Rumors: Penguins have coveted Ross Colton in Guentzel talks?
Latest Buzz: Buzz in league circles [hide] is the Pittsburgh Penguins and Colorado Avalanche have as expected held exploratory talks on a Jake Guentzel trade. While the expectation is once Guentzel is eventually traded Pittsburgh will likely land a 3-for-1 type futures package for the high scoring winger, the Penguins have also discussed scenarios of targeting a return that will help the team next season. One name the Penguins are believed to have approached the Colorado Avalanche in what’s been described as very preliminary talks is center Ross Colton. The 27-year-old center has 28 points in 52 games this season and was acquired by the Colorado Avalanche last summer via trade from the Tampa Bay Lightning. Colton is signed through
Rumors: Kraken strongly linked to Teddy Blueger?
[hide]The Pittsburgh Penguins in the summer of 2021 prioritized protecting Teddy Blueger over the likes of Jared McCann and Brandon Tanev. They viewed Blueger’s defensive prowess, two-way instincts and what they felt at the time that Blueger was primed to emerge into a regular 15-18 a year goal scorer over the next couple seasons. Blueger totaled 9 goals in 65 games in 2021-2022, producing at an 11 goal pace over 82 games. This season Blueger’s goal scoring production has been as bad as it gets with 1 goal in 22 games. Head coach Mike Sullivan played a pivotal role in the Penguins protecting Blueger as Seattle planned to select Blueger and Sullivan, according to sources remains extremely high on Blueger.
TIOPS Breakaway Buzz: Thinking Ahead on a Successor to Jim Rutherford
Inside the East Division Rumblings, Musings, & Opinions PHI 3-1-1, 7 pts: Coaches around the league feel Kevin Hayes is one of the most underappreciated players in the NHL. 6 even strength points through 5 games, Hayes has been one of the most dominant two-way players to open the season. If the Rangers could go back, there might be a different decision made on whether to sign Chris Kreider long-term over Hayes ……..Intrigue with the Flyers is the upside with the forward group as the season grows, in particular getting full seasons from Nolan Patrick (1 Goal, 3 Assists) and Oskar Lindblom (2 Goals, 1 Assist)…… The Flyers chased Zdeno Chara in free agency. Flyers GM Chuck Fletcher remains in
Rumors: Wild GM Paul Fenton enamored with Patric Hornqvist?
LATEST PENS BUZZ 1. A feeling in NHL circles among agents and executives is the Minnesota Wild embarrassed themselves with the nixed Phil Kessel trade. All indications are Wild GM Paul Fenton pushed the trade forward without any inkling or assurances that Phil Kessel would even consider playing in Minnesota. While the Kessel deal is still on the table if Kesse were to change his mind, Fenton just assumed it was a slam dunk and is said to have been blindsided that Kessel didn’t want to play in Minnesota. Fenton a year on to the job with the Minnesota Wild has already developed a reputation as being an ego maniac who doesn’t make an attempt to give his hockey operations
Rumors: Penguins showing interest in a deal of at least 4 years for Bryan Rust?
Penguins GM Jim Rutherford talked at his season ending press conference last month of the Penguins having trade assets other teams would want when it comes to likely changes with the roster this summer. 26 year old winger Bryan Rust, a pending restricted free agent (technically a year away from unrestricted free agency), would be at the top of the list of non-core players on the roster who carry high trade value. The Penguins coaching staff, though, wants to add more players like Rust, who play a speed/2-way game and Pittsburgh’s belief that Rust has sustained trade value into his mid-late 20’s is leading to the Penguins eyeing a new deal with Rust of at least [hide] four years, sources
Industry chatter on what the Penguins are seeking from ‘specific’ teams in talks for Ian Cole
While the Penguins are trying to downplay the Ian Cole rumors, the Penguins have had trade inquires with a sizeable group of teams and the Ian Cole camp remains in discussions with other clubs to potentially facilitate a deal and a possible extension: Therefore, the rumors are not going away anytime soon. Here’s the Latest Industry Chatter on a notable group of teams involved and names Penguins are and would likely seek in a deal: Colorado Avalanche A league source says the Ian Cole camp has had had deep talks with the Colorado Avalanche (there’s a strong relationship between the Avs brass and Cole’s agency) in the past 48 hours about Cole and it’s one potential destination that could be
Latest NHL Buzz: Has the ‘ship sailed’ for the Penguins on the Matt Duchene front?
Latest NHL Buzz 1. The year of what will John Tavares do? [hide] [/hide] It’s going to be one of the top storylines for the 2017-2018 and is one of the closest situations a number of General Managers have their eyes glued on. The New York Islanders’ star center is best friends with Steven Stamkos and the talk has been out there for years that if Tavares left New York, it would be to team up with Stamkos, wherever he’d be playing. Whether that comes to fruition next July remains to be seen but what multiple NHL executives believe what Tavares will likely do is not sign an extension with the Islanders this season and take the Steven Stamkos route
Latest Penguins Buzz: Pens, Bruins to re-ignite trade talks?
Latest Penguins Buzz While Penguins GM Jim Rutherford fully expects to add an impact third line center at somepoint before the trade deadline and it’s not ruled out that move comes before opening night, though unlikely, the Penguins have taken the right route this summer and into training camp in avoiding to make a move to just make a move. Among guys out there actively available the Penguins could have acquired already sources say is Detroit’s Riley Sheahan. Sheahan, though, is nowhere near at the top of the Penguins wishlist and is not one of the three primary targets the Penguins are waiting to see that becomes available. “[hide]I’m maybe not as anxious as you guys are to fill that
Scouts Buzz: On Daniel Sprong, Zach Aston-Reese & Teddy Blueger
Latest Prospects Buzz The Pittsburgh Penguins rookie tournament continues today. The games can be followed at pittsburghpenguins.com. Here’s some feedback from one NHL evaluator on three notable Penguin prospects from the tournament: On Daniel Sprong: “He’s too good for that tournament,” the NHL source said. “When he gets open ice down the wing he can push defenders back with speed and you have to be on notice because of the puck skills. A lot to like in the [hide] command he has with the puck.”[/hide] As for the key question marks surrounding Sprong’s game that will dictate how soon he’ll be an NHL regular? “[For me] how quick he gets to the NHL comes down to how he adapts without
Scouts Buzz: Weighing in on Danis Zaripov’s fit with a fast paced Penguins team
On Danis Zaripov and the Pittsburgh Penguins The Pittsburgh Penguins are not at the point yet where they can be tabbed as having strong interest in 36 year old winger Danis Zaripov, but the team is doing some homework on the winger after Zaripov’s agent reached out to the Penguins last week to gauge any possible interest. Zaripov, 36, had 15 goals and 22 points in 18 games with Metallurg Magnitogorsk during the playoffs, and 45 points in 56 games during the regular season. Zaripov is considered a legendary Russian player who won the KHL’s Gagarin Cup four times and the world hockey championship three times. Among the biggest strengths in Zaripov’s game is his playmaking ability and hockey smarts,