Penguins/NHL
Pascal Dupuis a healthy scratch Saturday night has gone 14 games without a goal. His days of playing on the top two lines needs to end but the coaching staff likes his defensive zone play which keeps getting him minutes on the first or second line.
As expected the Penguins re-assigned Janne Pesonen to WBS following last night’s game.
Here’s what I’m hearing that the Penguins blueline will be when Ryan Whitney is healthy. Orpik, Letang, Whitney, Boucher, Gill, Scuderi. (7th Goligoski and 8th Eaton). I still think Alex Goligoski will be AHL bound when the Penguins blueline is healthy if he is not moved for a top 6 forward. A early target date for Whitney is believed to be December 8th when the Penguins host the Buffalo Sabres.
The Latest on the Penguins pursuit of a top 6 forward. Talks are on-going between the Penguins and a Western Conference team
Talks are in the preliminary stages but the Penguins and Avalanche had held discussions about forward Milan Hejduk according to a very reliable source.
Colorado has been scouting the Penguins recently. The talks first centered around Marek Svatos about a month ago but the Penguins really have their eye on Hejduk. Sources inside the Penguins organization believe the Avalanche are willing to part with Hejduk if the Avalanche don’t improve in the month of December. He’s a player to keep a strong eye on in the next month or so. One reason the Avalanche are willing to part with Hejduk is he has mentioned in the past that he may retire when his contract ends after next season.
Penguins scouts have been very busy and for now Hejduk is the their top target and scouts seem him as a much better fit than Havlat who the Penguins have shown some interest in.
Columbus and Anaheim are very interested in Phillipe Boucher. It is Unlikely that Pittsburgh parts with Boucher because both teams have little to offer that would interest the Penguins. Therrien is very high on Boucher and he’s going to be a regular on this team.
Around the NHL
Brian Burke is believed to be interested in operating like a NBA GM to turn around the Toronto Maple Leafs. He is looking to move contracts for expiring contracts.
The Montreal Canadiens are shopping Alexei Kovalev. One deal being rumored is a Kovalev – Tomas Kaberlie swap. Remains to be seen whether Burke will be interested in doing business with the Canadiens.
The Blackhawks continue to listen to offers for Martin Havlat.
Don Waddell the GM for the Atlanta Thrashers has not be giving the ok from ownership to pursue Marian Gaborik.
Photo courtesy of Dan4th
