penguins

TUESDAY’S PENGUINS CHATTER

Does Pascal Dupuis being shutdown for his career give Jim Rutherford the needed cap space to swing a key trade or two this month he has been trying to make in recent weeks? Some NHL execs won’t be surprised if the Penguins are the first team to open the flood gates on the trade market and pay a big price again from their prospect pool to do so.

Rutherford’s poor construction of the Penguins blueline, that has backfired mightily for a team that’s built to score off the rush, has had the veteran GM aggressively trying to swing a trade in recent weeks for a puck-moving top-4 defenseman. Rutherford’s efforts have also been exploring options to find a winger for Sidney Crosby.

“I think they’re looking hard at trying to make some trades,” NHL Insider Bob McKenzie said today on TSN Radio. “They’re trying to find a puck-moving, top-4 defenseman. They’re still continuing to look for an elite level, skill guy that could play alongside Sidney Crosby, because now that Kessel hasn’t had the chemistry with Crosby,” McKenzie said.

Pittsburgh has heavy interest in Calgary’s Kris Russell, and the Penguins have not been match in trade talks for Florida’s To read this insider news, subscribe to get “Inside Access”!