Penguins/NHL
The Pittsburgh Penguins suffered a 4-3 shootout loss to the Dallas Stars on Friday night where the Penguins surrendered a 2-0 lead but a Justin Schultz goal with 1:13 remaining in the third forced overtime for the Penguins to get a valuable point.
Riley Sheahan and Carl Hagelin also scored in the win.
Matt Murray made 33 saves on 36 shots in what was a fast paced game between the two teams that resembled a playoff type feel.
The highlight of the game was an electric goal by Carl Hagelin, a type of shorthanded goal that only a couple players in the league could score.
Another player who could score a goal like that is on the trade market:
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New York Rangers winger Michael Grabner and Grabner has emerged as a player the Penguins are at least discussing internally if they want to put a first pick in play for.
As a player like Dominik Simon has started to fall off and Patric Hornqvist who plays a rugged style is banged up again, Grabner is a player the Penguins have had significant discussions about among the Penguins management group and pro scouts.
But whether the Penguins view him as being worthy of a first round pick remains to be seen, a price tag New York is steadfast on receiving and one they will get as Grabner carries just a 1.65 million cap hit.
After 27 goals and 40 points last season, Grabner is scoring at an even higher rate this season with 22 goals in 54 games.
He has game changing speed and would give the Penguins great insurance on the wings.
TSN’s Bob McKenzie on his podcast mentioned Grabner as a player he see’s potentially on the Penguins radar.
Here are some other takeaways from McKenzie on the Penguins heading into the deadline:
“I don’t think there’s any team in the NHL that is all in as the Pittsburgh Penguins,” McKenzie said. “The only goal for their General Manager is winning a third Stanley Cup. There’s no saving for a rainy day.”
The Penguins have around $800,000 in cap space which has complicated things in talks for bigger named players.
“Jimmy Rutherford is really limited in what he can give up,” McKenzie says. “This is a dollar in, dollar out situation.”
As reported here, though the Penguins were involved in trade talks for the likes of Evander Kane in December/early January, McKenzie believes the Penguins focus for now is more on depth type moves.
“The deals he’s looking at are not seismic deals, just can’t do it,” said McKenzie. “He wants to improve the depth and at center. When you have Crosby and Malkin as your No. 1 and No. 2, there’s a pretty big gap between second line center and everyone else.”
McKenzie indicated Jean Gabriel-Pageau is off the table, which sounds about right as the two sides never got close to a deal several weeks ago and doesn’t sound like talks were ever re-ignited. [/hide]
In the past 72 hours, the talk around the league is Ottawa has changed course now and have become more aggressive in shopping Derrick Brassard to get a satisfying return.
“He was after Pageau but doesn’t sound like Pageau is a go. M[hide]ark Letestu’s in Edmonton been a consideration,” McKenzie said.
McKenzie has wondered about Antoine Vermette but doesn’t believe he is a consideration.
“I’ve kind of wondered if Anaheim starts to sell if Antonie Vermette would be a consideration [for Pittsburgh], but I’m not sure he is,” said McKenzie.
Vermette, 35, has 8 goals and 16 points on the season. He carries a $1.75 million cap hit. The Penguins did try to acquire Vermette at the 2015 trade deadline, so there was interest in him in the past.
McKenzie during the podcast brought up the obvious in Matt Cullen, calling it a fallback option.
“One of his fall back positions I believe is getting Matt Cullen back from the Minnesota Wild,” McKenzie says. “I wouldn’t be surprised if Jim Rutherford and the Pittsburgh Penguins are able to work a deal to bring ‘Dad’ back.
Outside of the center market, McKenzie states the Penguins are “trying to get a little depth on the wing.”
“I could see Jim Rutherford looking at rentals who can work,” said McKenzie. “Using draft picks as currency. “Could he get a Michael Grabner out of New York?”[/hide]
