Penguins/NHL
TRADE DEADLINE CENTRAL
Latest Updates – 3:15 p.m. – Pens quiet at the deadline, Shero to speak at 4:15 p.m.
3:10 p.m. – ZANON GOES TO BOSTON: The Boston Bruins were busy in the final minutes of the deadline, acquiring defenseman Greg Zanon from the Minnesota Wild and forward Brian Rolston and defenseman Mike Mottau from the New York Islanders. 3:05 p.m. – SHERO TO SPEAK AT 4:15 P.M.: Pens GM Ray Shero will meet with the media at 4:15 to discuss today’s lack of activity from the team. The Penguins did not make a move.
3:00 p.m. PREDATORS ACQUIRE GAUSTAD: The Nashville Predators acquired Sabres centerman Paul Gaustad right at the 3:00 p.m. deadline. The Penguins were never in the mix for Gaustad today.
2:02 p.m. – PAHLSSON TRADED TO VANCOUVER: The Columbus Blue Jackets have traded checking line center Sammy Pahlsson to the Vancouver Canucks for two 4th round picks. With interest mounting this morning and at least five teams in the mix, there was some thought this morning that Columbus might land a 2nd rounder in this market. 
1:46 p.m. — The San Jose Sharks are closing on a deal for Colorado Avalanche winger Daniel Winnik, TSN’s Bob McKenzie reports. The deal is expected to be official in a few minutes. Updated: The Sharks have officially acquired depth forwards Daniel Winnik, T.J. Galiardi and a 7th round pick from the Colorado Avalanche.
1:20 p.m.. – ALLEN OFF THE MARKET: The Carolina Hurricanes will not be trading defenseman Bryan Allen and the team has officially taken him off the market. Although the Canes considered moving Allen, indications for about a week now was that they would only move one of Allen or Jaroslav Spacek. Allen was a player scouts viewed as an excellent fit with the Penguins but the team was not believed to be targeting Allen before GM Jim Rutherford pulled him out of trade talks. 12:57 p.m. OILERS ACQUIRE NICK SCHULTZ: Two deals have just gone down before the 1:00 p.m. hour as trade action will begin heating up. The Oilers have announced they have acquired defenseman Nick Schultz from the Minnesota Wild in-exchange for Tom Gilbert in a so-called hockey trade. Gilbert is a strong puck mover and has two years remaining on his deal with a $4 million cap hit; Schultz a defensive-minded defenseman, has 2 years remaining on his deal with a cap hit of $3.5 million…. The Lightning have acquired Mike Commodore from the Detroit Red Wings in-exchange for a 7th round pick.
11:30 a.m. – IS MOEN AVAILABLE? Canadiens GM Pierre Gauthier informed GM’s last weekend that gritty forward Travis Moen is not available, despite a strong market being established weeks ago. However, the sense out of Montreal now is that Moen might be in play. Pittsburgh, Detroit and Boston were among a handful of teams who showed strong interest in Moen in early February. Moen is currently sidelined with an upper body injury.11:26 a.m. – SOURCE: PENS NOT AGAINST ADDING LEFT HANDED DEPTH D-MAN AT LOW PRICE:
If the Penguins add a defenseman before the 3:00 p.m. deadline, it will be for a left handed defenseman at a low price, sources continue to indicate. Adding a defenseman has not been a top priority but the Penguins have some level of interest in adding some depth, of course at the right price and they are not looking to overpay for a blueliner. Two names being linked to the Penguins include Minnesota’s Greg Zanon and Carolina’s Jaroslav Spacek to a lesser extent. The market though is starting to heat up for Spacek. Montreal’s Chris Campoli and New York’s Mark Eaton are among a few other left handed defensemen who are said to be available at the right price. The team is not pursuing Bryan Allen.
