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Trade Deadline Primer: Pittsburgh Penguins

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With the trade deadline now just a few days away, we will be taking a closer look at the situation for each team over the coming weeks.  Where do they stand, what do they need to do, and what assets do they have to fill those needs?  Next up is a look at the Pittsburgh Penguins.

It’s hard to not be amazed by what the Penguins have done this season, given how many key players have missed time with injury. Only Brandon Tanev, Teddy Blueger, Dominik Simon and Marcus Pettersson have played in all 58 games for Pittsburgh, but the team has caught and passed Washington for the division lead. They already made a big move by acquiring Jason Zucker, but don’t rule out Jim Rutherford over the next few days.

Record

37-15-6, first in the Metropolitan Division

Deadline Status

Buyer

Deadline Cap Space

$3.499MM in a full-season cap hit, 0/3 used salary cap retention slots, 47/50 contracts per CapFriendly

Upcoming Draft Picks

2020: PIT 3rd, PIT 4th, PIT 5th, PIT 6th
2021: PIT 1st*, PIT 2nd, PIT 3rd, PIT 5th, PIT 7th, ANA 7th

*If the Penguins miss the playoffs in 2019-20, they can send their 2021 first-round pick to the Minnesota Wild instead of this year’s.

Trade Chips

After spending a couple of the chambered rounds in the Zucker deal, it may be hard for Rutherford to find enough to really make a big splash on the trade market. The Penguins won’t have a first-round pick (again) this year, and they traded their 2020 second way back in 2017 for expansion draft considerations. Some may say who needs draft picks when you can find players like Marcus Pettersson and John Marino for (close to) free, but there aren’t a ton of futures left for the team to dangle.

The question then becomes who from the roster would the Penguins be willing to move. Before the season Nick Bjugstad and Bryan Rust were two names frequently bandied about in speculation, but now that the former has missed three months and the latter is the team’s leading goal scorer it might be hard to make a deal around one of them. Bjugstad is expected to be back soon, but with just a few days left it would be hard for anyone to take that risk.

Still, the team has some other forwards that could maybe be involved if a deal presented itself. Simon, Blueger and Dominik Kahun are all important parts of the team, but with Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin anchoring two lines you could find replacements. Sam Lafferty is another, though how much value he would really bring isn’t clear.

On defense, Marino’s injury really makes it difficult to trade someone like Juuso Riikola, if they even considered it in the past. The Penguins defense group is likely set, unless Rutherford adds another veteran name before what is expected to be a long playoff run.

That leaves goaltending, where many have pointed to Casey DeSmith sitting in the minor leagues as one of the Penguins’ biggest trade chips. Not so fast says Rutherford, who recently explained he doesn’t plan on moving one of his goaltenders at the deadline.

Five Players To Watch For: F Sam Lafferty, F Dominik Simon, D Juuso Riikola, F Dominik Kahun, F Nick Bjugstad

Team Needs

1) Bottom-Six Flexibility: Rutherford is never shy about speaking his mind, and he did just that to Josh Yohe of The Athletic (subscription required). He plans on adding a bottom-six player that can move around a bit, as long as the prices come down over the weekend. Who that player is exactly remains to be seen, but you can bet there will be a new face flying around the ice next week.

2) Depth Defense: The only way this happens is if the Penguins get bad news on Brian Dumoulin or Marino, but you can never have enough options on the back end. Rutherford knows first hand how many defensemen you need for a Stanley Cup playoff run after being forced to use Trevor Daley and Ron Hainsey as top options in 2017.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

Pittsburgh Penguins, Montreal Canadiens Complete Minor Trade

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The Pittsburgh Penguins have sent Joseph Blandisi and Jake Lucchini to the Montreal Canadiens in exchange for Riley Barber and Phil Varone. All four players in the deal are currently playing in the AHL and will report to their new respective organizations in Laval and Wilkes-Barre/Scranton.

Interestingly, Barber and Varone were both scratched over the weekend for the Rocket and while nothing will likely be confirmed, AHL reporter Mark Divver tweets that it was “related to some kind of off-ice unrest.” What exactly that means isn’t clear, but they both will now get a fresh start with another organization for the end of the season.

All four of these players are scheduled for free agency of one kind or another at the end of the season, with Blandisi and Lucchini both becoming restricted free agents, Barber headed for group VI unrestricted free agency and Varone scheduled to become a regular (group III) unrestricted free agent.

This deal will likely have very little impact at the NHL level, though Blandisi did play 21 games with Pittsburgh earlier this season and has shown himself to be competent at that level. Barber meanwhile spent nine games with Montreal this season, though still doesn’t have an NHL point in 12 career appearances.

