Latest Pens Buzz: Matt Murray back in goal after one game absence

[hide] Goaltender Matt Murray who was not available for Friday’s 2-1 loss due to an apparent injury, will be back in goal tonight vs the Detroit Red Wings. Murray has had an up and down season with a 14-10-1 record to go with a 2.94 GAA and .904 save percentage. Murray entered the season with a .925 career save percentage. As the Penguins close out December and head into the New Year, Pittsburgh has just three regulation wins in December, two victories over Buffalo and one against Arizona. Pittsburgh needs Murray to find his game quickly and start to go on a run. Murray is 3-3 with an .898 save percentage this month. Tristan Jarry by comparison has compiled a

Sprong’s 4-point night forces the Penguins hand in finally calling him up

The Pittsburgh Penguins on Thursday recalled minor league forward Garrett Wilson who has 0 points in 34 career NHL games. By-passed from another call-up situation, all Daniel Sprong did Friday night was go out and record a hat trick and add an assist for a four point night. [hide] [/hide] Sprong scored goals 16, 17, and 18 on the season in the Baby Penguins 5-1 win over the Wolf Pack. It was Sprong’s second hat trick of the season and second four point night. Sprong with 18 goals and 10 assists in 29 games, is second in the AHL in goals. As the Penguins currently sit out of the playoffs, a sense of urgency to bring Sprong up has finally

Industry Chatter: Penguins not shopping 58 but tested the waters with 2-3 teams on Letang in Mid-December

Industry Chatter on Kris Letang 1. The question surrounding Kris Letang since the Penguins put his name out there in trade talks (around two weeks ago) isn’t that he’s available because he is, but whether a suitable deal exists because of Letang’s scary injury history and a contract that isn’t seen as very favorable because in reality he could be a concussion or another neck injury away from finishing the rest of his career on LTIR. For now that answer is no which is leading to some pushback from the Penguins end who are going to reporters off the record in denying they are shopping Letang. Remember when the Montreal Canadiens would deny and deny that PK Subban was in

Trade Implications on the Penguins Latest Rash of Injuries

Slew of injuries hit the Penguins The Pittsburgh Penguins 5-4 shootout win over the Columbus Blue Jackets that saw Pittsburgh rally from three 2-goal deficits was seen as the type of win inside the Penguins room that could be a turning point for the club. It may be but Pittsburgh will have to do so shorthanded for the next little while as the injury bug has hit the Penguins hard this week. If there’s any positive, it’s that in the past when this group is hit with adversity they often respond in a big way and go on a little run. [hide] Bryan Rust who left Wednesday’s win is out “longer term” per head coach Mike Sullivan with an upper

Rumors: Penguins decide to go all-in on the Evander Kane trade front?

Cole to be moved by January 1, Penguins mulling two blockbuster type trade scenarios? — Much of the NHL is watching the Pittsburgh Penguins on what General Manager Jim Rutherford does coming out of the roster freeze. The Penguins, according to multiple NHL sources, have been engaged in some pretty big trade talks on at least two fronts (does not involve rental players Pittsburgh would acquire) that if they decided to pull the trigger on one of the trade scenarios that is potentially play, the move or moves would be considered a ‘major shakeup’ and likely end up being the biggest trade of the NHL season, unless John Tavares was traded. Specifics are unclear but one source said one of

Rumors: Penguin Management, ownership in communication on potential Kris Letang trade scenarios

Penguins exploring blockbuster type trades coming out of Roster Freeze As the Penguins have just two regulation wins this month, with both victories coming against Buffalo and Arizona, the noise on Jim Rutherford planning something big is only getting louder and it’s intensifying after the Penguins brutal performance Saturday night on home-ice in a 4-0 loss to the Ducks. NHL sources say Penguins General Manger Jim Rutherford has communicated to rival GM’s he will listen to trade offers for every player on his roster except Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin and M[hide]att Murray[/hide] While there’s a few others like Jake Guentzel who won’t be moved, Crosby, Malkin and Murray are the only three other executives know not to ask about when

Trade Talks intensifying around Ian Cole, Pens brass giddy about Oleksiak & More Buzz

Source: Penguins prepared to reignite trade talks surrounding Ian Cole When Ian Cole’s agent requested permission to seek a trade after Cole was a healthy scratch for a couple games last month, it all but sealed the deal that Cole won’t be resigning in Pittsburgh this summer. While everyone is putting a good face on for now, Cole expressing a desire to be traded weeks ago out of frustration with his role has still left a bitter taste in the mouth of some decision makers in the organization, sources tell TIOPS. When Pittsburgh granted Cole’s representatives in late November permission to explore trade opportunities/extension, a trade never got close at the time for a couple reasons: 1. Pittsburgh wasn’t going

Penguins acquire defenseman Jamie Oleksiak from Stars

Jim Rutherford is wheeling and dealing today ahead of the trade freeze with a couple minor moves. After sending Josh Archibald to Arizona for Michael Leighton and a 2019 4th round pick, the Penguins have flipped the 2019 4th rounder to Dallas for defenseman Jamie Oleksiak. Oleksiak the 14th overall pick in the 2011 draft, is a massive defenseman at 6-foot-7. He has been mostly a No. 7/No. 8 type in the NHL, appearing in 41 games last season for Dallas and posting 5 goals and 7 points. This season he has appeared in 21 games, recording a goal and 2 assists. Oleksiak has appeared in 140 career NHL games with 7 goals, 15 assists and 100 penalty minutes. Scouting

Penguins trade Josh Archibald to Arizona for 36 year old netminder, gain draft pick they intend to trade

Archibald traded to Arizona The Pittsburgh Penguins today acquired goaltender Michael Leighton and a 2019 fourth-round draft pick from the Arizona Coyotes in exchange for forward Josh Archibald, goalie Sean Maguire and a 2019 sixth-round draft pick, the team announced. The 2019 fourth-round draft pick acquired by the Penguins originally belonged to the Minnesota Wild. Leighton, 36, who is signed to a two-way contract worth $650,000 at the NHL level, has made four appearances this season with Arizona, posting a 2-2 record with a 3.42 GAA. For now the Penguins say Leighton will report to the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins of the American Hockey League. Since the end of the 2010-2011 season, Leighton has appeared in just six NHL games. Leighton had

Roster Shakeup: Penguins lack of drive to do the little things over 60 minutes of a hockey game will likely lead to changes in coming weeks

Avalanche 4 – Penguins 2 “We got outplayed in the second period badly. I thought they were hungrier than we were. We took penalties. I think we took three or four penalties in the second period. That doesn’t help. We got outplayed. They were better than us.”– Penguins coach Mike Sullivan. The Pittsburgh Penguins are a hockey club looking for answers. A 4-2 loss to the Colorado Avalanche Monday night was the Penguins fifth loss in seven games and this club is reeling a bit. Are most of the Penguins issues right now fixable with this group? Even Mike Sullivan last night would only admit that some of them are. The General Manager had a really bad off-season that hasn’t