Cue Penguins Trade Rumors; Predators ‘Trying’ for Deal
RALEIGH, NC — The Nashville Predators are chumming the NHL trade waters, and it seems the Pittsburgh Penguins are taking a look.
Despite being a preferred destination for three high-profile free agents on July 1, Nashville is off to a 4-8-1 start and drawing the consternation of general manager Barry Trotz. Nashville lost again Wednesday night, falling to the Washington Capitals 3-2 at Capital One Arena.
It would seem the influx of big-name new players, such as Steven Stamkos and Jonathan Marchessault, has disrupted the chemistry of the team that became a juggernaut last season after coach Andrew Brunette canceled a team event that was to be the U2 concert at The Sphere in Las Vegas. Nashville went on a tear following their punishment, leaping from four points out of the playoffs on Feb. 18 to an eight-point cushion through the final 28 games.
Trotz was not shy about threatening his team this week.
“I’m trying to do some things right now,” Trotz said on Nashville’s 102.5 The Game. “We will be limited a little because of the contracts that we have … but if we don’t get going, then I’m going to start our rebuild plan.”
Trotz clarified that he did not mean a tear-down rebuild but rather clearing space for a couple of young players in the lineup.
Enter Penguins GM Kyle Dubas, who was spotted at Capital One Arena Wednesday night as the Predators visited the Washington Capitals. Pittsburgh Hockey Now can confirm Dubas did not take the team charter to Raleigh for the Penguins game Thursday night but took a commercial flight to Washington, D.C. instead (it was Dubas’s bad luck to have the gate next to this reporter).
The Penguins are also off to a middling start at 5-7-2, having blown four multi-goal leads in the first 14 games, including a 3-1 third-period lead against the New York Islanders on Tuesday, which resulted in a 4-3 shootout loss.
Trotz also said in the radio interview that he was looking for draft picks and would stockpile younger players over the next few years while keeping a competitive NHL team—very similar to Dubas’s strategy in Pittsburgh.
For any of my Pittsburgh followers, Penguins GM Kyle Dubas is in attendance for WSH/NSH tonight in DC.
— Ed Albert (@ealbert410) November 7, 2024
Tantalizingly, Nashville has a couple of young defensemen matriculating at the AHL level who could be ready soon–which means veteran defensemen such as right-handed third-pair d-man Luke Shenn might come available, for a price, of course.
Schenn, 35, is a noted stay-home defender who is not beloved by the analytics community but valued by general managers. The 6-foot-2, 225-pound rearguard has one more year left on his contract, which counts $2.75 million against the cap.
Perhaps Dubas would be willing to part with some of the bounty he acquired from the St. Louis Blues in the Kevin Hayes at the NHL Draft. After the initial trade, St. Louis came back to re-acquire the second-round pick they surrendered in the original deal so they could use it to lure restricted free agents Dylan Holloway and Philip Broberg from the Edmonton Oilers. In the process, the Dubas surrendered St. Louis’s original 2025 second-rounder in exchange for a 2026 second-round pick and a 2025 third-rounder.
The prized get for the Penguins might be LHD Jeremy Lauzon, who is 27 and makes just $2 million on a contract that expires after this season. Lauzon is scoreless and minus-6 in 13 games this season, but he’s 6-foot-1, 204 pounds, and can skate well. He’s also not averse to sticking up for teammates, but his offensive acumen hasn’t translated to points. He registered just 14 points in 78 games last season.
Lauzon is playing top-four minutes in Nashville and the team has only depth defender Marc Del Gaizo behind him, so such a deal might get more complicated than a singular player each way.
Nashville also has a couple of young forwards at the AHL level, including 2022 first-round pick RW Joakim Kemell (17th overall), who is putting up increasingly good statistics. If Trotz is hoping to clear space for Kemell, perhaps Dubas could fortify the Penguins’ forward crew with a player such as Gustav Nyquist, as Sullivan keeps Evgeni Malkin and Sidney Crosby together on the top line.
Nyquist, 35, is another veteran with a track record of moderate offensive production who can play center or wing. He will be a free agent after this season and carries a cap hit of $3.125 million.
Last season, Nyquist exploded for a career-high 23 goals and 75 points. He had never before scored more than 21 goals and 53 points.
The Predators certainly have a couple of assets the Penguins could use to improve a shaky defense corps or a group of forwards without enough offensive pedigree.
It’s unlikely that Dubas merely went to Washington for the night-time monument walk and to pre-scout Washington, whom the Penguins play on Friday, but anything is possible. Dubas and Trotz have already hooked up on one trade this year when the Penguins acquired Cody Glass and a third-round pick in August.
Categorized:Penguins Penguins Trade Talk
I like the new philosophy the Pens used last offseason. Not a tear it down rebuild but focusing on deals to bring in futures and trying to add players in their 20s as opposed to 35. They got a start on balancing out the roster from an age standpoint and got younger/faster. Even with a lot more left to do to make that strategy pay off, I think it’s the right strategy and hope they stick to it overall.
