Longshot Non-Playoff Teams enter Rantanen sign/trade talks & Latest Penguins Trade Deadline Chatter

Penguins Organization Upbeat about Novak Acquistion

The Penguins – Predators trade has drawn some pretty interesting hot takes from pundits. For both sides, though, it’s not hard to understand.

Pittsburgh had been on the hunt for at the minimum a third line capable center in that 24-27 age range that had term, while Nashville strongly believes this year is a fluke and they can compete next season. They add a different style of player in Michael Bunting who scouts have felt could be a good fit in the Western Conference style of play.

One Penguins source summed up the Tommy Novak for Michael Bunting swap:

‘One player (Tommy Novak) is a center who can create individual offense and younger; The other (Michael Bunting) has to work hard for his offense. You always To read this insider news, subscribe to get “Inside Access”!

Rutger McGroarty and Ville Koivunen are going to be ready for top-9 roles next season, and the thinking in the organization is the Penguins will add at least one more legitimate impact forward via trade or free agency, all the more reason to see why the Penguins went this route with the trade.

Talks started accelerating between the two sides over the weekend as GM Kyle Dubas continues to do repeat business with clubs. Novak, though, has been a target for a while. Pittsburgh attempted to trade for him last season, sources say, and the Predators surprising implosion this year opened the door for the possibility.

The mystery is Luke Schenn. Pittsburgh is telling anybody that listens they acquired Schenn with the idea of him being on the roster next season. Some around the league indicate Pittsburgh will only move him if a situation arises to trade him to play with his brother. But we will see on this one. General Managers have always been drawn to this player.

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The Mikko Rantanen situation has escalated where it will be a stunner around the league if he’s not traded. As sign and trade scenarios are now being explored by the Hurricanes/Rantanen/Interested Teams, a pursuit of Rantanen is not just tied to contenders right now. It’s a longshot but two non-playoff Western Conference teams and one Eastern Conference with less than 5% odds to make the playoffs, are said to be involved and looking into sign/trade scenarios. Chicago was a team that tried this with Pittsburgh To read this insider news, subscribe to get “Inside Access”!

It’s very quiet on Erik Karlsson but the whispers for a week now have been if the Hurricanes move Rantanen, Carolina To read this insider news, subscribe to get “Inside Access”!

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Someone in the Ray Shero regime once told me 15 years ago if a defenseman has a “pulse”, he will go for a second-round pick. Brian Dumoulin netting the Anaheim Ducks a 2nd rounder and a prospect from the New Jersey Devils continues to see teams put immense value on depth defensemen year-in and year-out. Devils GM Tom Fitzgerald has drawn parallels of New Jersey’s current situation to the 2010-2011 Penguins for when he was in Pittsburgh and the Penguins lost Evgeni Malkin, Sidney Crosby but remained a #4-5 seed level team in the East. Hence, he believes he still owes it to his group to be a buyer. The Devils are on the hunt to add at least a forward or two. They’re looking bigger but Kevin To read this insider news, subscribe to get “Inside Access”!

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—Anthony Beauvillier has been connected To read this insider news, subscribe to get “Inside Access”!

With second, third rounders being thrown around, Pittsburgh in the last week has set an asking price on Matt Grzelcyk and will not move him just to move him as there is mutual To read this insider news, subscribe to get “Inside Access”!

— A wild rumor going around in league circles is Tristan Jarry To read this insider news, subscribe to get “Inside Access”!

— 2022 1st round pick To read this insider news, subscribe to get “Inside Access”!