Pittsburgh PenguinsTrade Deadline Watch: 4th Line Type Centers
*Story Highlights*
*Where the Hurricanes are trending with Derek Ryan
*Latest on Matt Cullen
*Mark Letestu still a fallback option?
*Max Domi’s Availability + Mario Lemieux close friendship with Tie Domi
–As the Penguins have zeroed in on acquiring Derick Brassard, here’s the latest chatter on fallback options were the Penguins to strike out on Brassard —
Carolina Hurricanes: 64 Points, one point out of second wildcard spot:
Games Remaining before Deadline: vs Pittsburgh (2/23), @ Boston (2/24)
Trending: 0-2-1 in last Three Games, 3-4-2 overall their last nine games
Latest: Hurricanes GM Ron Francis has pressure from the Hurricanes new ownership group to keep the roster competitive if they remain in the mix for a playoff spot at the deadline. Francis has been tabbed as being a smart buyer at the deadline.
Relating to the Penguins, the player to watch has been center Derek Ryan.
Ryan 31, has 11 goals and 15 assists on the season. He is a strong possession player and we’ve talked about him in the past as a player the Penguins have identified as a potential fit to play that combo 3rd line/4th line center role along with Riley Sheahan.
The talk on Ryan 3-4 weeks ago was that Carolina intended to keep Ryan but internally the team is said to have placed a 2nd round pick as value for Ryan and would consider an offer in that range depending where things stood at the deadline. However, NHL executives see Ryan’s value as more in the 3rd or 4th round range.
Ryan not known as a strong defensive player, has also cooled off significantly this month with no points in his last 11 games that will put the Hurricanes in an interesting situation.
If the Hurricanes drop these next two games before the deadline, [hide] it’s not a stretch Carolina even jumps at moving Ryan for a third rounder as Ryan has now been demoted to the 4th line this week.
Minnesota Wild: 71 Pts, tied for final wildcard spot
Remaining Schedule before Deadline: @ New Jersey (2/22), @ New York (2/23), vs St. Louis (2/25)
Trending: 6-2-2 in their last 10 games
Latest: The Minnesota Wild moving Matt Cullen has made less and less sense in recent weeks. Cullen’s play has started to uptick a bit, a goal and assist in Monday’s win over the Islanders, and his role has increased in now seeing time as the third line center. Cullen’s playing around 13-14 minutes a game over the last 5-6 games, right around where he was in Pittsburgh last season.
But, Jim Rutherford’s admiration of Cullen can’t totally rule out a reunion, depending on how a few things fall into place.
These next three games before the deadline will tell the story with Minnesota. They lose all three and Pittsburgh still hasn’t added a center by Monday morning, a source close to the situation says a conversation could then happen between the two sides but Cullen coming back is now being regarded as a longshot.
— Mark Letestu remains another backburner situation to watch if the Penguins strike out on Brassard.
The Penguins made an offer for Letestu in January and got close to acquiring him, though, no serious talks have happened since.
Letestu has 8 goals and 10 assists on the season. He has really struggled offensively with 0 goals in 24 games but the organization still views him as an upgrade over Carter Rowney. I don’t think they’re as excited about adding him as they were in early January but he remains on their board.
Edmonton has been holding out for a second rounder. Pittsburgh and others most likely see Letestu’s value being a third rounder now.
— One NHL source wondered If Mario Lemieux’s very close friendship to Tie Domi could eventually lead to the Penguins giving Coyotes young center Max Domi a needed fresh start, whether it’s at the deadline or a summer deal.
Phoenix, though, still has a decent ask for Domi and a team acquiring Domi would have to be really sure.[/hide]
Devils got Grabner for a 2nd and a prospect.
WOO Vinny Trocheck doing his home town a solid.
What a powerful speech from. Luongo for the Florida shooting
Shut up, chubster.
Def super class move by RL
Ek has the Pens linked to Grabner, Maroon and Kane. I guess if you link them to everyone, you’ll hit on something.
Which means we won’t get any of those guys
Sam had Marty St. Louis linked to the Pens the day before he retired.
Price might get traded there is heat. From that arrogant assshole
Oilers might be the spot for him.
Now Price is an arrogant asshoIe? Why because he’s sick of playing for a trash lose franchise with no upside in the future?
Letestu sucks
Anyone know why James Neal didn’t play last night is he injured? Or maybe trade bait ?
Or do we not give a fuck about that head case
Sam drooling over Neal and Vegas. Go figure.
Sam hated Neal I was the first one wanted him gone while gaydogg was sad pens lost 40 goal scorer another player that made his value higher thanks to playing with sid and geno . I hated Neal because he used to take a lot of dumb penalties and last I checked his Canadian. So this shows I don’t have agenda for Americans only
You just said you wanted Neal in a trade. You’re too stupid to argue with.
Doubt we have the pieces to get Brassard.
Kane? Maybe. Could he actually play well in a team that is competitive?
He hasn’t proven not to be able to. He’d be playing with a generational center on a Stanley Cup favorite, so you’d expect the motivation to be there.
