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Rutherford Eyeing Trade Market To Improve Penguins

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Changes are coming in Pittsburgh this off-season, but GM Jim Rutherford is “not even really thinking about free agency right now”. Speaking with Josh Yohe of the Athletic, Rutherford admits that “we won’t really have the cap space to do anything anyway. We’re going to re-sign some of our restricted free agents. And at that point, we’re around the cap.” The Penguins need to re-sign RFA’s Bryan Rust, Riley Sheahan, Daniel Sprong, Jamie Oleksiak and more and even with the expected increase to the salary cap limit will only have $8-12MM maximum to work with. The team could make a couple additional minor moves here and there on the unrestricted free agent market, but Rutherford is correct that team is strapped for the cap space to make any significant signings this summer, at least as things stand now.

As a result, it is the trade market that Rutherford is more interested in. The team has already stated that they don’t plan to buy out any of their current players, but they could look to move them via trade. Atop that list are likely wingers Carl Hagelin and Conor Sheary and defenseman Matt Hunwick. In fact, the blue line appears to be the most likely area for a player to be traded away, as the team enters next season with six veterans under contract and Oleksiak and Frank Corrado as restricted free agents. Rutherford stated to Yohe that defenseman Brian Dumoulin is the most untouchable player on the back end due to his invaluable defensive play, and also expressed his fondness for Oleksiak and Olli Maatta as well. Rutherford said that the front office is optimistic that Kris Letang and Hunwick will perform better next year and were happy with the play of Justin Schultz and Chad Ruhwedel as they made up for Letang’s and Hunwick’s shortcomings respectively this season. However, Rutherford added that his comfort with this group doesn’t mean that won’t make a change.

The goal in making any deal is to improve the depth and youth of the Penguins’ forward corps. This explains why the team was connected to Max Domi recently, before he was traded to the Montreal Canadiens last week. The team is seeking versatility and upside up front and are willing to move substantial assets to get it, but Rutherford wasn’t willing to part with the Alex Galchenyuk-level ask from the Arizona Coyotes for Domi. Rutherford knows that even if he does nothing this summer, Pittsburgh will still be a contender, and as such he does not need to overpay in any trade. Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin are not going anywhere and Rutherford has already confirmed that he is not shopping Phil Kessel. It’s safe to assume that young winger Jake Guentzel and new acquisition Derick Brassard are also safe. That is already shaping up to be a solid group yet again and the internal addition of younger players should add energy and potential. However, Rutherford’s preference still is to add depth and even more youth if he can to combat the injuries and fatigue that hurt his aging roster last year. Those are the moves he is looking to make this summer and it seems inevitable that at least one such transaction will be made by the expert executive. They may not be three-peat champions, but the Penguins are going to re-stock and be dangerous again in 2018-19.

Nicklas Backstrom Out For Game Six

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The Washington Capitals finally have a chance to get past the Pittsburgh Penguins, the one roadblock that has kept them from true Stanley Cup contention for years, as they enter Game Six this evening with a 3-2 series lead. However, as they take on the two-time defending champs in their own building, the Capitals will be even further disadvantaged by the loss of one their top players. The team has announced that Nicklas Backstrom is out for the crucial match-up and is day-to-day with an undisclosed upper-body injury.

While Washington may not want to officially announce the specifics of Backstrom’s injury, it is clearly a hand injury. As Sportsnet’s John Shannon points out, Backstrom was obviously sporting a heavily bandaged right hand when entering the arena earlier. Backstrom blocked a Justin Schultz shot with his hand in the first period of Game Five and saw limited ice time and no face-offs for the rest of the game. The injury now appears to be severe enough that he could not play through it tonight.