Penguins Won't Trade Casey DeSmith, Eyeing Another Forward Trade

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If Penguins GM Jim Rutherford has his way, there is another trade to come for Pittsburgh.  Speaking with NHL.com’s Mike Zeisberger, he indicated that he’d like to try to add another forward to add some more balance to their top-12.  With their remaining cap room, another big addition is unlikely but someone to contribute on their third or fourth line would give them a small boost and hedge against injury trouble, something the team is quite familiar with this season.

One possible trade chip they have is goaltender Casey DeSmith who has played well this season for AHL Wilkes-Barre/Scranton while posting a .917 save percentage over his two seasons with the Penguins.  However, Rutherford stated that he has no intention of moving DeSmith (or one of his current NHL goalies) and instead will keep the 28-year-old as insurance.

Minor Transactions: 02/19/20

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Six games are on the schedule for this evening, including an interesting matchup between the division leading Boston Bruins and Edmonton Oilers. It will be a real test for the Oilers without Connor McDavid or Oscar Klefbom, against one of the true Stanley Cup contenders this season. As they and the rest of the league prepare, we’ll keep track of all the minor moves right here:

  • The Pittsburgh Penguins have placed John Marino on injured reserve after his recent surgery, meaning they had a spot on the roster for another defenseman. Zach Trotman is that defenseman for now, after he was recalled today from the AHL.
  • The San Jose Sharks have recalled Nicolas Meloche from the AHL to fill Brenden Dillon’s spot, after the veteran was traded yesterday. Meloche has yet to play an NHL game in his young career, but was the 40th overall selection in 2015.
  • Christian Folin has been recalled by the Montreal Canadiens, after Victor Mete left last night’s game with an injury. Folin has played in seven games for the Canadiens this season, recording two points.
  • The Philadelphia Flyers have recalled Mark Friedman from the minor leagues, giving them another defenseman for tomorrow’s road game in Columbus. Friedman has played five games for the Flyers this season.
  • Glenn Gawdin has been returned to the AHL by the Calgary Flames, who only recalled him two days ago. The 22-year old forward is still waiting to get his first NHL game action.

Injury Notes: Bouwmeester, Klefbom, Aston-Reese

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After suffering a cardiac episode and being revived on the bench earlier this month, St. Louis Blues defenseman Jay Bouwmeester has released a statement thanking all the medical professionals for their hard work in his recovery:

I would sincerely like to thank all of the trainers from both the St. Louis Blues and Anaheim Ducks, as well as all of the first responders, the Anaheim medical staff and the team at the UCI Medical Center for their quick actions on Feb. 11.

Our family has felt the support of the entire National Hockey League family and the city of St. Louis during this time. We have all been greatly comforted by your genuine concern.

On Sunday evening, I returned to St. Louis and I am on the road to recovery. My wife and daughters are forever grateful for everyone’s support and we will continue to have a positive outlook for our future.

It is great news to hear that Bouwmeester has returned to St. Louis and will continue his recovery at home. The entire hockey community wishes him well as he gets better.

  • In other injury news, the Edmonton Oilers have lost another key player for several weeks. Oscar Klefbom will miss two-to-three weeks with a shoulder injury, weakening the Oilers’ already shaky defensive group. It’s hard to overstate how important Klefbom has been this season, logging more than 25 minutes a night and leading all Oilers’ defensemen in scoring with 33 points in 59 games.
  • Speaking of teams that have been injury-riddled, the Pittsburgh Penguins have lost another forward. Zach Aston-Reese has been listed as week-to-week by head coach Mike Sullivan, taking him out of the lineup for the time being. The 25-year old Aston-Reese has been a staple in the Penguins lineup all year, recording 13 points in 57 games while logging significant time on the penalty kill. Though he obviously isn’t as impactful as some of the other Pittsburgh stars who have missed time, his absence will be noticed.

Five Key Stories: 02/10/20 – 02/16/20

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Can you really pick just five? In a news cycle in which superstar Erik Karlsson being ruled out for the season doesn’t even crack the top ten headlines, here are the five most important stories (admittedly with some other notes sprinkled in) of the week that was:

Bouwmeester Suffers Cardiac Incident: The hockey world stood still on Tuesday night, after the game between the St. Louis Blues and Anaheim Ducks was suspended under very scary circumstances. Veteran defenseman Jay Bouwmeester suffered a “cardiac event” while on the bench during the first period of the contest, collapsing onto the ground. Bouwmeester required resuscitation by the teams’ training staffs to re-start his heart before he was rushed to the hospital. While awaiting word on his condition, there was an outpouring of support from teams and players in all corners of the hockey world for the well-respected veteran. Fortunately, the team issued a statement that Bouwmeester was in stable condition, followed by a report on Friday that he had undergone successful heart surgery. While questions remain about Bouwmeester’s availability to the reigning Stanley Cup champs this season, as well as the future of the impending free agent’s career, the focus will be on rest and rehabilitation for a while still to come.

