Pittsburgh Penguins GM Jim Rutherford continues to be aggressive on the market looking for help on the blue line.
In a shortened season, the pressures of performing at the highest possible level are heightened and because of that the NHL Trade Market has been extremely active. Everyone loves a good hockey trade. Not all can be as big of a bombshell as the Laine/Dubois trade on Saturday, but it seems as if more moves may be on the horizon. With a shortened season, NHL teams will be quicker to move if injuries pile up or if the team flat out is underachieving. This seems to be the case with the Penguins, as per Darren Dreger.
With this in mind, let’s take a look at some potential options for GM Jim Rutherford:
Penguins
Oliver Kylington: a good indicator of when a player is undervalued by a team is when the fans are upset when a player is gone. This was certainly the case for Kylington, as he was placed on waivers before the start of the NHL season. The left-handed defenseman would likely come cheap for Pittsburgh, which is beneficial due to their lack of high end assets in terms of draft picks and prospects. Although Kylington is only 23, he comes with 87 games of NHL experience and could be a good cheap option if Penguins’ offseason acquisition Mike Matheson underperforms.
Will Butcher: In a somewhat surprising move, New Jersey’s new head coach Lindy Ruff chose to play Matt Tennyson over Butcher in every game of the season so far, making Butcher a healthy scratch. The future of the defenseman in the Garden State seems even dimmer when you take into account that Sami Vatanen will more likely than not push Tennyson out of the lineup when his VISA issues and quarantine are resolved. Butcher’s high hockey IQ, good passing, and ability to work the power play make him a potential asset to any team, despite his slow foot speed.
Pierre-Olivier Joseph: This will be the most likely option for the Penguins. Where better to look for a defenseman than in your own organization first? Joseph made his NHL debut on January 22nd, and managed to put up an assist in a win over the Rangers. Highly touted for his two-way skill since he was selected 23rd overall pick in 2017, Joseph boasts a high ceiling with tons of potential to still be tapped. The Penguins were certainly excited to acquire him in the trade for Phil Kessel, and they may begin seeing the benefits of that trade soon.
Dark Horse: Keith Yandle (if they can find a way to fit his salary).