The Justin Williams for Paul Martin swap that I first wrote about
in October and again at
the end of December is starting gather some momentum as we head towards the trade deadline.
Los Angeles is definitely interested in Paul Martin. He has been on their radar and the interest traces all the way back to the 2014 NHL draft where there were discussions about Martin.
At times it was a swap that could have made sense for both teams. That was when there were no lingering shoulder concerns about Olli Maatta and Los Angeles did not have Tanner Pearson out with a broken ankle. Mike Richards was also not looming as a healthy scratch.
Right now I would have reservations about making this trade for both teams. It would be trading for a position of need, but it wouldn’t be trading from a position of strength anymore because of the health concerns with Pearson and Maatta.
From a Penguins perspective it looks more and more like it makes more sense to just keep Paul Martin. I don’t think the Maatta situation is going to have a positive resolution this year. The good news for the Penguins as opposed to the Kings is that it is easier to find forward help than it is to find a borderline top pairing puck moving defenseman like Paul Martin. Los Angeles is going to have a harder time filling that need.
With David Perron being a likely long term fit in the top six in Pittsburgh they can afford to go the rental route with their next potential trade for a forward.
My preference is well known, I would definitely be a serious player in the Jaromir Jagr sweepstakes. However, you can still peruse through other UFA’s like Jiri Tlusty (meh), Drew Stafford (meh), and Chris Stewart (terrible idea).
Like it or lump it Jaromir Jagr would change the entire dynamic of how the Penguins could work their forward depth and it would be for the better. Jagr wants top six minutes? Good, give it to him. He wants to be on the #1 PP? Good, give it to him.
Just a hypothetical
Perron-Crosby-Hornqvist
Kunitz-Malkin-Jagr
Bennett-Sutter-Comeau
Spaling-Goc-Downie
First power play would have Jagr on the half wall, Crosby down low, Malkin on the right point, Letang on the left point, with David Perron on the left side.
Paul Martin for Justin Williams made a lot of sense at one point in time, I don’t think it is optimal for either team in the present moment. It should be interesting to watch things unfold regardless of what happens.
****
New Hockey Hurts podcast covers the David Perron trade, all star game, and the Sergei Bobrovsky contract. You can find that
here
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