Minnesota Fires Boudreau: In 13 seasons as an NHL head coach, Bruce Boudreau has only missed the playoffs twice and those seasons occurred seven years apart. However, one of those seasons was 2018-19 and things were not looking good for a return to the postseason in Minnesota this year. New GM Bill Guerin opted to cut ties with his veteran coach on Friday before he could miss consecutive postseasons for the first time in his career. Assistant Dean Evason was named the interim replacement, while Boudreau will begin looking for a new home – a process that historically has not taken him very long.

Elsewhere in the division, Winnipeg Jets head coach Paul Maurice received the opposite treatment, despite similar struggles this season. Already one of the longest-tenured coaches in the NHL, Maurice received a three-year contract extension from the Jets.

Penguins Acquire Zucker: Firing Boudreau was not the only major shake-up in Minnesota this week. Long-time Wild star Jason Zucker was finally traded on Monday after more than a year of speculation, even through front office changes. In the end, he winds up with the Pittsburgh Penguins, the same team that nearly acquired him this summer for Phil Kessel. Former Pittsburgh executive Bill Guerin made good on his major trade as Minnesota GM, landing a 2020 first-round pick, top prospect defenseman Calen Addison, and a capable forward and potential extension candidate in Alex Galchenyuk. Meanwhile, the Penguins add the forward they have been seeking – especially in light of Jake Guentzel’s season-ending injury – in Zucker, a veteran with the speed and skill to keep up with Sidney Crosby and three more years remaining on his contract at a reasonable rate. Zucker scored two goals in just his second game with the Penguins on Friday.

Devils Deal Two Key Players: The trades kept rolling on Sunday with the New Jersey Devils as the center of attention. Another new GM, Tom Fitzgerald, is making good on his promise to maximize the return on tradable assets from the rebuilding club. In two separate deals, the Devils added a first-round pick and second-round pick in 2020, promising forward prospect Nolan Foote, and minor leaguer David Quenneville. Of course, it came at a cost, as long-time captain Andy Greene was dealt to the rival New York Islanders and fan-favorite forward Blake Coleman was moved to the Tampa Bay Lightning. Still, with such strong returns and pieces like Sami Vatanen, Wayne Simmonds, and more expected to go as well, this is the beginning of potentially franchise-altering deadline for New Jersey.

Oilers Extend Nurse: The Edmonton Oilers needed some good news this week, with superstar Connor McDavid out two-to-three weeks with an injury and fellow forward Zack Kassian suspended for seven games. They got it with news of a contract extension for young defenseman Darnell Nurse. Nurse, 25, signed a two-year, $11.2MM deal prior to restricted free agency and a potential arbitration battle this summer. The new AAV for Nurse represents a sizeable salary bump, but for good reason, as he has established himself as a dependable top-pair defender and a point-producer. While the relationship between Nurse and the Oilers was once a concern, it now seems to be in good order, with expectations already that the two sides will negotiate a more long-term extension after next season.

Pittsburgh Penguins Acquire Jason Zucker

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The Pittsburgh Penguins have finally landed their man. The Penguins have acquired Jason Zucker from the Minnesota Wild in exchange for Alex Galchenyuk, Calen Addison and a conditional 2020 first-round pick. Should the Penguins miss the playoffs this season, they will have the option to instead give the Wild their 2021 first-round selection.

Zucker, 28, has been a target of Penguins’ GM Jim Rutherford for some time. Last summer there was a deal agreed upon between the two teams that would have sent Phil Kessel to Minnesota, but the enigmatic sniper refused to waive his no-trade clause. Kessel was eventually dealt to the Arizona Coyotes instead with Galchenyuk a big part of the return. Zucker is signed through 2022-23 at a $5.5MM cap hit, giving the team a lot more cost certainty than Galchenyuk, who is a pending unrestricted free agent.

The last several years have been quite the rollercoaster for Galchenyuk. The third overall pick in 2012 scored a career-high 30 goals in 2015-16 with the Montreal Canadiens but will now join his fourth organization in three seasons. Despite coming in to potentially replace Kessel in the Pittsburgh top-six, the 25-year old couldn’t find a fit beside Sidney Crosby or Evgeni Malkin and was dropped down in the lineup. With just five goals and 17 points in 45 games it has been a disaster for him, especially given he’ll be negotiating a new deal in a few months.

Though Zucker and Galchenyuk will fill most of the headlines, Addison isn’t to be overlooked. The 19-year old defenseman is the real gem in the deal for the Wild, who are trying to add more prospect talent to the organization. Selected 53rd overall in 2018, the puck-moving blueliner has 43 points in 39 games for the Lethbridge Hurricanes and was one of the best players for the gold medal-winning Team Canada at the World Juniors. McKenzie tweets that the Penguins didn’t want to include Addison in the deal, but given Wild GM Bill Guerin’s familiarity with the Pittsburgh organization it’s not surprising that he was a target.

