Islanders, Penguins to strike another deadline deal?

Pittsburgh Penguins GM Ray Shero and New York Islanders GM Garth Snow have not been shy about trading within the division, most importantly with each other.

In 2008, Pittsburgh came very close to acquiring Miroslav Satan on trade deadline day, before the team put all of their focus on Marian Hossa with about two hours left in the trading period.

Last year Pittsburgh lucked out and acquired Bill Guerin after a deal with Washington fell through and the New York Rangers weren’t interested due to their pursuit of Nik Antropov after Guerin had Islanders management propose the Penguins offer to New York, before accepting a trade to Pittsburgh.

If Pittsburgh misses out on their top defenseman target Dan Hamhuis following the Olympic break, the Penguins and Islanders could very well make a second straight deadline deal.

An Islanders source informed me today that Pittsburgh has frequently had a scout in attendance for Islander games over the past two weeks. The team is likely taking a look at 6-6 hard-hitting defenseman Andy Sutton.

I have yet to hear anything substantive from my sources in the Penguins organization but in listening to Ray Shero talk over the past couple weeks, he’s mentioned the loss of Hal Gill quite often and that’s caught my attention.

Sutton fits the bill of a Hal Gill type of player and is more physical. The Penguins valued Gill a lot higher than others, including myself did.

The asking price, however, is believed to be a 2nd round pick or a mid-tier prospect.

A bit steep to go along with Sutton’s $2.9 million cap hit but Sutton’s a name to keep an eye as the trade deadline approaches.