Potental targets for the trading deadline
by Hooks Orpik on Jan 10, 2010 6:53 PM EST
29 comments
Under general manager Ray Shero, the Pittsburgh Penguins have never been afraid to make a few deals to gear up for the playoffs. While nothing is imminent, with the Olympics breaking up a lot of the month of February, it's time to at least think of what's up.
You can't get a good idea of the future without seeing the past, so here's some notable, near deadline deals:
- February 26, 2007: Pens acquire Gary Roberts for Noah Welch
- February 27, 2007: Pens acquire Georges Laraque for Daniel Carcillo and a 3rd round pick
- February 27, 2007: Pens trade Dominic Moore for a 3rd round pick
- February 26, 2008: Pens acquire Hal Gill for a 2nd and 5th round pick
- February 26, 2008: Pens acquire Marian Hossa and Pascal Dupuis for Colby Armstrong, Erik Christensen, Angelo Esposito and a 1st round pick
- February 26, 2009: Pens acquire Chris Kunitz and Eric Tangradi for Ryan Whitney
- March 4th, 2009: Pens acquire Bill Guerin for a conditional pick (3rd round)
Other than the Hossa blockbuster, the Pens have made their trading mark generally middling moves to add pieces here or there by giving up draft picks and non-NHL players. Keeping that in mind, who may be targeted this season to be added to Pittsburgh for the stretch run?
First of all, this season may be one of the most difficult for Shero to operate. He's again got a very limited amount of cap space to work with, though as the season dwindles it opens up the window a little more to bring in a higher ticket guy.
Also there may not be many sellers: in the Eastern Conference the team currently in 13th place (Tampa) is only six points back of the 8th place Montreal Canadiens and Tampa has four games in hand! Out in the West it's a little more top-heavy among the top 10 or 11 teams, but a club like St. Louis (with a new coach) remembers their great run last year and probably won't be a pure seller either. There's no doubt it's a short market.
As of now, it's probably fair to say that only Carolina, Toronto and Edmonton are really "dead in the water" with virtually no playoff hopes. Teams like Columbus, St. Louis, Anaheim and Tampa are clinging to hopes of a turnaround, but if/when they keep losing those teams too might be looking to reload veterans for young players/picks for the future.
Keeping it to those modest terms, which players might be attractive options for Pittsburgh?
Ray Whitney
#13 / Left Wing / Carolina Hurricanes
5-10
180
May 08, 1972
Cap hit: $3.55 million dollars (expires 2009-10)
Yay: He's a winger with offensive ability and since the lockout he's been scoring at almost a point per game rate. He's a Stanley Cup winner (with Carolina in 2006) and has over 1000 games of NHL experience to add. Since his contract is expiring, he's likely to be a guy that Carolina will listen to offers for.
Nay: His $3.55 million salary likely means the Pens would have to atleast send an NHL player back to stay under the salary cap. Whitney's turning 38 in May and his under-sized frame means he could be Mark Recchi version 2.0 for the Pens.
Chad LaRose
#59 / Left Wing / Carolina Hurricanes
5-10
181
Mar 27, 1982
Cap hit: $1.7 million (expires 2010-11)
Yay: Larose is a speedy winger who opened a lot of eyes in the 2008-09 playoffs when he scored 11 points in 18 games and was a dangerous weapon for Carolina. He's got a knack for scoring goals and has the speed to be a Top 6 winger for Pittsburgh.
Nay: Is small, has been hurt this season (as reflected in his stats above) and is signed through next season, so Carolina might not be terribly interested in trading him. Also his career highs are only 19 goals and 31 points (both last season) so it isn't like he's an established weapon.
Lee Stempniak
#12 / Right Wing / Toronto Maple Leafs
6-0
195
Feb 04, 1983
Cap hit: $2.5 million (expires 2009-10; UFA)
Yay: Stempniak has some skill (27 goals, 52 points in 06-07) that could improve the Pens forwards as a classic rental with a managable cap hit.
Nay: Brian Burke may not be ready to be a "seller" and go back on his tough talk about playoffs. Also Stempniak has exactly 0 NHL playoff games and seems like a guy to go cold at times production wise.