Not only is Backstrom a bona fide regular season star in the NHL, with a near point-per-game pace throughout his entire eleven-year career, but he is arguably better in the postseason. Backstrom has 88 points in 107 playoff games while skating for more than 21 minutes per night. Especially during the Caps’ current run, Backstrom has been an offensive force, recording 13 points in 11 games, including a three-point game against the Penguins in a Game Three win. Backstrom’s absence will not go unnoticed and is a major detriment to the Capitals’ depth. Washington has lost in each of the last six opportunities that they have had to reach the Eastern Conference final. To snap that streak, either tonight or possibly on Wednesday night too, they will have to find a way to win without Backstrom.

Kings’ Dustin Brown Suspended For One Game

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7:15 PM: Brown has been suspended for one game, the Department of Player Safety announced (Twitter link).  He will sit out Tuesday night against Carolina and return on Thursday versus Pittsburgh.

1:38 PM: The Department of Player Safety announced this afternoon that they will have a hearing today for the Los Angeles Kings Dustin Brown for kneeing Tampa Bay Lightning defenseman Mikhail Sergachev during Saturday nights game. The knee-to-knee hit can be seen here.

Brown, who is not new to the Department of Player Safety hearings, had a hearing only last month for cross-checking Pittsburgh Penguins’ Justin Schultz. In that incident, Brown got a surprisingly gently slap on the wrist as he was not suspended despite receiving a five-minute major and a game misconduct for the hit. He was fined $10,000. Brown had been suspended two games 18 months previous to that for a hit against Jason Pominville, then with the Minnesota Wild.

While he wasn’t necessarily classified as a repeat offender in his hearing in January, that won’t be the case this time around as a suspension would seem likely. With the Kings fighting to stay in the Western Conference playoff race (currently holding the third spot in the Pacific Division), losing Brown for any amount of time could be crippling. The 33-year-old wing has 16 goals and 38 points. He also has accumulated 52 penalty minutes, the most since he had 66 in the 2013-14 season.

Dustin Brown, Evgeni Malkin Receive Fines

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The Department of Player Safety has decided on supplementary discipline for the actions taken in last night’s Los Angeles Kings-Pittsburgh Penguins game, with Dustin Brown earning a $10,000 fine for cross-checking Justin Schultz, and Evgeni Malkin receiving a $5,000 fine for a spear delivered on Brown earlier in the game.

It’s a surprising result to be sure, since Brown was given a five minute major and a game misconduct for the hit, which was delivered while Schultz was already on his knees sliding towards the boards. Many expected him to receive a suspension, especially with a previous incident in his past that earned him two games for an elbow on Jason Pominville. Though it happened more than 18 months ago and would not classify him as a repeat offender in regards to the salary he would have to forfeit, all history is taken into account by the DoPS when handing out supplementary discipline.

For Malkin, the incident came in the first period when he appeared to purposefully lift his stick forcefully between Brown’s legs when they came together at the boards. Malkin was not penalized on the play, but will now be under more scrutiny from the referees and league going forward.

Morning Notes: Seattle, Chabot, Brown

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Seattle remains a likely destination for expansion in the coming years, and people have been keeping an eye on domain names for a potential hint at what the team could name themselves. Though this is extremely early in the process and means little, it is interesting that Christina Song, general counsel for the Oak View Group, registered 13 domain names according Chris Creamer at Sportslogos.net.

Cougars, Eagles, Emeralds, Evergreens, Firebirds, Kraken, Rainiers, Renegades, Sea Lions, Seals, Sockeyes, Totems and Whales are the potential nicknames, a wide-reaching group that is in no way guaranteed to include the eventual moniker. Still, it’s fun to think about what a Seattle Kraken uniform would look like, or what colors the Seattle Firebirds would wear.

Injury Notes: Parise, Letang, Kadri, Ellis

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The Minnesota Wild will welcome Zach Parise back tonight when they take on the Florida Panthers. Parise will be making his season debut after just a one-game conditioning stint with the Iowa Wild, and will attempt to get his season off to a good start against a Panthers team that Minnesota will meet for a second time in six games.

