conditional seventh-round pick sent to Tampa Bay for Domingue earlier this season will now transfer hands thanks to the goaltender playing in his seventh NHL game for the Devils.
- Head coach Claude Julien told reporters including Eric Engels of Sportsnet that the Montreal Canadiens are sending Brendan Gallagher for more testing to see why he is having headaches. It apparently could be related to a virus, but the team will not take a chance if it has any connection to the concussion that he only just returned from.
Gallagher- hopefully this is a virus situation, as the alternative is UN-Fun, as you well know. Alex Galchenyuk’s next destination: The Island of Misfit Toys.
RE: Galchenyuk – No kidding right?
The guy has moved between three very different teams now and hasn’t “fit in” anywhere. If the Pens can manage to get anything of substance for him before the deadline I would call that a win – if they hadn’t acquired him as part of that deal in the first place.
@Xyrak – One would think, with his track record, that there would be character issues with him, i.e. not wanting to be coached a certain way, etc. Not sure of that, but something’s not right with his picture. There’s only so many NHL destinations before the European Tour hits you squarely in the face. It’s becoming a little disturbing that the AHL’s luster is being tarnished to the point of guys willingly bailing to Europe or the KHL.
I don’t know if it’s the luster, it’s the pay.
I don’t think AZ got rid of him because he was a problem. They traded him to get Kessel.
I never understood the plan with Galchenyuk.
If he didn’t fit in, it’s a waste. If he did, he’d leave as a UFA.
Should have just flipped him as soon as they got him.
If he didn’t fit in, it’s what it took to get out from under Kessel’s contract with 1.9M of immediate relief and the $4.9M balance coming one year later.
If he did, it’s a productive offensive player to replace Kessel at a lesser price and one-year term, during which they have exclusive extension negotiating rights. And if he were so good that he became unaffordable, he’d presumably help pursue a Cup in the one year of control following which it’d free up said $4.9M in cap space for a replacement on the open market.
And let’s not forget JR was able to acquire a quality D prospect in the process.
Even as Galchenyuk has failed to contribute this was, is, and will be a very successful move for the Penguins.