Nikolai Kulemin
#41 / Left Wing / Toronto Maple Leafs
6-1
183
Jul 14, 1986
Cap hit: $1.488 million (expires 2009-10, RFA)
Yay: Kulemin is a former line-mate of Evgeni Malkin's back in Russia, where the two had chemistry. He hasn't been great in Toronto and doesn't seem to fit the mold of Brian Burke tough-nosed hockey. Kulemin could be a long-term answer to the problem of skilled wingers in Pittsburgh.
Nay: He's young and the price to pay would be steep -- probably steeper than Shero may be willing to trade back. Kulemin also hasn't been through the NHL playoff grind and it's debatable if his style would mesh with Pittsburgh's aggressive puck-possession cycling game.
Fernando Pisani
#34 / Right Wing / Edmonton Oilers
6-1
205
Dec 27, 1976
Cap hit: $2.5 million (expires 2009-10; UFA)
Yay: Famously scored 14 goals in Edmonton's SC run in 2006, has decent size.
Nay: Injury and his ulcerative colitis has limited him to just 102 games since the start of the 2007-08 season. Hasn't been a consistent point producer throughout his whole career.
Teemu Selanne
#8 / Right Wing / Anaheim Ducks
6-0
200
Jul 03, 1970
Cap hit: $2.625 million (expires 2009-10; UFA)
Yay: Experience. Selanne has 1160 NHL games and 1234 points under his belt. He's got more powerplay goals than any Penguin this season, so he still has something to add in the skill department. Also a reasonable cap hit that the Pens could work. Is a Stanley Cup champion and has generally been a good playoff performer.
Nay: Age and durability. Selanne turns 40 over the summer and has played just 119 games since the start of the 2007-08 season. Does he have enough in the tank and the will to tough it out for one more run?
Again, those are just some glamour picks that may fit the Penguins need and the basic need of identifying some likely teams that'll be looking to deal vets. Working under the cap and with an understanding of what other clubs will be looking for in return, who do you hope the Pens target in the coming weeks? Any names out there that weren't touched on above yet?
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Selanne isn’t the player that scored 48 goals three seasons ago, but he can still skate and the hands haven’t left him.
The cap hit is workable and the contract expires this season. Given everything he’s done in this league it could be the perfect fit for Pittsburgh.
IMO Pens fans should definitely keep wishing for Anaheim to lose and fall further out of the picture so they might be willing to deal Selanne.
You come at the king, you best not miss.
Selanne would be the perfect pickup for the Pens. I don’t think his game has dropped off much since his 48 goal season. He could be the answer to the Pens powerplay problems as well. Hes still one of the best PP guys in the league. Kevin Allen even mentioned the Pens going after him in his blog. The problem with this trade is what do the Pens have to give up for Selanne. He’s already said this will be his last year so its a pure rental. If the Pens are looking more towards a longterm winger then I’d say Kulemin. I dont think he would have as big of an impact over a playoff run as Selanne would. I could see Kulemin as more of a offseason pick up. Toronto is looking for draft picks.
by genomachine-O on Jan 11, 2010 12:29 PM EST up reply actions
I think Selanne would be the perfect pick up, but I keep hearing that he isn’t very willing to waive his NTC…
Good point to consider, Selanne’s never been a “east coast” guy…Calls from Mario got Roberts and Guerin on board, maybe he could make another call
You come at the king, you best not miss.
by Hooks Orpik on Jan 10, 2010 9:08 PM EST via mobile up reply actions
It’d be interesting on so many levels, especially since they passed on him in the draft way back when. It would almost be a what could’ve been scenario, only years later. Worth the shot though?
Plus, I believe Selanne has already said this would be his last season.
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Yeah I do remember something about him saying this was it….If Anaheim slips out of the fringe of the playoff race would he want another shot at the glory? I guess we might see
You come at the king, you best not miss.
by Hooks Orpik on Jan 10, 2010 11:01 PM EST via mobile up reply actions
He’s only won one cup in his career. I wonder if he would waive his NTC if he would be traded to the Penguins, a Cup contender.
by stoopidtom on Jan 10, 2010 9:55 PM EST via mobile up reply actions
Tom — issue is that teams like San Jose, LA or other WC contenders are sure to be interested too.
