Will the GM Meetings this week spark trade talk for Pens surrounding Paul Martin, others?

With the Penguins professional scouting organizational meetings scheduled to get underway early next week, the team’s off-season blueprint is getting close to taking shape. However, this could very well be the week that GM Ray Shero begins to lay the groundwork of any potential big trades leading into the draft or later this summer for his hockey club. While it’s a near certainty Shero will get some General Manager’s asking about Jordan Staal this week in New York City as the NHL’s GM’s will be gathering for the GM meetings, there’s nothing coming out of the organization yet to suggest that Shero will listen to offers for Staal before he can start negotiating with Staal on July 1. Talk though

With at least 3 prospects NHL ready, personnel & system issues, how Shero attacks blueline is top off-season storyline

Off-season Look ahead: Shakeup on the Blueline? Penguins GM Ray Shero will meet with the media on Tuesday in his end of the season press conference and Shero has an interesting off-season ahead with the team having $60 million committed to 18 players and some talk in league circles that the salary cap will level off or even go down when a new CBA is in place. Among the most pressing issues Shero has to address this summer is the blueline. From the Penguins defensive system in place under Dan Bylsma to the personnel put in place by Shero, concerns on how the Penguins defend have been there for three years now since the 2009-2010 season. Following the Penguins Cup run under

DePaoli: Jordan Staal will get to name his “own price” on next contract

PITTSBURGH — A hot topic in Penguins circles this summer will be how much is Jordan Staal worth. In the third year of a four year, $16 million contract, the 23 year old center is eligible to sign a new extension on July 1 and to no surprise, he will be a top priority for the Penguins. League wide the center position is valued highly by General Managers and franchise centers are hard to find. Just today the Toronto Maple Leafs locked up one of their key forwards for the long term, signing center Mikhail Grabovski to a five-year, $27.5 million contract extension. In 59 games with the Leafs this season, Grabovski has scored 20 goals and added 25 assists.

Sources: Pens brass see’s top-6 winger as biggest need but current market has team evaluating depth options

New names surfacing for Pens Trade talks league wide have finally started to pick up a bit in the past 48 hours but the market remains a bad one for buyers due to a limited amount of sellers and high asking prices for aging UFA’s on the downside of their careers like Montreal Canadiens defenseman Hal Gill. As one scout joked last week, “any defenseman with a pulse is worth a second round pick” and the market for a role player is set thanks to the Tampa Bay Lightning who got a very nice return for Dominic Moore, acquiring a second round pick from the San Jose Sharks. Moore was said to be a Penguins target as the team has been seeking

Trade Deadline Buzz: All signs point to Pens GM Ray Shero waiting for the market to develop next month

Source: Pens intend to stay the course, expected to be in market for rental players next month Indications are nothing is cooking for the Penguins on the trade front. Despite the Penguins struggles, that should not come as a surprise. GM Ray Shero is a general manager who waits for the market to develop before moving forward on a prominent deal. The Penguins have always been players in the trade market under Shero, and they will surely be players again as the team is expected to look for help on the wings. “We’re making the playoffs, put it that way,” Shero told the Tribune-Review on Thursday afternoon. “Anything less is unacceptable.” There is no panic inside the Penguins organization, despite being

Camp Countdown: Neal, Cooke among Top 5 Storylines

The Pittsburgh Penguins report to training camp on Friday September 16th and here is a look at five storylines for the Penguins going into the 2011-2012 season: 1. Health of Sidney Crosby: The health of the games best player will not only be the Penguins top storyline but also the entire NHL. Crosby last played on January 5, 2011 and he’s endured a long recovery that has included headaches and symptoms following hard skates and workouts, recently as early as mid-August. Going into training camp, the mystery still remains when Crosby will play again. Although some progress is starting to be made in his rehab process, Crosby’s return to action is still likely a ways away and it would be

Crosby has seen leading specialists for second opinions after headaches reappeared during strenuous workouts

With rumors swirling for weeks about Sidney Crosby’s health, Crosby and his agent Pat Brisson released an update on Crosby’s health for the first time this summer through the Penguins website just after 8:45 p.m. on Wednesday. Here are some tidbits from the Report: According to Brisson, Crosby began experiencing headaches when he got to 90% exertion and they decided to get a second and third opinion from leading specialists. “We’ve had him see leading specialists because we want to make sure he gets the best care possible,” Brisson said. “The Penguins always encourage their players to get second and third medical opinions and have been very supportive of this. Crosby has seen specialists from Georgia and Michigan. As expected,