Dan Kingerski of Pittsburgh Hockey Now writes about a potential link between the Pittsburgh Penguins and Toronto Maple Leafs forward Nicholas Robertson. It’s not the first time rumors have surfaced about a potential Robertson to Pittsburgh trade, as Kingerski wrote back in May that the Penguins, specifically general manager Kyle Dubas, should target the undersized Maple Leafs forward. However, Robertson remains a Maple Leaf despite asking for a trade in June, and the Penguins have just under $900K in available cap space. While a move seems unlikely at this point, it should be noted that the Penguins have 15 forwards on their active roster and could likely bury an additional $1.7MM in the minors.
Kingerski writes that the Penguins could offer sheet Robertson for below $2.29MM, and the cost would only be a third-rounder, but the Maple Leafs would likely match that number and shut the door on the Robertson-to-Pittsburgh talk. It appears that the Penguins’ best option, should they want to acquire Robertson, would be to make a hockey trade using a roster player with value and perhaps a draft pick to try and pry the 22-year-old loose.
In other Penguins notes:
- Kingerski also wrote about the Penguins’ lack of a winger for superstar Sidney Crosby. The Penguins have spent the summer trying to find someone to play with Crosby after trading Jake Guentzel at the trade deadline, and with the summer coming to an end, Kingerski believes that Drew O’Connor is likely the Penguins’ best option for the first-line left winger role. O’Connor finished last season playing with Crosby and showed glimpses during that time. The 25-year-old finished the year with 16 goals and 17 assists in 79 games, including seven goals and five assists in the final 19 games when he played alongside Crosby.
- The Penguins acquisition of young forward Rutger McGroarty has changed the potential makeup of their forward lines (according to Dan Kingerski). The Penguins boast as many as 19 potential NHL forwards, including newly acquired Kevin Hayes, Cody Glass, and Anthony Beauvillier, and it could make for an interesting training camp in the Steel City. McGroarty could get a look alongside Sidney Crosby on the first line, but he could also slide into a third-line role alongside Hayes and Beauvillier. It isn’t even clear which side of the ice McGroarty will play on, but one clear thing is that his presence in Pittsburgh makes things very interesting when it comes to the Penguins’ forward ranks.
think the Leafs would consider drew Connor Cody Glass one for one for Robertson?
It would have to be the prior and at this point too much has been spent on the development unless they see a need for Glass. We’d probably have to retain salary there too. Picks or a combo of a lesser player plus picks would be it but at this point it’s just throwing quantity instead of quality at the problem as we hold on to the twilight years of Crosby’s magnificence.
I would think a bottom six winger at $1.5 million or less (Leafs need the cap space to have a 13th forward), plus a 3rd or 4th round pick should get it done.
Anthony Beauvillier, Valterri Puustinen, and Cody Glass all seem like decent options, although the Penguins would have to retain some of Glass’s salary. Penguins probably wouldn’t consider Drew O’Connor because that doesn’t really make the team better, and Sid seems to like him a lot as well.
Would be a good trade for the Penguins as they could play Robertson or O’Connor on Sid’s line and drop the other to the third line with Hayes and McGroarty. Would get the team younger with more higher end talent without mortgaging anything of significance for the future. I hope they’re able to get it done.
McGroarty Sid Rust
Bunting Malkin Rakell
DOC Glass Hayes
Lizotte Eller Beavillier
Pretty meh. Almost no speed.
But this starts looking a lot better:
Robertson Sid Rust
Bunting Malkin Rakell
O’Connor Hayes McGroarty
Lizotte Eller Beavillier/Glass/Puustinen
I’d also like to see Acciari and Eller traded sometime in the next month so that Lizotte can move to Center on the 4th line and Poulin has a legit shot at the roster. Plus, lots of cap space and draft picks to make some moves over the next year. I’d also like to see Hayes on the fourth line and Puustinen on the third line. I think Puustinen could be a surprise player this season (40+ points). I’m also higher on him than most and admit that.
It’s the second line that’ll kill us. Too slow and not much D. That’s a minus line.
If we could swap out Rakell for more speed, that would help a lot. Maybe try Puustinen, honestly.
Agree about Rakell. He just doesn’t fit with either of the Pens top two lines. If he has a hot start to the season I would like to see the Pens trade him regardless of where they are in the standings. Need to unload that contract and get a better fit for the top 6. He still has some value to a team that already has a lot of speed and needs a goal scorer.
I’d love to see Puustinen get a legit shot on the 2nd line. Ultimately I think the Penguins will acquire a younger top 6 player in the coming months, but in the meantime they have to try something different.