Pressing question with July 1 looming is whether Penguins can help themselves and not spend on older players they’re mulling runs at

View image | gettyimages.com Jim Rutherford and the Pittsburgh Penguins left the draft Saturday without accomplishing their primary goal of acquiring an impact top-6 winger. Rutherford’s No. 1 priority continues to be to finalize a deal for Phil Kessel but it’s a deal that may take a while or it might not happen at all as neither side is ready to give in at this point. On the flip side, all of the Penguins so called “Plan B” Targets internally were also not traded, Patrick Sharp, Jiri Hudler, Jeff Skinner among them, but Kessel is the big fish Rutherford really wants, multiple sources continue to indicate. Some parameters were established in the Leafs taking on a few roster players, Chris

Penguins in on Joffrey Lupul?

RUTHERFORD INTRIGUED ABOUT LEAFS LUPUL The Penguins and Leafs have had multiple trade discussions over the last month from Cody Franson, Mike Santorelli to Daniel Winnik, who they’ve made multiple offers for and you can add one more name to that mix.

Struggles to score against East playoff teams has Penguins now leaning towards adding a forward

LATEST PENGUINS BUZZ Penguin management has gone back and forth over the last couple weeks on whether the biggest need is a defenseman or a top-9 forward. Limited cap space has the Penguins unlikely to be able to add both. Last week the buzz in league circles is the Penguins were looking for a top-4 defenseman over a forward and were in the mix for Cody Franson, who was traded to Nashville on Sunday. The team is very high on Edmonton’s Jeff Petry and have had advanced talks with the Oilers and New Jersey’s Marek Zidlicky to a lesser degree, sources confirm. However, what the Penguins want seems to change by the day  and GM Jim Rutherford tells Jason Mackey

Latest Penguins Buzz on Bissonnette, Whitney & Hayes

 MORNING PENGUINS BUZZ Word on Paul Bissonnette I gathered last night. The Penguins had a discussion with his camp in mid July, little since. “Not happening”, per a source. Bissonnette is close to signing with an Eastern Conference team and no indication it’s the Penguins at this point.