Pittsburgh Penguins - Trading for Winger the RIGHT Move

The Penguins are once again the best team in the Eastern conference.  It's safe to say that already have the Metropolitan Division sewn up, currently having a 16 point lead over the next nearest team, the Washington Capitals.  So before I start this article let me say that the Penguins don't need any immediate help.   At all.  That being said the recent loss of top line right winger Pascal Dupuis leaves a gaping hole on the right side of Sidney Crosby, a spot that can't afford to be empty come playoff time.  Some extra depth on the third line would also be nice.  The Penguins have roughly $7.3 M in cap space, giving them some decent options to fill those holes.

Winger


The hole to the right Sidney Crosby is, and should be, the primary concern and target this trade season for the Pens.  Here are some of the names being thrown around that could possibly be on the trade block that fit the Pens needs:

1. Evander Kane - Winnipeg Jets
One of the hottest names on the trade market this year, Kane was a high first round pick in 2009 by the Atlanta Thrashers (now the Winnipeg Jets) and has not really lived up the the expectations that comes with being a player drafted that high.  By no means has he had a bad career (his best year coming in 2011-12 with 30 G - 27A) as he has put up solid numbers each year hes been in the league but he still has not risen to the that many people projected he would.  The Jets, as projected, are in the leagues basement and are not in the playoff picture.  They're whole team is one giant gaping hole that needs fixing, only having a mediocre parts to build around as it is - so any new players in organization would be a welcome sight for the Jets organization.  Kane is a very skilled player and a right winger by trade.  On paper, he would fit perfectly into the spot now vacant next to Sid.  Kane carries a $5.27 cap hit, so he would take up a large chunk of the Pens available space - but he is signed until 2018...and is only 22. Having a young, skilled winger to grow with Sid would be something that the Pens have been searching for since they lost Marian Hossa back in 2008.  Kane would be the final piece in giving the Pens the best top two lines in the NHL.  It would also allow Dupuis, who is out for the season with a torn ACL, to take the RW spot on the third line - a place that also needs fixing - but that would be for the season following this one.
If Kane is available this trade season than GM Ray Shero should make a move for him.
2. Michael Cammalleri - Calgary Flames 
Quite often in this blog, you will will hear me talk about Mr. Cammalleri and my desire for the Pens, or any team of worth for that matter, to acquire the current Calgary Flames right winger - who's talents are being wasted away in a place as horrible as Calgary.  Cammalleri, 31, has not really had a solid season since his 2010/11 campaign where he a 19 G - 28 A - 47 P spread.  If his name sounds familiar, it should, as he, along with former Montreal Canadians goalie Jaroslav Halak, eliminated the Penguins in the 2009/10 Stanley Cup playoffs.  Cammalleri's talents are being wasted in a place like Calgary, plain and simple.  He's an extremely talented winger, and hes one of my favorite players to boot.  I've always felt that he could be a 40+ goal scorer (almost being one during the 2008/09 season where he scored 39 goals) if he was put on a line with other talented players.  Hes old enough that he can be counted as a leader in the locker room and he, being 31, still has a good bit left in the tank so he shouldn't be considered a rental player.  The problem with Cammalleri, as much as I would like to see the Pens go for him, is the 6 M cap hit he carries with him. It would not leave a lot of room for the Pens to fix their current third line problem but then again - this is a really good player.  The Flames - much like the Jets - are in rebuilding mode.  The Flames have a long rode ahead of them before they can be a playoff team again, let alone a contender.  Some of the Pens defensive propects would help speed up that process, at least on the blue line.
3. Paul Stastny - Colorado Avalanche 
I highly doubt this will happen, as the Avalanche are not really in the seller pool this trade season, but apparently Colorado Avalanche C Paul Stastny is on the trade block this season.  This is mostly due to him being the odd one out in Colorado in a place flush with center depth and the team may be looking to move him for something prior to him hitting the free agent market this offseason.   Stastny, who has put up at least 20 G in all but one of his 7 NHL seasons is a very solid, all around center who can pass as well as shoot the puck if put in that role.  As much as I would like to see a player of Stastny's caliber come to Pittsburgh, as the upsides are obvious.  Hes only 28.  Hes in the top 50 players in the league and adding him to any roster would instantly make it much better.  As much upside as there is, there is also significant downside. Stastny is a center by trade.  The switch to RW is one some players can't make and with his 6.6 M cap hit - by far the biggest of any of the players I could see the Pens going after this trade season - is a risk the Pens would need to think long and hard about before seriously considering him for the RW spot next to Sid.  Also, the Avalanche don't really need prospects as much as say the Jets, Flames, Panthers do since they're not in the leagues basement.  The Pens wouldn't have nearly as much trade leverage in dealing for Stasney as they would with Kane or Cammalleri which is why I would only go after him if the previous two were off the market.

