Trade Deadline Buzz: Uncertainty of 87 has Pens looking hard at depth center options; Stewart/Kennedy viewed as a possible match & more tidbits

-- There are just 22 games left in the regular season for the Penguins and the Sidney Crosby situation appears to be a roller coaster ride just like last season. He looks great on the ice but every time things appear to moving in the right direction, something comes up and that's how these things are.

When Crosby was initially shutdown following the Bruins game on Dec. 5th, it was believed Crosby was dealing with minor headaches. Five to six weeks later when Crosby started skating again, there was more talk of him having balance and motion issues than headaches. Now last week when Crosby spoke, he mentioned the balance issues were much better but he was still having headaches, although more tolerable.

Nonetheless, the Penguins can't count on a healthy Sidney Crosby and they have to attack the trade deadline that way, despite optimism that he will return this season.

The Penguins need to have some insurance down the middle regarding the possibility that when Crosby returns, he might not be able to get through a hard fought playoff series.

TRADE DEADLINE BUZZ

After failing to land Dominic Moore, sources say the Penguins continue to look hard at center depth options and the team has been scouting Blue Jackets centerman Samuel Pahlsson heavily in the past two weeks.

Pittsburgh sent two scouts to Columbus last night, and while Columbus is a regular scouting base for them, a source says the team has been looking at Pahlsson and could consider him at the right price (low draft choice). Pahlsson though carries a $2.65 million cap hit, which is steep. Acquiring him on the deadline would count around $570,000 against the cap for the rest of the season. (A scouts view on Pahlsson from last week)

Why is adding a checking line center important? No Sidney Crosby in the playoffs would put a strong focus on Jordan Staal as the second line scoring center and I'm told the Penguins feel adding an impact checking line center would take some of the defensive responsibilities away from Staal, as the Penguins are going to need two scoring lines to win in the playoffs.

A source tells me the Penguins regard a scoring forward and depth center as 1A and 1B on their priority list but it will likely be one or the other and in this market, they might come up empty in both areas.