Hockey Trade Rumors

Here is the Stanley Cup Champion Pittsburgh Penguins’ probable lineup going into next season, with possible signings to fill holes. Please feel free to post depth charts/line combinations for any other teams you know of.The Penguins have the interesting situation whereby their 3 lead centers make $21.4 million, while the remaining 10 forwards make $14 million combined. As such, acquiring the likes of a Marian Hossa or Gaborik, or Kovalev wasn’t really feasible. Re-signing Guerin, Fedotenko and fourth liner Adams to contracts that combine for less that Guerin’s hit last year was a phenomenal accomplishment by Ray Shero. Honestly, $1.8 million for Ruslan is a bargain, especially given another great playoff run. $2 million for Guerin may be an even better deal, if he can keep up with Sid (or Geno) all year. With Max Talbot out 4-5 months, the Pens lines slightly change. The forward core was essentially set after the Fedotenko signing. Now, they may target Sykora again if he’ll come for cheap. Janne Pesonen (the Finnish superstar who led the baby Pens in scoring with 82 points in 70 games, good for 4th in the AHL) may be on the radar again, but don’t hold your breath. TB or some such may sign him to a one-way contract. Guarantee Pens would only offer a two-way contract to him.

Before, I had envisioned:

Kunitz-Crosby-Guerin
Fedotenko-Malkin-Talbot/UFA
Cooke-Staal-Kennedy
Dupuis-Adams-Rupp
Godard
Extras: Chris Conner
Two-way: Luca Caputi, Dustin Jeffrey

So how about giving Maxim Afinogenov a chance on Malkin’s wing for $1.5 million? Or Ales Kotalik? How much does Jason Williams, who can play right wing, want? If they would take between $1-1.5 mil there may be room for someone like that to try out as a top 6, especially if they’ll take a one-year contract to try to revitalize a diminishing career. Ideally, the Pens would trade Dupuis’ $1.4 million a year contract, for two more years, away, freeing up some space. Or else trade Mark Eaton ($2 mil) for a forward, and get an upgrade on D via free agency. Those two, Dupuis and Eaton, are the worst signings for the Pens for this year. Eaton will become a UFA, but Dupuis still has one more year after. Trading either to free up cap space would be a brilliant move on Shero’s part. Anyways, throw in a UFA for Talbot, and problem is solved. However, the smarter path may be to promote Kennedy to the 2nd line (or else throw a guy like Jeffrey right in, which I doubt), bring Dupuis or Rupp up onto the third line, and Godard gets his spot again, with Conner filling in now and then. This is where Dupuis has to prove himself worthy of $1.4 million.

Promoting from within has the advantage of freeing up Cap space for another solid defensive defenseman.

Let’s look at who may fit the Pens’ mould if the price is right. In my opinion, any of McKee (who was bought out by the Blues), Mara, Seidenberg, DeVries, Morris, Boynton or even Skoula may fit the mould if the price is right. Right now, with the loss of both Gill and sadly Scuderi, the Pens’ defense took a hit. Can Eaton play top 4 minutes? Perhaps. But as the reigning Cup Champions, I’d rather have a more reliable top 4 defenseman, and have Eaton on the third pairing. Thus, a UFA signing is essential. And if Guenin and Lovejoy, both on two-way contracts, aren’t ready for the NHL yet, a 7th D man, like DeVries, may be needed as well.

Gonchar-Orpik
Letang-UFA (defensive defenseman)
Goligoski-Eaton
7th (Lovejoy?)
Two-way: Guenin, Lovejoy

Without question the loss of the most underrated defenseman in the NHL is a huge blow to the Pens. Someone will be signed to replace him. This is a necessity. The Pens will sign at least one more defenseman. If Lovejoy signs, they may rely on him as the 7th d-man.

In net, only Fleury is signed so far (for 6 more years). Curry, an RFA right now, may be his backup, or, if the price is right, they may try to pick up someone experienced like Kolzig, Legace or go for a younger backup like Niittymaki.
As of now, I’d go with

Fleury
Curry

because the Defense has the most glaring hole. Curry may be able to step in for 12-20 games. If not, one of the above-named goalies, for cheap, may be signed. A guy like Kolzig for $1 million could be perfect.

Ultimately, the Pens have roughly $2.8 million left in Cap space. Signing those forwards for so cheap were great moves. Shero will have to pull off a few more over the year if the Pens want to repeat as Champions. Shero will undoubtedly acquire someone or make a player swap sometime during the season, especially when injuries arise.

Overall, do remember that the Penguins are bringing back 11 of 12 forwards from the CUP WINNING TEAM and 16 of 20 overall. The Wings did similar and made it to the Cup Final again, adding Hossa, only to lose. What will the Pens’ fate be? I predict a repeat once the right pieces are found. In Shero we trust.

PS. If you’re interested in seeing my more detailed preview for the 2007-08 season, check out the link. I must say that in most regards I was dead on.