Penguins/NHL
Latest Trade Deadline Buzz
[1. Pens still looking to Add]
[2. Team monitoring Shattenkirk market]
[3. Top priority in creating cap space]
[4. Pens to circle back to Fleury]
[5. Rutherford/Sullivan on Hainsey]
On the heels of acquiring Ron Hainsey this morning, Penguin General Manager Jim Rutherford is looking to add one more defenseman and intends to scour the market right up until the deadline with an open mind of all positions in the play.
“We’ll stay in the mix right up to the deadline and see what happens,” Rutherford told reporters today.
Sources say the Penguins were pursuing two particular deals [hide] for a defenseman this week, Hainsey obviously one of them, and the second potential deal the Penguins had been pursuing hasn’t fallen through but the Eastern Conference team that’s not a true seller yet (likely will be), intends to wait until after the weekend before making a decision.
That defenseman wasn’t Brendan Smith, though, the Penguins like him.
Buffalo’s Dmitri Kulikov and New Jersey’s Kyle Quincey remain players to watch the Penguins are considering. The Penguins would need to move cap space to make Kulikov happen. Michael Stone and Ron Hainsey trades have started to set the market.
Meanwhile, the current asking price for Kevin Shattenkirk remains too steep for the Penguins liking but Rutherford intends to continue to monitor the Shattenkirk market in the event that the Blues asking price would come down by Wednesday.
An acquisition of Shattenkirk is being regarded as unlikely but a surprise run at Shattenkirk hasn’t been ruled out yet, even after the Hainsey acquisition.
Moving Fehr Top Priority?
Indications are one priority for the Penguins in the next couple days is trying to move Eric Fehr to create cap flexibility to make additional moves by Wednesday.
Pens will check in with Fleury again
Jim Rutherford said again today his ‘preference’ is to keep Marc Andre Fleury but noted he will check back in with Fleury prior to the deadline to see if there’s any change on what he’s thinking. The information the Penguins have as of now from Fleury is that he would prefer a trade in the summer.
Sullivan/Rutherford on Hainsey
Rutherford praised Ron Hainsey as a “real character guy who’s a “good penalty killer”. Rutherford cited his familiarity with Hainsey in also making the trade.
One underrated aspect of Hainsey’s game is that he can skate well for a defensive minded defenseman with his size at age 35.
“We know he’s a mobile guy with good size,” Mike Sullivan said. “We think he plays a style that fits in with our group.”
Sullivan also mentioned Hainsey’s ability to kill penalties.
Some head shaking is out there about the Penguins giving up a second rounder for Hainsey. Normal circumstances Hainsey would have went for a third rounder but with Carolina retaining 50% of the cap hit, it bumped Hainsey’s value up to a second rounder.
Shakeup on Lines
The Penguins made a minor shakeup with their lines today, moving Patric Hornqvist to Sidney Crosby’s right wing, while Jake Guentzel was dropped to the third line today.
Chris Kunitz – Sidney Crosby – Patric Hornqvist
Carl Hagelin – Evgeni Malkin – Phil Kessel
Scott Wilson – Nick Bonino – Jake Guentzel
Tom Kuhnhackl – Matt Cullen – Eric Fehr[/hide]
Related posts:
Sunday’s Pens Trade Deadline Rumblings: Whitney would add dimension at even strength; High asking price for Ruutu; Scouts Buzz on Pens/Habs Talk & more
Trade Deadline Buzz: Tabata era is over, Pirates add Happ and Morse at the buzzer
Latest Penguins Trade Deadline Buzz
Latest Penguins Trade Deadline Buzz