Just like chubby he might get overvalued then go another team and steal paychecks.
Chubby, they tru 2016 Conn Smythe guy that carried this team through a bad early 2017? ya.. kill yourself retard
Once again he played under the shadow of sid and geno. Who knows Kane might even win rocket Richard or hart with pens one day. Does it mean he the best player of the world or because of his surrounding some players in the league are the best but some look good because of other players. Many times players are good in a team because of system ,or players they play with be minute they are traded they are not as good. Or some average players get traded to good surrounding teams and all of a sudden they become amazing… Read more »
Right… as he was taking everyone apart no one noticed and he was allowed to victimize teams. Youre a moron, like in the clinical sense
Leclair? I hated the guy but when a player meshes with another than enhances both the fact remains is they carry significant value. this is why you’re a stupid fucken asshole
That is a pile of horse kaka. I watched eggshell head and Leclair play a lot during their run and LeClair was the reason that line was good. eggshell head was a good shot, smash smaller players, lazy, prima donna daddy’s boy. couldn’t skate with the puck with his head up at all. 1992 Olympic shootout and the many booms from Stevens and Kasper prove that. LeClair won a cup in Mtl before that pos was in Phi.
If we don’t land Brassard then fuck Kane…. if they can’t land the C that’s a good teammate then fuck the W
Kane is a selfish prick no need that cancer in a wining atmosphere he will contaminate everyone with his shitt attitude
You said the same thing about Malkin. And that he would be in Russia for the last 5 years. Now scuff a hot dog.
Kane playing on a winning team can be a much better player.
Jets weren’t a bad team either. And this year if they have a solid goaltending they can be a team that can go very far in the playoffs. And right now kings and jets are looking their options to add Nash or. Not .
Grabner and Nash have both been pulled from the Rangers lineup tonight.
From HockeyBuzz:
On Kane and the Penguins…
Hearing the Sabres are frustrated by the lack of first round picks available, and there may be an opening here for the Penguins if they are willing to part with Daniel Sprong…
Ek’s track record isn’t the best, so this solidfy’s we won’t get Kane. Which is fine with me because he won’t resign with us next year so I don’t want to waste assets on a rental.
With guys like Grabner and Brassard seeming attached to the Pens I would much rather either or both if we are moving assets like Sprong out the door. Brassard has a year left and maybe Grabner can be convinced to stay
Going on the record. I would not trade Sheary. Fine letting ZAR and/or Sprong go
Depends on the return… with the peripheral guys I would be open to many combinations of deals despite preferring to keep certain players. If it keeps the team in the hunt for another year or two then we will have to say by to players we like
While I am not Sprong’s biggest fan, over on one of the other sites it is rumoring that Sprong + gets the Pens Kane. Why would they give their top prospect in the AHL away for a UFA that is rumored to want to sign in Vancouver on July 1. The team is playing every well. Do they need that kind of a deal to compete?
Wouldn’t do that either. I’d trade Sprong and ZAR for Brassard.
Id be on board; my preference is to keep Sprong but if it is needed to land Brassard and keep that middle of the ice that deep for the next 2 playoffs at min? Sign me up
Ek on hockeybuzz. He’s has Kane linked to at least 10 teams at this point. His rumor page is nothing more than a guy throwing stuff at a wall. As far as the trade goes, I’d give up Sheary and a 2nd or 3rd. No Sprong or top prospects. Sheary has a fairly high cap hit for his production and Kane would be filling that top 6 role this year. No top prospects or high picks though.
I hear you. Not higher than a 3rd for a rental
Classless Canadian women. What’s new.
What did Sam do now?
Thumbs up
When did Domi fall off a cliff? Isn’t this only his second year ?
3rd
He only has 4 goals and 22 points this year. Only had 9 goals last year. They just traded Duclair for Richard f’n Panik and it seems Domi is kind of falling into that mold.
Guess I went to sleep on the yotes for a year.
I don’t blame you, its been a train wreck almost since day one
USA! USA! USA! USA! USA! USA! USA! USA! USA! USA! USA! USA! USA! USA! USA! USA! USA! USA! USA! USA! USA! USA! USA! USA! USA!
Tbj can start drooling over domi
You mean like you have been over Karlsson? That kind of drool?
No like doan that you’ve been drooling over the past 4 -5 years
LMAO, I have been more than clear on how much I fucken hated Doan you retard lol Plus you were the one arguing goal totals vs Kessel for the past 3 years. Man youre dumb
Speaking of overpaid and overrated Canadian players… Shane Doan and his 6 goals making 12 million this year. Is now out for the season, man that deal looks better every single day. I wonder if Bergevin had his ass sewn up after what Polie did to him or do you think he is just used to taking it up the pipe now?
*Shea Weber actually lol… Doan was also highly overrated however so it was easy to make that error haha
No one beats all time best rick dipietro and yashin
What does that have to do with the Habs getting schooled hard in that Subban deal?
And Bobby Holik was arguably the worst deal all time… Redden should get a honorable mention too
Subban is overrated and overpaid