Ohio_Pens_fan wrote:dark_forces wrote:FLPensFan wrote:thehockeyguru wrote:FLPensFan wrote:Word is Justin Schultz is likely ahead of schedule to the initial February 10th mark that was set when he got injured. Penguins play tonight in SJ, and FRI/SAT in ARZ and VGK respectively. After this weekend is the by week and All-Star break.
I have a strong feeling that Schultz will be a full participant in practice by the end of the week, and a trade of a defenseman and maybe Brassard is going to go down next week.
Do you think they know who they want to trade or will they try Maatta, Riikola, and Oleksiak with Schultz 1st to see about chemistry?
I really think the only two viable trade options on defense are Maatta and Oleksiak. Riikola hasn't established himself enough yet to really have much value. If he was 20-22, with the games he has played, maybe. But he's 25. There is a difference. He still has a lot of room and potential to grow, but he won't pull down anything major in a return. Neither would Ruhwedel. Penguins have no plans to move Pettersson, and we know they aren't moving Johnson, Schultz, Dumoulin or Letang.
So you are back to Oleksiak and Maatta. Now it is down to what do the Penguins really need, and how big do they need to go. I think if they could only bring in one player, it has to be a 3C. Brassard isn't cutting it, they need an upgrade. There have been some rumors that the Penguins feel Sheahan could handle that role. He has looked good there in small streaks, but, to me, that is as big of a gamble as keeping Brassard. Go after a 3C, and if for some reason that acquired 3C fails like Brassard did, then turn to Sheahan.
I think ideally, the Penguins move Oleksiak and Brassard, maybe a pick and prospect, and in the end with some combination of those pieces going out they get a capable 3C. There is some thought of them needing a LW as well. I think they could use an upgrade on LW, but, I think you'd have to go big on LW to make that the primary target. Simon is doing an admirable job, so, I don't think just an average LW is going to do. Doesn't make sense to push a cheap Simon out of the lineup for a 2.5-4M LW who only puts up a few more points than Simon. I think you would need to get a bona-fide top 6 LW if that was the #1 target.
DK mentioned today that Simon isn't a bad player. He does a bunch of little things well, but, one of his main issues is that he still has an AHL player's shooter mentality. Simon doesn't have an overwhelming shot, and because of this, he kind of just shoots from anywhere. He'd rather get a low quality shot on net rather than trying to get into a better position for a better shot. I mean, that isn't the worst criticism, especially for this team that likes to make 27 passes before each shot.
I think some combination of Oleksiak, Brassard, picks and prospects may be going out, with a 3C as the return. That seems like the most likely scenario. If they wanted to make a bigger splash, then I would have to say Maatta, Brassard, picks, prospects, and lastly, Jarry, could be in play. Rutherford mentioned to DK this week about 3 goalie depth, which indicates to me that, unless Rutherford is getting a deal he thinks is just too good to pass up (or he can get another quality AHL level goalie in a cheap deal), he'll hang onto Jarry until the summer.
Terrific post! Well organized and sensible. I think we may see Brassard dealt for a pick, maybe a 2nd rounder (best guess), and then that pick or our own 2nd could be packaged with Oleksiak for a 3rd line center. I'd like to see a big centerman in the mold of Staal circa 2009, where offense isn't necessarily what's asked of him but he can convert when presented with an opportunity and he's good on face-offs, can PK and is just tough to play against. A playoff type player.
Choices could be Coyle (Minn.), Tierney (OTT), or possibly Danault (MTL). I'd like Coyle but it's unknown if he'd be available.
Coyle should be the most available of what you listed above, as I posted the other day. Coyle and Niederreiter have been in trade rumors for 2 years, including this one. Tierney, I'm not sure Ottawa will want to move, and they ain't taking Brassard back. Same with Danault, as, he's French-Canadian, and I've been told they wouldn't want to trade him away, with that being one of the reasons.