Parise hasn’t played in more than 74 games in a single season since 2011-12, but is still an integral part of the Minnesota forward group. Receiving Selke votes as one of the leagues best defensive forwards six out of the last eight years, and only a few seasons removed from a 33-goal season, the Wild will hope Parise’s presence will kick-start their playoff pursuit. The Wild find themselves in fifth place in the Central Division, but only a single point behind the Anaheim Ducks for the second wildcard spot.

  • Kris Letang and Justin Schultz both took their regular spots at practice this morning for the Pittsburgh Penguins, which could indicate their return tonight against the Philadelphia Flyers. For the Penguins, who are still sitting outside a playoff spot (three points back of the New York Islanders), getting Letang and Schultz back would be invaluable. If one or both can quickly return to peak form, the team will once again be one to watch in the Eastern Conference.
  • Nazem Kadri will return for the Toronto Maple Leafs tonight after suffering what appeared to be a concussion against the Arizona Coyotes. Kadri told reporters today including Kristen Shilton of TSN that it in fact was just a neck injury and that he never did feel any concussion symptoms. His return will allow the Maple Leafs to move Patrick Marleau back to the wing, where he is more accustomed and effective.
  • Ryan Ellis was scheduled to return on January 2nd, and it looks like he’ll make that happen. The Nashville Predators defenseman and associate captain will likely play his first game of the season after head coach Peter Laviolette told Adam Vignan of the Tenessean that Ellis was “right there and ready to go.”

Penguins Announce Multiple Roster Moves

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A disappointing season for the two-time defending Stanley Cup champion Pittsburgh Penguins just took another tough turn. The team announced this afternoon that defensemen Kris Letang and Chad Ruhwedel and forward Bryan Rust have all been placed on injured reserve. There had been indications of possible moves such as these earlier in the day when head coach Mike Sullivan stated that Ruhwedel was “week-to-week” with an upper-body injury and Rust was out long-term with an upper-body injury of his own, as well as confirmed that Letang would remain out of the lineup, but the reality of three starters hitting the shelf on the same day could be jarring for Penguins fans.

In corresponding moves, the team has recalled defenseman Andrey Pedan, forward Garrett Wilson, and goaltender Casey DeSmith after previously calling up rearguard Frank Corrado earlier in the day. Pedan could potentially be making his Penguins debut soon after coming over from the Vancouver Canucks this summer in the Derrick Pouliot trade. Between the 6’5″ Pedan and newly-acquired 6’7″ Jamie Oleksiak, the Penguins certainly have some size on the blue line right now. However, with both Letang and Justin Schultz out of the lineup, it will likely be the more offensively-inclined Corrado looked to for a greater impact. Up front, Wilson seems more likely to be an emergency depth option or occasional fourth-line contributor than any sort of replacement for Rust. The 26-year-old has zero points in 34 NHL games. If scoring becomes a problem with both Rust and Letang now sidelined long-term, it could be time for Daniel Sprong to make his much-awaited return to Pittsburgh.

The most interesting impact of these injury moves could be the effect on the trade status of Letang. The All-Star defender’s availability has been a hot topic recently, but these new health concerns added to the career laundry list for the oft-injured defenseman will surely be a factor in talks.

Penguins Shifting Focus On Defense

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Just last week, the Pittsburgh Penguins were in the enviable position of having enough depth on defense to be a seller, despite their position as a clear-cut buyer in terms of contending for a third straight Stanley Cup title. However, the Penguins know too well from their experiences over the past few years just how quickly that feeling of comfort on the blue line can change with injury. In placing Justin Schultz on injured reserve this morning, with the expectation being that he will be out “weeks” at the very least, Pittsburgh’s opinion on their blue line has changed in an instant.

Ian Cole was the man on the block last week, with many teams having immediate interest in obtaining the services on the solid stay-at-home defender. An impending free agent who has been devalued in Pittsburgh following the signing of a similar player in Matt Hunwick and the re-emergence of Olli Maatta this season, Cole had become expendable for the Penguins. However, as beat writer Jason Mackey indicates, any talk of moving Cole is completely off the table for now with Schultz out of the lineup.

