Latest Penguins Buzz

The Penguins were telling interested teams last week they had no plans to put Mike Condon on waivers once Matt Murray returned.

A team or two might have been calling the Penguins bluff but that stance has now been backed up with Matt Murray healthy.

Despite the Penguins coaching staff having no interest in starting Mike Condon when the opportunity was there last week, this management team see’s Condon as a potential trade chip or even an asset to the club beyond next season.

“The Pittsburgh Penguins are not averse to trading Condon, but they’re not going to put him on waivers,” Bob McKenzie reported Wednesday night on NBCSN. “They’re going to try to hold onto him as long as they can”

The Penguins asking price for Condon according to a league source is a [hide] 4th round pick, something the LA Kings balked out and an unknown Eastern Conference team also balked at when engaged with the Penguins in talks for Condon.

So what is the Penguins end game with Condon?

Penguins’ head coach Mike Sullivan played the card today that the team is comfortable with three goaltenders.

“We’re fine with three goalies. We value them,” Sullivan said.

Some around the league won’t be surprised that Rutherford looks to extend Condon with the eye on him being Matt Murray’s backup next season.

On the flip side, why would Condon agree to such a deal right now?

With a one-way contract, he’s getting an NHL salary even if he was in the AHL, but the guys wants to play.

Information out there on Fleury continues to be sensitive but some Fleury trade winds are evolving.

The interesting situation emerging is despite Jim Rutherford’s hands being tied from ownership in regards to trading Marc Andre Fleury (for the time being), chatter in league circles is that Rutherford and Hurricanes GM Ron Francis have been laying the groundwork for a potential Fleury trade to Carolina for a while now and some around the league feel it’s more of a matter of when — not if — that it gets done and the trade scenario is in the hands of both ownership groups on when they want to move on it.

One league source mentioned Andrej Nestrasil being linked to the Penguins as a player they strongly like and if this deal were to go down this season or in the summer, there’s no question Pittsburgh would be picking up around $2 million of Fleury’s salary with Pittsburgh receiving a high pick, likely a second rounder.

When Carolina had pro scouting meetings about Fleury last June before resigning Cam Ward, they had concerns about the near $6 million a year salary for Fleury. They like Fleury a lot if that cap hit is $3.75-$4 million.

For now, Fleury trade talk emerging outside of Pittsburgh, while Penguin sources continue and will likely continue to strongly deny a Fleury trade will happen this season as it continues to be a touchy subject and they don’t want any talk out there that Fleury might be getting shopped right now.

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— The Penguins are off to a 4-2-1 start and Sidney Crosby/Kris Letang have yet to play in a game together. The coaching staff, though, is said to feel the Penguins have played at more of a 2-4-1 type level start..

Penguin players should have been prepared to see more John Tortorella out of Mike Sullivan this season and they’re starting to see it at practices and behind the scenes I’m told.

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— The Hampus Lindholm signing will surely fire up the Cam Fowler rumor mill or maybe not?

Indications now are that Anaheim, seeking a big haul, will wait it out on Fowler and likely keep him for rest of the season, especially with doubts that Simon Despres will play again this season. [/hide]