The Pittsburgh Penguins are faring quite well so far in a competitive East Division with Pittsburgh currently two points back of first place. The Penguins are enjoying a solid season and new President of Hockey Operations Brian Burke and general manager Ron Hextall are expected to bolster their roster as the trade deadline nears.
Interesting enough, NBC Sports Adam Gretz reports that the two new executives are both well known for their appreciation of size on their teams and it wouldn’t be surprising if the Penguins were seeking help in that direction as the trade deadline approaches. While the team doesn’t have the firepower to trade for any big names on the market, the scribe believes that a realistic target may be Detroit’s Anthony Mantha.
The 26-year-old Mantha could be a good find as the winger has struggled in the last couple of seasons with injuries being the main culprit. This year, Mantha has just nine goals and 16 points in 34 games and might prove to be a good trade chip if general manager Steve Yzerman chooses. However, for the Penguins to add Mantha, they would have to unload a significant amount with few assets but a handful of prospects and almost no picks as the Penguins have already traded away their first, third, fourth and sixth-round picks for 2021.
- Penguins head coach Mike Sullivan reports that winger Jason Zucker practiced fully Sunday and is close to returning to the Pittsburgh lineup at some point this week, according to Wes Crosby of NHL.com. Zucker skated in a non-contact sweater Saturday, so Sunday was a step up. The 29-year-old has four goals and seven points in 17 games, but will have to be activated from long-term injured reserve before he can play.
- Crosby also notes that forwards Teddy Blueger and Brandon Tanev were on the ice Sunday with skills and development coach Ty Hennes. Tanev reportedly cleared the NHL’s COVID-19 protocol on Sunday, but didn’t practice with the team as he is still rehabbing from an upper-body injury. He remains day-to-day, but is also close. Blueger was placed on injured reserve on March 18 with an upper-body injury and was listed as week-to-week.
- The Athletic’s Josh Yohe (subscription required) suggests Sidney Crosby, while a longshot, as a potential candidate for the Hart Trophy. The scribe writes that despite a number of significant candidates for the award like Patrick Kane, Connor McDavid, Nathan MacKinnon and Auston Matthews, Crosby could be an outside candidate. The 33-year-old center has 14 goals and 39 points in 34 games and has been a key leader for an impressive Penguins team that has been without Evgeni Malkin for much of the season.
Don’t know why anyone would trade for mantha for a guy who’s supposed to be a physical big bodied forward he plays a pretty weak game and always hurt
Not interested in Mantha, but I have mild interest in Sam Reinhart, who I have also heard the Pens linked to.
But, unless they are taking a McCann and Pettersson package, I don’t see how either deal would get done anyway.
Also, I thought Sid should have gotten way more Hart consideration last year, but this year Kane is almost single handedly carrying the Hawks to the playoffs and it’s hard to ignore the two Oilers.
Mcjesus has like 10 points on dri whos 2nd and we’ll ahead of the rest so ya mcjesus is winning Sid isn’t even ahead of Marner
The pens are going to be i real trouble in 3ish years from always trading there picks and prospects.
That’s what they said 3 years ago.
I made the mistake of reading the comments under Yohe’s article…
The Pens are such a great team and a great organization in a great city, but man…we have so many insufferable know nothing bandwagon dolt fans.
Yinzgrates.
These morons convinced themselves that Rutherford (the HOF GM who won us two Cups) was Mr. Magoo on ice and ruined the team with his moves. Now that the team that Jimmy built (which these super scouts decided was garbage) is sniffing first in the NHL’s hardest division, have they reevaluated their poor prognostication and analysis?
Actual comment…
“I’m just spitballing here, but maybe one of the reasons the Penguins are playing better is because GMJR is no longer GM. ” – Someone who actually typed this out for the world to see.
Outside of Mark Friedman, the only move Hextall and Burke have made was to change the goal song. A huge move, no doubt.
Have to give Mike Sullivan a lot of credit, also.