Third Line

The Pens third line has not had "an identity" all season long.  C Brandon Sutter has not really blossomed in to the center people though he could be when coming over in the Staal trade a few years ago and part of that can be accredited to the lack of consistency with his wingers.  Sutter has not really had true line partners since he came here which is a significant problem for the Pens come playoff time.  Part of what made the Pens so formidable during the 2008 and 2009 playoff runs was their third line of Kennedy - Staal - Cooke. The third line can be one of the most important parts of a team, especially come playoff time, and as of right now the Pens don't have one. The Pens need to seriously take a look at upgrading their third line if they really want to go far in these upcoming playoffs.

1. Jamie McGinn - Colorado Avalanche
Cheap, young, solid third line player.  Only has a 1.75 M cap hit and for a player who puts up at least 10 goals in 5 of his 7 NHL seasons he would fit very nicely on the Pens third line, or any third line for that matter.  Word is that Colorado is trying to move him and the Pens could probably get him for a lower level prospect or a 2/3 round draft pick.
2. Steve Ott - Buffalo Sabers 
I really, really like Steve Ott.  He is a very solid defensive player and can also put up solid offensive numbers - putting up 22 G with Dallas in 2009/10.   He could add some serious grit to a Pens line up that lacks heavily in that department and would fit nicely on the right wing on the third line. His 2.95 M cap hit is a little more pricey than other third liners on the market but, in my opinion, is well worth the price.
3. *Beau Bennett - Pittsburgh Penguins
The in house solution.  Bennett has been out most of the season and has yet to show the Pens what he can do for an extended period of time.  Coaches say that he is going to get a spot on the first line but in the very likely chance that it does not work out (as you can see, I don't have much faith in the Pens in house offensive depth) he will get a chance on the third line, where he began the season.  Bennett is a wild card.  He has not really played long enough for me to accurately predict what kind of players he would either on the first line or on the third line.  He could work out, he could not.  It's up for the Pens to take that risk or whether or not they want to look else where for third line help.

Other Players to Look At
Dustin Byfuglien - LW - Winnipeg Jets - 5.25 M
Sam Gagner - C - Edmonton Oilers - 4.8 M
Ales Hemsky - RW - Edmonton Oilers - 4.1 M

O'Brien Lyin?

I was born and raised a Pittsburgh Panthers fan.  My dad went to Pitt, his dad went to Pitt, my mom went to Pitt.  Naturally, I wanted to go to Pitt as well...but those plans were dashed when I failed to get in.  I did however get into Penn State, an institution I was raised to despise.  That just comes with being a Pitt fan though - it's part of the territory.  I grew up hating...no despising Penn State - specifically Joe Paterno.  I despised that man.  I hating everything he stood for, I hated the way he was (is) idolized as a some sort of God.  So when I decided, very reluctantly I might add, to continue my studies at Penn State I did so with the mind set that if that man was still there, if he was still coaching, I wouldn't have gone there.  Just because of what he stood for, for the kind of power he had.

Having just finished up my first semester at Penn State, I have to say that, as expected, blown away by the school spirit that envelopes State College.  It's something that now, as a Penn Stater, I am proud of.  A huge part of that school spirit stems from the football team.  That hasn't changed, it's always been the case up there.  Now though, now that Paterno is gone, heading up there I was curious as to if the spirit would be diminished.   It wasn't.  Most of that can be credited to now former head coach Bill O'Brien.  Of course, the players deserve credit as well but what this team was projected to do, or wasn't for that matter, and what O'Brien was able to get out of them is remarkable.  He was able to tap into a team's full potential...and then kept going.  He was able to turn a completely mediocre team and make them, with what they had, the best they could be.  He was part of what made me proud to be a Penn Stater.  What he did when he came in, the way he handled the absolute shit storm of the situation was simply amazing.  Now that he's gone though, what now.  

Let's get this out of the way, O'Brien leaving is not good for Penn State.  He is one of the best coaches in the country and whenever someone like that leaves any team is going to take a blow.  The questions are whether or not he left Penn State football in a better or worse situation than he found it it and whether or not O'Brien is at fault for leaving PSU.  

In my opinion, Penn State is better off for having O'Brien.  When he arrived, the football program as well as the university was in shambles.  He came in and made the best out of it.  He helped make Penn Staters proud again.  He gave people hope, hope that PSU could maybe get back to what it once was before the Sandusky scandal hit.  O'Brien leaving PSU does hurt the university - but it's minor gash compared to what it was before.  O'Brien should be commended, not criticized, for hit time at Penn State.  What he did was nothing short of a miracle.  

People are calling O'Brien a lair.  Saying that he betrayed the university.  Saying that he lied to university.  That he lied to recruits.  I'm here to say that O'Brien is about as far away from a liar as you can get.  He's not wrong for telling recruits that he would be there and then leave.  It's part of his job to get recruits to come.  What is he supposed to tell them "Ya, come to Penn State.  It's great.  I won't be here next year.  But come anyway."  O'Brien was just doing his job.  He didn't lie to anyone.  

Bill O'Brien leaving PSU is sad.  He was a great coach and great for the university.  I, however, find no fault in him for leaving for greener pastures.  I wish him the best of luck in Houston and hope that whoever fills his shoes at my new home away from home does an adequate job.  He's got quite the shoes to fill.