Penguins/NHL
NHL EXECS SAY PENS MORE LIKELY TO MOVE SCUDERI THAN MARTIN in 14-15
The New York Islanders tried multiple times to acquire Penguins defenseman Paul Martin over the summer, NHL sources told Inside Pittsburgh Sports this week. The Islanders made what two NHL sources described as aggressive offers.
The Islanders dangled forwards Josh Bailey and Cal Clutterbuck in various talks with the Penguins but Pittsburgh balked at the possibility of moving Martin, despite Martin’s agent Ben Hankinson making it clear to team officials at the draft that Martin intends to test the open market next summer.
Months later Martin’s stance has not changed as he has informed team officials he wants to play the year out and see how things go.
Martin is looking for a five year deal but also wants to win a Stanley Cup. He’s won just three playoff series with the Penguins through four years. He took less money in 2010 from the Penguins to win Cups.
The interesting subplot to Martin is executives around the league who have spoken with the Penguins this summer, believe the team is willing to gamble on letting Martin play the year out and the ultimate hope for the Penguins is they can clear cap space by moving Rob Scuderi, were a young defenseman step up as the clear No. 5 defenseman and make them comfortable enough to move Scuderi who has three years left on his deal and can block trades to up to 15 teams.
The Penguins, though, made no attempt to try to move Scuderi this summer.