Too early to rule Selanne to Pittsburgh out, but there’s gonna be a lot of factors in play
You come at the king, you best not miss.
by Hooks Orpik on Jan 10, 2010 10:56 PM EST via mobile up reply actions
What would we have to give up to get him though? If we keep picking up rental players and trading draft picks or prospects, we’ll never get any permanent star wingers for Geno or Sid.
Do you think Anaheim wants Godard? Throw in Dupuis for good measure and make Caputi and/or Jeffrey permanent.
shh, don’t let the other teams hear us talk about how awful Godard is. somebody might still want him.
Anaheim has Parros at a cheaper contract who’s every bit the fighter and probably a better hockey player…Don’t see them too interested in Godard
You come at the king, you best not miss.
by Hooks Orpik on Jan 10, 2010 10:59 PM EST via mobile up reply actions
Big George Parros
Not only does Parros have a kick ass stache, he’s a Pittsburgh native those things all with equal fighting skills and better play (relatively speaking) put him over Godard right there. Surprised no one is talking about acquiring a solid blue liner. It’ll be interesting to see, we all know Upper management has the trade wheels turning, be interesting to see who is moved and who is hopefully the missing piece this season.
And don’t knock his education either. Georgie is a Princeton grad.
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I did mention that last week. I think if the Pens are going to go on another cup run they need a solid stay at home defenseman. Dont know if Shero feels the same way or not. If were talking about adding a winger for Geno and a stay at home defenseman though, RS would have to move some serious salary. Honestly I think Caputi’s play from now til the Olympic break will determine which one they go after.
by genomachine-O on Jan 11, 2010 12:45 PM EST up reply actions
I highly doubt that Teemu can keep up with Malkin’s line. If he’s just gonna be another bottom 6 winger for us, I really doubt he’d be worth the pieces we’d be giving up.
Selanne’s had a hand injury and still has scored more goals this season than anyone on Pittsburgh (except Sid).
If he can play top 6 and PP minutes in Anaheim I’d imagine he could do the same for the Pens.
You come at the king, you best not miss.
by Hooks Orpik on Jan 10, 2010 10:58 PM EST via mobile up reply actions
nothing compared to that brutal skate injury he had last year though. That kinda turned my stomach a bit when you think of how freaky it was, and yet I don’t recall ever seeing anything like it before.
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guys with so much experience know they can’t keep up with the youngsters, so they play smarter hockey, like Guerin. I think it would be great to add Selanne, but I really don’t see what’s to offer from the Pens’ side.
May be one of the young centers who don’t figure to get much of a chance with the current depth down the middle… so something like this: Dupuis, Jeffrey and a 2nd(3rd) round pick for Selanne
You have to see it for yourself...
Skeptical
I realize this is paring the sample size to crappy teams, which makes sense, but I don’t like any of these, frankly. I think Selanne won’t go, and I don’t think any of the rest of these guys solves the problem of winger scoring meaningfully. Not only the cap, but other GMs’ reluctance to trade with the Stanley Cup champs, will hamper Shero. Plus, I can’t see how the team is improved by any lateral-value trades. That leaves only three options: (1) a relatively meaningless low-level (4th liner/reserve player) move, (2) a gigantic blockbuster involving somebody huge like Malkin, or (3) moving evolving talent – like Ryan Whitney last year – say, Kris Letang (which, despite the troubles he’s had at times lately, I for one would hate as a move).
Other than Selanne, I think Ray Whitney is a logical option that would actually add a talented, experienced winger and be available to acquire for a reasonable cost to Carolina.
Besides that, it is slim pickins. I highly doubt the Penguins take your #2 or #3 options —although I’d say it could be possible to deal Letang, which I’d dislike too.
With the tight squeeze at the salary cap and a lot of teams within a few points from the playoffs (no doubt remembering the runs that St. Louis, Carolina and Pittsburgh went on from Jan/Feb – April last season), I think my intended point wasn’t lost on you. It’s gonna be really difficult to even find a willing partner and then find an agreeable deal on top of that seems even more challenging.
