NHL Trade Deadline Blog: Penguins Miss Out, Giroux Done, Bruins All-In

The march towards Monday at 3 p.m. and the NHL trade deadline took a big step forward on Saturday when the Colorado Avalanche, Florida Panthers, and Philadelphia Flyers agreed where Claude Giroux would play out the season. The Minnesota Wild further stirred the pot and, in the process, swiped a player previously linked to the Pittsburgh Penguins. And the Boston Bruins went all-in.

The Penguins’ lack of finish was again evident against the Arizona Coyotes, but what can they do about it? That’s going to be the million-dollar question. The Penguins dominated three Western Conference opponents and won twice. They should have won three. Despite bombarding the Arizona net, the Penguins and Coyotes were tied after 40 minutes. And after 52 minutes.

The Penguins pulled away with a pair of late goals by Evgeni Malkin and Sidney Crosby, then Crosby popped the empty netter, so the score looked proper, but would someone finish a golden chance?

Instead of a report card, check out our change of pace–The Penguins speak. The players and head coach Mike Sullivan had the insights and the jokes after the Pittsburgh Penguins 4-1 win.

NHL Trade Deadline

The Penguins missed out on a player we thought they acquired at last year’s NHL trade deadline. The Minnesota Wild acquired Nicolas Deslauriers for a third-round pick on Saturday afternoon.

Call that a Penguins missed opportunity.

Deslauriers, 31, makes $1 million and is a pending UFA. He’s a 6-foot-3, 219-pound fourth-line player who can kill penalties, add plenty of jam, and impolitely remind opponents they’ve gone too far. The Penguins need an edge on Carolina, which can skate with them and is probably just a little better. The threat of physical violence can alter a playoff series, especially when the player is as judicious and hockey-capable as Deslauriers.

Zach Sanford in Ottawa is still a very under-the-radar name we heard a few weeks ago, who could do the same. Sanford was a warrior for the 2019 St. Louis Blues Stanley Cup championship.

The Penguins surely want middle-six help. Even if Kasperi Kapanen snaps awake, which is still a big “if’ despite a couple of pretty good games, including a genuinely good outing against Arizona, the Penguins must beat Carolina and Florida/Tampa Bay in a seven-game series to win a Stanley Cup.

They probably need a little more.

Of the nine periods against Carolina over the past month, I think Carolina won most of the periods and two of three games. Carolina is just a wee bit better than the Penguins because they play almost the same game but are deeper and maybe a hair quicker.

It’s Hextall’s move. The clock is ticking, but I would not be surprised if he holds his cards and lives to fight another day.

Claude Giroux:

It appears that Claude Giroux decided Florida and the Philadelphia Flyers were obligated to honor his wish. It also appears that the Colorado Avalanche made a better offer, including prospect defenseman Justin Barron.

A first, a fourth, and polarizing prospect, Owen Tippet. That was the price the Florida Panthers had to pay for Giroux. There are heavy rumors of a better Colorado offer.

Here’s the full scoop from ace reporter Sam Carchidi. We’re biased, but he’s the last big-time beat reporter in Philly. He was all over this story. The Philadelphia Flyers side.

Here’s the analysis and reaction from the Florida Panthers.

Florida must be considered solid Stanley Cup favorites, eh? I wish I had laid that 20-1 bet at the beginning of the season. However, since I did not, those of you who did have a much better chance.

And, Justin Barron just got a crash course in the business of hockey as the rumored centerpiece of the Colorado Avalanche offer.

Hampus Lindholm, Bruins ALL-IN

The Boston Bruins put their chips on the table, too. They handed over a 2022 first-round pick, a 2023 second-round pick, a 2024 second-round pick, and prospects Urho Vaakanainen and John Moore for the top-pairing left-side defenseman Hampus Lindholm.

The Bruins top pairing is now Lindhold-Charlie MacAvoy. Get the whole dish from Joe Haggerty. Boston Bruins analysis.

That’s a pretty good get, and it makes Boston significantly better. The 28-year-old Lindholm is working on an eight-year extension with Boston, which could be done today, so at least Boston will have something to show for their coffer-emptying deal.

And, make no mistake, Boston dealt the last of its prospects and gave away a good number of prospect pool-enriching draft picks.

Perhaps two Atlantic teams could make it to the Eastern Conference Final if Boston wins the second wild card and comes through the Metro Division.

Perhaps Boston could upset Carolina in Round One?

Who’s Next?

The boys at Sportsnet have circled Seattle Kraken defenseman Mark Giordano as the Toronto Maple Leafs target so that Toronto can keep pace with the Atlantic Division arms race.

There are rumors that teams are kicking tires on Marc-Andre Fleury, but the more-prominent outlet reports indicate there’s nothing serious. If I’m reading tea leaves and properly drawing inferences from Fleury’s actions, it seems like he’d rather be with his family in Chicago than a cheap deadline rental with a shot at the Stanley Cup.

Fairly quiet on the Marc-Andre Fleury front. Some general inquiries still coming in from teams, but nothing serious at the moment. @TSNHockey @TheAthletic

— Pierre LeBrun (@PierreVLeBrun) March 19, 2022