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Might the Pens trade for Jarome Iginla & who would go? |
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Might the Penguins trade for Jarome Iginla and what would it take?
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It was nice to see Jarome Iginla playing well alongside Evgeni Malkin at the All-Star Game. Fact is, most players with any skillset whatsoever would benefit from slotting next to Iginla or Malkin.
It was nice seeing Iginla and Sidney Crosby showing good chemistry as linemates in the 2010 Vancouver Olympics. Again, most players figure to produce with two elite stars.
Rick Nash and Crosby particularly looked dynamic together during the Olympics, but Nash has six years left at $7.8 million and the Penguins aren’t likely to excavate their entire future for the Columbus forward.
Iginla, as hockey fans know, has been bandied about as a trade candidate. His salary cap hit is $7 million in both 2011-12 and 2012-13. That’s it.
Pittsburgh GM Ray Shero has never been afraid to go after the big fish, if he thinks it will land his team a Stanley Cup. So that begs the question, is Iginla a player that could bring Lord Stanley to the Pens?
I’ve got to admit, I don’t follow Iginla on a game-in, game-out basis. I do know that he’s been a point per game player for much of his career and that he’s more streaky – from a points perspective – than many stars.
At nearly 35 years of age, his window is closing, Can he continue playing at an elite level for another season-plus?
There are good questions to ask of Iginla.
How would a switch to a contender impact his game? He’d have to be pretty happy to have a legitimate shot at the Cup.
How would he stack up in the East? For his career, Iginla has 800 points in 877 games against Western Conference foes and 245 points in 275 games against the East.
So let’s assume he’s healthy, he’d be inspired by a trade to Pittsburgh, Shero isn't scared off by his age and all systems are go.
What do the Pens send Calgary in return?
Assuming Sidney Crosby doesn’t go on long-term injured reserve, the Pens won’t be able to help defray Iginla’s cap hit with Crosby – and that’s a good thing, of course. But the team would need to move a like amount of money.
Looking over the Penguins roster, I wouldn’t be shocked to see any of the following players available for trades: Tyler Kennedy, Matt Cooke, Pascal Dupuis, Steve Sullivan, Arron Asham, Craig Adams, Richard Park, Joe Vitale, Paul Martin, Zbynek Michalek, Matt Niskanen, Ben Lovejoy, or Eric Tangradi.
Certainly, potential trading partners might have more interest in one player than another.
Who helps clear a financial path for Iginla? Does any salary stand out? Craig Adams and his $675K? Arron Asham’s 775K? Of course not. Paul Martin stands out with a $5 million cap hit, Michalek at $4 million.
The Flames are also up against the cap, making the dollars even more important than it would with a team like the Florida Panthers. Calgary already has two defensemen earning big bucks on extended contracts – Jay Boumeester ($6.68 million for two more years) and Mark Giordano ($4.2 million for four more seasons). But Cory Sarich and his $3.6 million hit ends after this season.
Let’s say Calgary accepts Martin and his puck-moving skills as part of a trade. There’s still about $2 million that needs to go the Flames’ way, from a Pittsburgh perspective. Kennedy fits that bill perfectly. But he’s not much of a return, either.
At this point, Calgary would be looking for a reason to pull the trigger on the deal.
Defensive prospect Joe Morrow ranks atop or near the top of the Penguins prospects list.
Could Pittsburgh afford to include Morrow in a deal for Iginla? Afford in the sense of future potential, not salary or cap hit.
Calgary has to have a good read on Morrow. Its best prospect, Sven Baertschi, plays for the WHL’s Portland Winterhawks with Morrow.
If GM Shero believes in his heart of hearts that the Pens have a legitimate shot at winning it all, the organization’s steady diet of drafting defensemen could pay off here. The team has Simon Despres and Scott Harrington at the top of the defender prospect food chain and a bunch of other capable blueliners in the pipeline.
It might be time to cash in a chip or two. The lack of secondary scoring has become painfully obvious over the course of the season. Granted, when Jordan Staal comes back the need might not be so glaring. And getting a healthy Crosby back is the best move anyone could possibly make. The upcoming draft is reputedly stacked with promising defensemen. But Iginla could help push the team over the top.
Such a trade would necessitate a move for a steady NHL veteran blueliner, perhaps a Hal Gill.
Shero’s not afraid to shake things up. He went after Marian Hossa despite bidding against the entire league. If he did trade for Iginla, chances are he’d be looking for another lesser, but reliable, player to come back – in the same manner he got Pascal Dupuis along with Hossa.
James Neal will be a restricted free agent and it’s quite possible the team will look to extend him. But whatever that future cap hit might be, it won’t take effect until 2012-13.
The salary cap figures to rise again in 2012-13. But heck, there might not be any hockey in 2012-13l with Donald Fehr at the helm and the agreement ending this year.
Shero wants to win this year and every year. He’s proven that in the past. He's not afraid to make a bold move like Iginla for Martin, Kennedy and Morrow. Are you?
We’ll continue to take a look at possible scenarios as the trade deadline approaches.
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Toronto Tops Pens, 1-0, Wednesday at Air Canada Centre
[This page intentionally left blank in honor of Pens-Leafs snoozer Wednesday night]
Tyler Kennedy hit a post, Matt Niskanen hit a post, Chris Kunitz had a goal disallowed for the umpteenth time, James Neal hit a post and Brent Johnson played well in his sixth start since October. Credit the Leafs for snapping the Pens’ eight-game winning streak. Not much else to say about Wednesday's game.
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Treasure Life!
JT
Pittsburgh Penguins Blogger • 
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