PHN Blog: Bad Penguins Trade Ideas, Surprises & Stability

The clock is ticking. The Pittsburgh Penguins’ regular season is only a day away. There are a few new hairstyles, a few new players who could or should make a difference, and a couple of players who no longer make sense to have on the NHL trade block.

Tee it up. Let it rip.

Pittsburgh Penguins one-timers

1. Surprise Players

Last October, my spidey sense was tingling, and I wrote the prophetic, “…Louis Domingue will play a role in the Penguins’ fate.” Sorry, I thought it would be in a good way, but I have a few hunches this season, too.

Watch Ryan Poehling. Pending Teddy Blueger’s health — he still has not been cleared for contact — Poehling will begin the season as the 13th forward, but watching him during training camp and the preseason, the Penguins’ system suits him. He is fast, has some size, and needs to get his career on track. He didn’t hesitate to take the puck to the net or play between the dots in the preseason. He showed fundamental playmaking skills and was one of the shots leaders.

Blueger is not untouchable on the NHL trade market, either. If the Penguins get into a crunch, Blueger has value.

Prediction: The Penguins will need — and get — Poehling’s best.

Jason Zucker. It is a contract year. He has a lot to prove. And the hockey gods can’t hate him that much, can they? A broken leg and a nagging core muscle injury in successive seasons are enough punishment for any transgression. Zucker is staring at a comparatively minuscule contract next summer if he has another bad year due to injuries or lack of production.

However, if he performs well, another payday is likely. This keyboard warrior is betting on Zucker.

2. Bad Penguins Trade Ideas

Zucker and Marcus Pettersson were oft-mentioned names in the NHL trade rumor mill throughout the offseason. The Pittsburgh Penguins almost certainly need to make a trade to create adequate salary-cap space, but GM Ron Hextall won’t dramatically weaken his team in the process.

Trade Marcus Pettersson? At least at this moment, the Penguins don’t have another long-term top-four defenseman to eat minutes alongside Jeff Petry. Perhaps P.O Joseph or Ty Smith could grow into the role, but right now, neither would be a good option.

Mark Friedman’s chance for that role seems to have expired.

Trade Jason Zucker? Then who would take Evgeni Malkin’s LW? Bryan Rust is on the right. Rickard Rakell is needed on Sidney Crosby’s line. The Penguins have five bonafide top-six skaters. Zucker is No. 6.

After Zucker, the only option would be to move Kasperi Kapanen up to the second-line RW and flip Rakell or Rust to the LW. Certainly, Rust and Rakell can play LW. Still, until Kapanen shows he can contribute at a level commensurate with his ability, the dropoff from a healthy Zucker to Kapanen is steep.

Such trades would save money and open opportunities but also diminish the Penguins.

3. Stability

Do not underestimate the value of keeping Sidney Crosby surrounded by “his” teammates. Everyone else has come and gone, but the trio of Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, and Kris Letang now stands as the longest-running trio in North American sports. There is a comfort factor, but also an appreciation. This time, everyone had to choose to be together. The players had to choose contracts that (probably) paid a little less than the open market. The team had to choose to give extra years and signing bonuses, creating the dreaded 35+ contracts.

And now that the gang has a few more shots, the bet here is that understanding the finality of their careers and chances will add a little desperation to the motivation.