Penguins/NHL
Is Pittsburgh preparing a package for a major impact player? Plus are the Islanders still interested in Daryl Sydor? Read more for the latest rumblings
I have been hearing some strong speculation this weekend that the Penguins are looking league wide to upgrade their blue line. Pittsburgh has inquired about the availability of Islanders defenseman Freddy Meyer. The Penguins are aggressively trying to move Daryl Sydor. During the summer the Islanders showed interest in Sydor. Meyer is averaging over 20 minutes of ice time per game. Going to take more than Sydor. What’s interesting about the Islanders is Garth Snow is not scared to trade within the division. When the Penguins, Devils inquired about Miroslav Satan during the trade deadline, Snow was open to trading Satan within the division for the right price.
Carolina has approached the Penguins to gauge interest in Joe Crovo. Pittsburgh has no interest in adding a defenseman who has another year on his contract.
A NHL source told me this weekend he’s hearing the Penguins will make a play for Panthers defenseman Jay Bouwmeester during the season stating there’s a stronger chance the Penguins could acquire Bouwmeester than Marian Gaborik. Ray Shero and Jacques Martin have a very good working relationship and according to this source, Pittsburgh could easily fit Bouwmeester’s salary ($4.85 million) with Sergei Gonchar out indefinitely. Pittsburgh has the young defenseman to make this move.
Ray Shero continues to check in with Anton Thun the agent for Glen Murray. Murray worked out with a Penguins player this summer and my source has raised the percentages of the Penguins signing Murray. Murray is not expected to make a decision until sometime after November. Philadelphia, Ottawa, St. Louis, Phoenix have also expressed interest.
Brendan Shanahan would jump at the chance to sign with the Penguins. His agent Rich Curran would not be a big fan of it. Curran also represents Daryl Sydor and Mark Recchi