The fact that the Wild will also add a first-round selection makes this quite the package, especially if they can either re-sign or flip Galchenyuk for even more. Zucker does appear to be a perfect fit for the Penguins however, especially given Jake Guentzel’s long-term injury.

Not only is capable of creating plenty of offense—he currently sits at 14 goals, 29 points through 45 games—he also brings the one attribute that has worked so well in the past alongside Crosby: speed. Zucker is still one of the best straight line skaters in the league and will give the team another weapon at even-strength and on the powerplay.

It comes as no surprise that Rutherford has landed one of his top targets several weeks before the deadline. The veteran executive has never been shy to pull the trigger on a big deal, and with his dynamic duo getting older there is no time to waste when pursuing another Stanley Cup.

One statistic that may cause some anxiety in Pittsburgh fans? Zucker has just eight points in 31 career playoff games, and was held scoreless during his most recent series in 2018.

Bob McKenzie of TSN was first to break the deal on Twitter.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images

John Marino Undergoes Surgery

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Monday: The Penguins have announced that Marino underwent surgery to repair facial bone fractures and will miss three to six weeks.

Friday: The Pittsburgh Penguins have dealt with injuries to almost every single one of their core players this season, and now the bug has caught on with the rookies too. According to several reports including Matt Vensel of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, John Marino has broken three bones in his cheek and is expected to require surgery.

Marino, 22, has been a revelation for the Penguins this season, stepping right into the NHL to become an impact player in his rookie season. A sixth-round pick of the Edmonton Oilers, it was clear he was not going to sign with the team so they traded him to the Penguins in the offseason for a new sixth. All he’s done in the meantime is record 25 points in 51 games for Pittsburgh and average more than 20 minutes a game.

Struck in the face by a deflected Steven Stamkos shot on Thursday, it originally seemed as though Marino would be okay. Further evaluation has revealed the extent of the damage, though there has still not been an official statement released from the team. To that end, it is not clear when Marino will be able to return to action for the Penguins

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images

Edmonton Oilers Have “Looked Into” Tomas Tatar

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If there’s one line repeated ad nauseam this trade deadline, it will be that the Edmonton Oilers need help on the wing. Now that Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl have been split up for the most part and are driving two different lines, the prevailing thought is that they will add a body or two to give them a little more depth. You wouldn’t blame GM Ken Holland for looking around for a familiar face then. Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet writes in his latest 31 Thoughts column that the Oilers have “looked into” Montreal Canadiens forward Tomas Tatar, who of course has a long history with Holland from their time in Detroit.

Tatar, who is also drawing interest from the Pittsburgh Penguins according to Friedman, has resurrected his career in Montreal after an ill-fated stopover with the Vegas Golden Knights. After setting career-highs with 25 goals and 58 points last season, Tatar is ready to blow past those numbers in 2019-20. He currently sits with 20 goals and 50 points in 55 games, leading the Canadiens in both categories by a fairly wide margin.

Why would Montreal want to trade Tatar then? Well, this season hasn’t gone according to plan for the Canadiens who even with their recent strong play still sit seven points out of an Atlantic Division playoff spot. The final wild card position is actually even further away, and Montreal would have to jump over several teams to land either one.

There’s also the fact that Tatar is only signed for one more year and just turned 29. While he has obviously been a great fit for the team, trading him now could provide a pretty significant return given he would represent two playoff runs for any acquiring team.

In 2018 when the Golden Knights acquired Tatar from the Red Wings, he had three additional seasons on his deal at a $5.3MM cap hit. He also only had 16 goals and 28 points through 62 games, but Vegas still decided to give up a first, a second and a third-round pick for him. After the Golden Knights retained salary in the subsequent move, he now costs just $4.8MM against the cap and is having and much more successful season. That’s why Friedman writes that any team would have to “move the needle” to really interest Montreal GM Marc Bergevin, but also why he could be one of the biggest names on the market if made available.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images

Sullivan: No Setback For Bjugstad Despite Him Stopping Skating

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Prior to their bye week, Penguins winger Nick Bjugstad had been skating on his own and had even traveled with the team on its recent road trip, leading to some speculation that he was nearing a return.  However, he hasn’t been skating since then, yet head coach Mike Sullivan told reporters, including Matt Vensel of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, that Bjugstad hasn’t suffered a setback but declined to go into further detail.  The initial timeline for his return was a minimum of eight weeks after undergoing core muscle surgery.  This is week nine since then and even if this is just planned rest and not anything of concern, it certainly seems like Bjugstad is going to be out for a while longer.

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