You come at the king, you best not miss.
Ray Whitney wouldn’t be a bad pickup, but is he someone the Canes are seriously looking to move?
With any luck, he’d come on board and have to change his number. He’s wearing 13 in Carolina, so Guerin has him there. He could do some Ryan Whitney jersey owners a favor and just take #19 as a kind of good deed toward fans.
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I think the Pens do need some wingers but I really don’t know who they would trade:
Dups: not much we could get and he is seeming to fit better this year.
Letang: I really don’t want to see the penguins give away another young player who is coming along
Godard: Not much I could see the pens getting for a muscle-atrophied goon
Geno: Only in a blockbuster but I don’t see shero doing that and I don’t think any pens fan wants to see him leave Pittsburgh.
1st round pick or top prospect (ET or Despres): the pens have a lot of bottom 2 line prospects but few future top 6 prospects. Trading another first round pick or top prospect would make it hard to find wingers for Sid and Geno in the future
Staal: Would shero really trade his boy Staal? He too is also coming along immensely
Gonchar: tough to find a replacement #1 dman mid-season for another cup run
And by the way, the pens are doing good as is. Do we really need a big trade? If anything I would want kulemin for dups, 2nd round, and godard, but that won’t happen.
by stoopidtom on Jan 11, 2010 12:52 AM EST via mobile reply actions
I’m with stoopidtom on this one. It’s hard to see who might be traded from the Pens. With Whitney last season it was pretty clear he was on the outer.
I can only imagine the names of Godard and Dupuis would be on the table at the moment.
Godard seems to be getting used sparingly this season. When he does play, he’ll only contribute a couple of minutes and often gets sucked into minor penalties. Having said that, there’s also been a few games this season where he’s been really solid as a player and deserved a goal or two. My main issue with Godard, or more perhaps how he fits in with the current coaching system, is that he’s not fighting and that’s what he’s in the team for! He’s played 35 games and only had 5 fights (compared to 11 this time last season). That’s only 4 more fights than Sid!
Dupuis is probably a decent trade option. He’s been bagging goals so other teams might look at him as a player who is starting to really find his way. I think Dupuis is probably a 3rd line forward, but since the Pens third line is so solid he’s having to play above that. So any trade with Dupuis would probably involve draft picks if we’re looking to cash in on a Top 6 forward, but anything less than that I wouldn’t think he’s worth giving up.
Of the options above for the Pens to bring in, I think Kulemin seems the most exciting prospect to me. Stick him on the Malkin line with Fedotenko and there’s bound to be chemistry. Dupuis only has one more point than Kulemin this season, and Kulemin isn’t playing with Malkin.
by crosby_in_sydney on Jan 11, 2010 5:40 AM EST reply actions
True. Godard and Dupuis have been rumored on the trading block since the beginning of the season. If I remember correctly it was rumored that the two of them would be ousted with hopes of making room to sign Scuderi again. But yeah, outside of draft picks and potential prospects, I don’t really think there is anyone standing out on the squad right now who could be moved for an upgrade of any kind.
Follow the Penguins on SBN @ Pensburgh.com and twitter.
the Pens really only have a few high end prospects in the system. I’d say Caputi, Tangradi, Despres and possibly Zabotel. So that makes me wonder if Shero would be willing to part with a 1st round pick. I just don’t think ANA would go for guys like Dustin Jeffery and Dupuis for Selanne. Then again this teams got about a 4 year window of being together. Shero has sided before on the “win now” concept and pulled off some good deals. I might be ok with giving up a 1st rd. pick for Kulemin because they would definetly have at least one more year with him. Again though he’s not going to have the impact that a guy like Selanne would short term.
by genomachine-O on Jan 11, 2010 12:39 PM EST up reply actions
Just saw an article on ESPN NHL Rumor Central that Selanne would possible waive his NTC if he would be traded to Pittsburgh. Although I’m not an insider and I couldn’t read it :( I only saw the headline
by stoopidtom on Jan 11, 2010 8:01 PM EST via mobile reply actions
I wouldn’t take anything you read on ESPN to seriously
by genomachine-O on Jan 12, 2010 8:18 AM EST up reply actions
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