ON THE PENGUINS AND INTEREST IN DAVID BACKES
The St. Louis Blues enter tonight’s game vs Pittsburgh with the fourth most points in the Western Conference, yet, chatter among executives point to Blues GM Doug Armstrong being open for business on a lot of different fronts.
Defenseman Kevin Shattenkirk, a UFA in July 2017, is likely to command $6-$7 million per season and has had his name out there in trade talks for weeks now with the Blues seeking young impact forwards in return.
Another name to watch before the February 29 deadline is David Backes who the Blues are said to be willing to move to the Eastern Conference [hide] if the right deal comes their way.
Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman threw the Penguins out there last week as a team that he could see looking into Backes.
Friedman: “I could see a team like (#Caps) looking at Backes. I could see a team like (#Pens) looking at Backes.” #stlblues 1/2
— Chris Nichols (@NicholsOnHockey) January 15, 2016
For the Capitals who owe it to themselves to go all in this season with already being head and shoulders above everyone else in the East, there’s no question they should be strongly looking into the likes of Backes (Caps have need for 3rd line center) and Dustin Byfuglien (Expected to be a top target of the Capitals).
As for the Penguins?
A diminishing player who turns 32 in May, Backes is the type of player the Penguins should be avoiding when it comes to the cost and unless they moved a big salary like Phil Kessel in the summer, they would have no ability to sign Backes in the summer.
Despite the offensive numbers already declining, there’s going to be a team or two throwing a 5 year, $30 million type deal at Backes in the summer.
That said, at least for the short-term as a rental, one thing to consider from the Penguins end is Backes $4.5 million cap hit is manageable for the Penguins with a little creativity. One NHL source said again today Rutherford is already planting seeds of being a GM who will be all-in on the big names out there.
You don’t think Rutherford would love to go into the post-season with Sidney Crosby – Evgeni Malkin – David Backes down the middle? Did some checking and there is certainly intrigue.
Again the view from Rutherford and others (not all) in the organization is that this group has just had some bad luck this season and can beat anyone in the East. The Penguins are going to continue to be buyers and almost every prospect and non-core player will be in play for the right deal.
For the Blues to move Backes, indications are the cost would be an impact NHL top-9 player in his prime that the Blues would control (contract) and can help them now along with a combination of a high pick/ top prospect.
Would a package centered around Nick Bonino and Derrick Pouliot get the Blues attention? Sure wouldn’t seem like enough to get into the mix but Doug Armstrong doesn’t have the reputation of a GM you want to trade with for nothing.
LETANG IN, POULIOT WON’T PLAY
Kris Letang will be in the lineup tonight. Derrick Pouliot recalled today will not play. The Penguins are dressing the same lineup upfront with Zatkoff in goal.[/hide]
How about trading Kessel, right now, for Big Buff?
Makes more sense to me than another forward.
Please, just dump Lovejoy, he’s the worst.
Hey remember when we had two goalies with a higher SV% with MAF so we can trade him? You know why it has dipped so much? Because Zatkoff doesnt play a lot… Yodumb is dumb
paid blogger. st.blurry was so awesome that he put up a .834% vs the flyers when the pens should have had a free ride to the finals. you have the memory of a gold fish.
Can’t have games like this… I wanted to be more patient with Murray and get him more starts in the A but watching Zatkoff fall for 6 minutes straight just can’t happen. Oh… and we need to move Kessel off f Malkins wing. Its a fucking disaster.
On that note… I have become a fan of Rust. He seems a lot stronger on teh puck this year
Nothing against Zatkoff but judging by the importance of points I think Murray should be backing up Fluery.
He will once jerkoff contract is done and be number 1 goalie when fleury contract ends. Now all depends how he performs during the years. But logically that is the road for Murray he will be pens number 1 goalie once fleury contract is done but is fleury keeps playing good he might get 3 year contract extension and be Murray’s backup eventually
Trade chubby already and get Nathan from Colorado he wouldn’t miss those shots
You’re chubby…
1st period was good 2nd period was mediocre and 3rd period is a nightmare to watch I guess this team can’t play back to back games
Kinda like how you can’t close a bag of potato chips.
You are a fuckinn potato
You’re so bad of this. You big tub of goo
Fat slob
Yes. Fat slob works as well. Either way, you’re large and in charge.
Amateur move by Sully he should’ve used fleury tonight. Instead of yesterday
this organization is so weird. they are still talking stanley cup. wtf have they been watching? this team will be lucky to even get in.
They can win the cup if other teams use their 3rd goalies
lovejoy and cole are a train wreck. ughhh
Pens needs to play vs a 3rd goalie so they can win
Well well well look who was on the ice when it happened Mr gayjoy. At least on the positive note he will Make highlights real this month
Were the highlights fake last month?
Well well well there were letang and Sid on the ice for the 4th goal.
Russian takeover
Love the fact Sully finally not using Gayjoy as much. The less they use him the better this team looks on the ice
Zatkoff highlight
http://i.imgur.com/4AiaedU.gif
Crosby and Letang suckss. Mr Stan
Good job Jeff Jerkoff surprised gayjoy wasn’t on the ice
Pouliot for Backes seems like a huge over payment.
Seems more like a huge collapse at the end of the season
Zatkoff sucks
https://media.giphy.com/media/xTiTnCTxhW2EJoAzrG/giphy.gif
Sully should’ve used jerkoff vs canes , and fleury vs blues
Another washed up 3rd liner American that is only good to get paychecks we might as well get Dustin brown the team will have a line of American frauds with Kessel in there