11:01 a.m. – PENS SECOND ROUNDÂ PICKÂ IN PLAY: The NHL draft being held in Pittsburgh has no impact on the Penguins trade plans and the team is very willing to move a second round pick for the right deal, sources say. The team though is not shopping their first round pick. The Penguins have one draft choice in Rounds 1, 2, 3, 5, 6 and 7, and two in the fourth round
10:48 a.m. – SHARKS, RED WINGS HAVE MOST INTEREST IN JONES?: Avalanche winger David Jones who is playing very well of late, is in play leading up to the 3:00 p.m. deadline. John Shannon of Sportsnet reports the Sharks and Red Wings have the “most interest” in Jones. The Penguins a team source confirms have looked into Jones and are monitoring his situation, while the Bruins and Rangers are among other teams being linked to Jones.
10:25 a.m. – KOSTITSYN TRADED TO NASHVILLE Pending league approval, the Nashville Predators have acquired Canadiens winger Andrei Kostitsyn. Kostitsyn, a pending UFA, has 12 goals and 24 points on the season. Updated: Pierre LeBrun reports that the Canadiens will receive a 2013 2nd round pick and conditional 5th round pick.
10:18 a.m. – KINGS ASKED PENS ABOUT KUNITZ LAST WEEK?When the Kings made Dustin Brown available early last week, an NHL source confirmed that the Penguins were in fact a targeted team by Kings management. The Kings sources said approached the Penguins about a package that would center around two roster players, most notably Chris Kunitz regarding a potential Dustin Brown trade. Pittsburgh is said to have told the Kings that Kunitz is off limits and discussions never went anywhere, a source says.
10:10 a.m. – KOSTITSYN HEADING TO NASHVILLE? TSN’s Bob McKenzie reports there are “very strong rumors of Canadiens winger Andrei Kostitsyn to Nashville. The Predators have been the favorite to land Kostitsyn.
9:27 a.m. – ISLES LISTENING ON PARENTEAU: The New York Islanders are listening to offers for winger PA Parenteau TSN’s Darren Dreger reports. Others in play for the Islanders include defensemen Mark Eaton and Steve Staios. The Isles are believed to be seeking a first round pick for Parenteau. 9:20 a.m. – ALLEN IN PLAY: The sense out of Carolina earlier in the week was that the Carolina Hurricanes would not move Bryan Allen who they would like to resign. However, Allen is seeking a three to four year deal worth upwards of $3.5 million per season, which has Canes GM Jim Rutherford willing to move Allen for the right offer. However, he’s unlikely to be dealt. Meanwhile, expectations are Jaroslav Spacek will definitely be moved. Kings, Boston, Chicago and the New York Rangers among teams actively seeking help on the blueline. Scouts have viewed Allen as a missing part on the Penguins blueline but the Penguins are not believed to be targeting him.9:18 a.m. – STEEP PRICE FOR GAUSTAD: The Buffalo Sabres have gone into day believing they will land a first round pick for the checking line center. A league source on what he thinks it would cost the Penguins to land Guastad? 2nd round pick and Dustin Jeffrey or a first round pick.9:02 a.m. – MARKET STRONG FOR PAHLSSON: The Columbus Blue Jackets seek a second round pick for Sammy Pahlsson and they might land a high pick for the coveted third line center. Interest is mounting in Pahlsson. Craig Custance of ESPN reports that five or six teams are in the mix. Pens like Pahlsson but Devils, Bruins, Red Wings among top suitors.9:00 a.m. — DEPTH FORWARDS: The trade deadline is less than six hours away and the Penguins continue to be linked to depth forwards going into the final hours of the deadline. Colorado’s Daniel Winnik, Jay McClement and Tampa Bay’s Adam Hall are among the new names making the rounds this morning, in addition to Sammy Pahlsson.8:55 a.m. – PENS PRIORITY LIST: A team source says the Penguins won’t move on a depth player until they feel all of their options for a scoring forward is out the window. A scoring winger is the team’s top priority, followed by a depth center and depth defenseman to a much lesser extent.