Luck and Timing, two essentials which befit hard work. Pens could certainly use a stay at home defender, not everyone needs to activate. Would be a dose of irony if Stamkos ended up as a Penguin.
I have a new stat to use. Instead of just the 3 stars, use 3 duds. See how the 3 duds add up during the season. Players would not want to lead in this stat
I would love to 65 attached to any trade. There might even be some Christmas money leftover??
If Nashville is reeling wouldn’t they just try to get rid of the new guys who don’t fit? All those guys are older and I wouldn’t touch those contracts.
But the question is we don’t have the Cap room to take on these players, so who would be going out that would fit their team? And in no universe should we take Luke Schenn and his 2 yr remaining contract unless we can give them Graves back.
Two teams who need to gamble and are likely to become trade partners. Would you trade St. Ivany, Graves and Grzelyck for Schenn, Lauzon and Nyquist ? Certainly doesn’t make the Pens younger, but the money in/money out works and may be best for each organization.
I would take that all day, any day if offered. I am not high on any of the incoming players, but after this year Nyquist is gone and he can still be flipped at the end of this year and the other 2 are done by next year.
The biggest thing is getting out of the Graves contract for the next 3-4 years.
All the new Preds additions have NMC.
Excellent on location investigative journalism!
Ni no no to veteran players at 35 ….NO
We can agree in that. I don’t know what the solution actually is to fix the Penguins(don’t say it Pete!), but it is certainly NOT adding more older players who are underperforming!
Agreed. In order to make the playoffs the Pens would need to have over a .600 winning percentage the rest the season in order to reach 95 points which was the bar last season. If anyone thinks this team is going to win at that rate, they’re mistaken. The best course of action is for Dubas to sell, not buy more albatross veterans.
Couldn’t he just be scouting the Capitals ahead of their matchup? I’m not sold on the suggested options, although Lauzon could be a fit. Are you looking to move Grzelcyk? So far, Graves and St. Ivany have been their strongest pairing. I’m not a fan of adding another slow defenseman like Schenn to the lineup. Nyquist is solid but doesn’t seem like the right fit for the Penguins. These potential moves feel aimed at a short-term playoff push, but they don’t elevate this team to that level. They need a genuine upgrade on the second line, one that can make… Read more »
They have scouts and advance scouts for that. It would be highly unusual
Lauzon is a beauty!
Why in holy hell would this team trade picks for players. It’s time to trade everyone you can for assets and bottom out. There’s nothing to be done to get this team into the playoffs. Not sure why you’d think the Pens are buyers.
“Look, Sid. I’m going to level with you. This year is going to suck. We’re going to trade players, finish in the bottom 5. We’re going to get the most picks we can in the next two drafts, and high picks this year with the hopes of getting an NHL ready player. But we have lots of cap space in the next two years. We’ll sign Mitch Marner to play with you. Some of the young guys will be ready to play. We’ll sign some good defenseman. We’ll trade Jarry. Bear with us and we’ll try to get back into… Read more »
Wow, Crosby, Stankos, and Mitch Marner.
Can’t blame em. I’d do almost anything to NOT attend a U2 concert 🤮
this team can’t score on the PP and can’t hold 2 goal leads. Still haven’t heard anyone come up with a solution to these issues. Adding new / old pieces to the roster doesn’t address that… so its probably a useless exercise to bring in newbies
Yeah, let’s trade for some more 30 somethings that are “retired while occupying ice and cap!” Don’t we have enough of tose guys on the roster right now?
You do realize teams don’t trade great, cheap, young players. And the players I listed are on expiring contracts, so any involvement wouldn’t be long term.
Ah yes, but we have some of those already too. So do we swap expiring contracts for expiring contracts? Yes, but only if we net something in addition.
But folks also need to realize that teams don’t trade with teams that don’t have what they want either. 😉
I do realize that, Dan. Precisely why i made a post filled with sarcasm. There is no point in trading for also rans with expiring contracts for more also rans. Nobody in their right mind will take Graves, Karlsson, etc without major salary retention, picks, prospects, or combinations thereof. GMKD seems to, rightly, want picks and prospects and not hold on to dead salary space. Thus, I must ask, “What’s the point?”
Almost anything would be an upgrade over the bottom 6 they have now.
Send 65 out of town in exchange for a box of popcorn
Sell, Sell, Sell
We used to have Tanger be the only high risk defender and with Karlsson we have 2. Sullivan needs a vacation or family emergency to let someone else steer the team to see if he is the big issue. Graves needed to go last year or bench him for Shea, who with St Ivay was a great shut down pair last season down the stretch. Pens should never take a contract on of a player above 30, unless the contract expires this year and the PENS are in the playoffs. Heck go grab Kessel if you want an older player… Read more »
He needs to look for a new coach. This team is mediocre mentally strained and a coaching system that doesn’t work anymore it is not 2016 it is 2024 get something new and exciting in this team.
The Predators got what they deserve. Trotz rebuilt his team around three geezers (Marchasseault, O’Reilly, Stamkos) who are at the end of their careers. After what happened to the Blackhawks, Kings and Penguins, you would think No Neck would know better.