About a week ago I put together part one in a series of blogs leading up to the trade deadline. In it I took a look at some potential trade targets from around the league that could be on Ray Shero's radar come March 4th.
Here is part two...
I figured I would take this off day in the schedule to list a few current Penguins that are rumored by various sources to be on other team's radar screens. Guys that could be moving out in potential deals come March 4th or are coveted by other GMs.
I will also give a couple of thoughts on a couple of the latest internet rumors that are making the rounds.
First, here is a look at the Penguins who could be drawing interest or causing other GMs to place a call to Ray Shero on or before March 4th. I have tiered them by the value I think that they have around the league...
Top Tier Assets In Terms of Value Around the League
Jordan Staal
Signed through 12/13
Cap Hit: Jumps to $4.0 next season
Jordan Staal is probably the most coveted Penguin next to Crosby or Malkin, but we all know that the two-headed monster isn't going anywhere soon. Staal has a huge frame that has filled out significantly over the last two years. He is a great defensive forward and has a lot of offensive upside. He is dangerous one on one and skates very well for a big man. He can win face-offs and will probably not realize his full potential until being used consistently as a number one or two center. That will not happen in Pittsburgh. Staal needs to work on his playmaking skills and shoot the puck more often. He would immediately become a top six center on plenty of teams around the National Hockey League. An offer would have to blow Ray Shero out of the water for him to include Staal in any deal.
Ryan Whitney
Signed through 12/13
Cap Hit: $4.0
Whitney is one of the biggest assets the Penguins have at this year's trade deadline. He is a big, puck moving defenseman, who is signed long term at a very cap friendly rate. Though he is coming off of foot surgery and missed a large portion of this season, he possesses a good bit of upside that intrigues opposing GMs. Whits makes a great break out pass, has pretty good wheels, especially now that his feet are right and has the ability to quarter back a power play. His game does have flaws and most of them involve his unwillingness to use his big frame to hit opposing forwards. He is also guilty of lapses in the defensive zone that end up in his net. Flaws aside, he is a very intriguing player that could be used to fetch a defensive defenseman or top line winger. Don't let criticisms around Pittsburgh lead you to believe that other GMs do not see the potential in Ryan Whitney.
Luca Caputi
Signed through 10/11
Cap Hit: $.575
Caputi just finished a fairly impressive cup of coffee in the NHL in which he scored his first career goal and showed a confidence that many didn't realize he had. Ray Shero made it pretty well known that Caputi was the player who drew the most interest at last year's trade deadline and I expect that to be the same this year. Caputi has a large frame, though he needs to add muscle. He has a nose for the net and scores most of his goals from right in front of the goaltender. Once he fills out he could be a great prototypical power forward. His defensive game could use improvement, but his offensive skills are what interest most around the league. He, like Staal, would require a huge return for Ray Shero to even consider including him in a deal.
Max Talbot
Signed through 10/11
Cap Hit: $1.4
I place Talbot in the top tier, as his perceived value in Pittsburgh is pretty high. Shero thinks highly of him based on the contract extension that he gave him and he has a knack for scoring huge goals. (see game 5 of the Stanley Cup final, as well as multiple OT winners) Granted, he is not a factor on a nightly basis, but he does a ton of versatility and can fill multiple roles for a team. He is the type of player that cup contenders salivate over, as he is great in the locker room and gives it all on the ice. Though he scored an awful lot in juniors, that hasn't translated to the NHL. He is best used in a checking role and can kill penalties with the best of them.
Tyler Kennedy
Signed through 10/11
Cap Hit: $.725 starting next season
Tyler Kennedy is another who is included in the top tier based on his perceived value in Pittsburgh. Shero considered him important to the future and extended him early this season. Kennedy has not shown that he consistently fill a top six role in the NHL, but is skating alongside Sidney Crosby. He is able to play a good two way game and possesses a nice shot from the circles in. He is small, which could hurt him moving forward, but he does have the heart of a lion. This scrappy forward will dig in the corners and in front of the net. He is also willing to throw off the gloves to support teammates. In a perfect world, he would be able to settle into a third line role, where he would be very effective. Los Angeles was rumored to have interest earlier in the season.
Alex Goligoski
RFA after this season
Cap Hit: $.845
Goligoski looks to be the guy to benefit most if Ryan Whitney were to move on. Go Go has excellent mobility, sound puck-moving skills and the ability to jump up into the play. He needs to get better in his own zone, but has made great strides towards becoming a regular contributor in the NHL. It was thought that he could have been playing over some of the veterans who have been skating a regular shift for the Penguins, but his two way contract and the fact that he didn't have to clear waivers made the decision for the team. Several teams around the league have inquired about Goligoski throughout this season, with Los Angeles being one of them.
Second Tier Assets In Terms of Value Around the League
Pascal Dupuis
Signed through 10/11
Cap Hit: $1.4
Dupuis plays a very high energy game and gives his team options, as he can play in a checking role or a scoring role. Though he much better suited to a checking line role based on the fact that he does not consistently finish plays around the net. He can play any forward position and isn't afraid to throw the body around. He is a guy who could draw interest from a contender or a team looking for a veteran forward to solidify a group of youngsters.