In fact, the health of Schultz going forward could turn the Pens from sellers to buyers on the blue line. Frank Corrado, who was called up to take Schultz’s spot on the roster, has not worked out so far. If that continues, Pittsburgh will at least need to add another depth option. Chad Ruhwedel, while remarkably reliable for Pittsburgh over the past year plus, is best suited for that #7 depth option role. Hunwick and Cole, while both experienced, successful defenders, are very similar and similarly one-dimensional. Beyond a healthy grouping of (the also injury-prone) Kris Letang, Brian Dumoulin, and Maatta, there are serious questions without Schultz to round out the top four. If “weeks” turn to “months” for Schultz to return to action, GM Jim Rutherford could end up on the opposite side of the defensive trade market.

Minor Transactions: 12/07/17

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While teams get ready for a busy Thursday night of action, slight adjustments will be made to rosters across the league. As always, we’ll keep track of all the minor moves right here.

  • The Pittsburgh Penguins have placed Justin Schultz on injured reserve and recalled Frank Corrado from the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins. Schultz is dealing with a lower-body injury, and is expected to miss “weeks”. Corrado has played three games for Pittsburgh this season, and could end up facing his old team as the Penguins take on the Maple Leafs this weekend.
  • The Washington Capitals have sent Travis Boyd to the minor leagues, after the 24-year old forward made his NHL debut on Monday. Boyd has shown elite offensive ability at the AHL level, but was held scoreless in his two NHL contests. The undersized forward will likely get another chance at some point, but for now will return to Hershey where he has 20 points in 23 games. For the Capitals, Boyd’s assignment likely means that Andre Burakovsky is ready to return to the lineup.
  • With Ben Bishop dealing with a sore back and not on the Dallas Stars current road trip, the team has recalled goaltender Mike McKenna from the AHL according to Mark Stepneski of NHL.com. McKenna isn’t expected to get much in the way of starts unless Bishop remains out through next weekend. The Stars don’t have a back-to-back situation until Friday and Saturday of next week.
  • Ville Husso has been called up to the St. Louis Blues on emergency conditions, after Carter Hutton suffered a lower-body injury. Husso will be used as a backup tonight behind Jake Allen, but since he might not make it on time local goaltender Tyler Stewart will take warm-ups with the team. To make room for Husso on the roster, Samuel Blais has been sent back to the minor leagues.

Penguins Demote Frank Corrado

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Frank Corrado’s stay in Pittsburgh is over and the hunt for a another top-six defenseman continues for the defending Stanley Cup champs. The team announced that they have reassigned the young blue liner to the AHL’s Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins and appear to be happy to move forward with Matt Hunwick or Chad Ruhwedel as their final starter.

Corrado, 24, was acquired by the Penguins from the Toronto Maple Leafs at the trade deadline last season in exchange for a package of Eric Fehr, Steve Oleksy, and a fourth-round pick. The former Canuck was unhappy with his play time in Toronto, but things have hardly changed in Pittsburgh. Corrado played in only two games with the team last season, missed out on the entire playoff run, and is now back in the AHL after only three games this season. Corrado suited up for the Pens in their first three games of November, being held scoreless and averaging only eleven minutes of ice time, and had been sitting in the press box ever since.

With Hunwick recently activated from injured reserve, the Penguins have made the unsurprising choice to move forward without Corrado. Hunwick has played in only seven games this season, while Ruhwedel has been forced into 18 already. The pair have a combined three points and an even rating and could work as a serviceable sixth man duo for Pittsburgh this season. However, given the injury-prone nature of Kris Letang and Justin Schultz as well as the team’s shockingly low goals-for and goals-against rankings, “serviceable” may not be enough. GM Jim Rutherford may stick with the veteran options for now, but will surely be looking for an upgrade come the trade deadline. This season, the likes of Corrado won’t be the target.

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