Ruslan Fedotenko
UFA after this season
Cap Hit: $2.25
"Tank" is not shy about getting to the front of the net and has a knack for scoring huge goals for his team. He has good hands and plays his best hockey in big games...just check out what he did for the Tampa Bay Lightning team that lifted the Stanley Cup back in 03-04. He has a knack of vanishing for stretches, but overall he is an asset for his teams. He could stand to get stronger and occasionally suffers from confidence problems. Ek has had Phoenix interested in him.
Paul Bissonnette
RFA after this season
Cap Hit: $.500
Bissonnette is a rags riches story in terms of how he bounced back in the Penguins organization. He went from almost making the NHL in his rookie season as a defensemen, to falling out of favor with the organization, to re-inventing himself as a forward and earning a spot on the 08-09 opening night roster. He will drop the gloves with anyone, plays well along the boards and brings a ton of energy to any line-up. He needs to improve his play on the wing, as he is new to it, while cutting back on bad penalties. He is destined to be a NHL enforcer and might have opened some GM's eyes around the league with his newly minted team first attitude, high energy level and desire to turn a game with a fight. Some have said that the Maple Leafs were interested.
Third Tier Assets In Terms of Value Around the League
Mark Eaton
Signed through 09/10
Cap Hit: $2.0
Eaton started his career with more offensive upside, but has turned himself into a guy who is good in his own zone, not afraid to block shots and possesses the ability to make a good break out pass. He has been slowed by injuries the past two years and doesn't look to be as effective a player as he was prior to said injuries. He could draw some interest from contenders looking for defensive depth. Could become a good 5, 6 or 7 for a team who has cup aspirations and is dealing with some injuries. There was some talk that San Jose could have some interest in Eaton in a depth role.
Hal Gill
UFA after this season
Cap Hit: $2.1
Gill joined the Penguins at last year's trading deadline and paid immediate dividends on the penalty kill and in helping shut down opposition forwards such as Jaromir Jagr, who has handled masterfully throughout his career. Gill has seemingly found himself in Michel Therrien's dog house at times this season and has also dealt with some injuries. He isn't the best skater, but has a huge reach which sometimes helps him out of jams. Buffalo was rumored to be interested in Gill at times over the last few weeks.
Philippe Boucher
UFA after this season
Cap Hit: $2.5
Boucher is currently convalescing from a foot surgery and is out indefinitely. He has good NHL size and possesses a big shot from the point. He can also play a defensive role, which makes him a versatile add for a contender. He also brings good leadership skills. The Ducks were rumored to have interest in Boucher prior to his being traded to the Penguins. Though he is in the twilight of his career and is a bit injury prone, he could help a team that is intending to make a long run this Spring.
I am going to lump the next three guys into one group, as they are all skating for the Wilkes Barre-Scranton Penguins and have spent some time at the NHL level this season. They could draw some interest around the league for draft picks or be included as components in bigger deals with some of the above players.
Jeff Taffe
UFA after this season
Cap Hit: $.550
Janne Pesonen
UFA after this season
Cap Hit: $.875
Dustin Jeffrey
Signed through 10/11
Cap Hit: .508333
I suspect that Jeffrey is probably not going to be moved, but he could have opened some eyes with a decent performance during a call up earlier in the season. He is a gritty forward, who is sound at both ends of the ice and a solid face-off man. He can also play wing and has decent playmaking skills. He also has decent size, but his speed leave a bit to be desired.
Taffe is a former first round pick that is a first line player in the AHL, but has trouble breaking into the top six at the NHL level. JT has excellent size, grit and hustle and can hold his own physically. He can also be a swing man in playing center or wing, also possesses the ability to win face-offs at the NHL level. He has struggled to put points in the NHL. Scouts have questioned his hockey sense at times during his career, but could fill a niche for an NHL team in need of role playing forwards.
Pesonen needs to put on some muscle or get stronger on his skates if he wants to make a name in the NHL, though his performance in Wilkes Barre-Scranton this season has opened some eyes around the league. He is very creative with the puck and is a great playmaker. He has speed and goalscoring ability. JP lacks size and strength, as I mentioned above and needs to get better in the defensive zone. He also needs to get better at getting to the tough goal scoring areas of the ice. I think he could be a good fit for a Western Conference team that plays a more open offensive style. It was speculated that the Oilers had some interest in the Fin earlier this season.
Keep in mind that these are just the guys I have heard come up in one rumor or another a times during this season. There is a chance that none of them will move, but I wanted to share some of the insights I had on them to this point of February. Things will obviously be heating up over the next couple of weeks and we can revisit this list along with the one I put together of players who could be coming in.
I also wanted to throw out a quick thought in regard to Erik Cole. Sure, he is a power forward who can score goals, but I do not see him as the guy for Sidney Crosby. He has been a bit injury prone over his career, though his biggest injury was caused by Brooks Orpik's hit several years back. There is some question as to whether his body can withstand the rigors of the physical play in front of the net over a sustained period moving forward. I also think that the Penguins would be overpaying if they were to use Whitney to get Erik Cole...the Oil would have to sweeten that deal a bit for my liking.
Cole is a guy I would like to have on my team, but not at the expense of one of the top assets the Penguins currently have.
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