Let's take a look at some of the buzz around the league that pertains to the Pittsburgh Penguins.
It appears the Boston Bruins will be looking for a new third line center next year. This from the Sportsnet website
According to Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman, the Swedish centre and pending UFA was informed by the team that it’s “very unlikely… they’ll re-sign him.“They have to deal with [pending restricted free agent] Dougie Hamilton,… Friedman said during Hockey Night in Canada’s Headlines segment on Saturday, also citing the team’s cap issues. “Now teams are going to start to look at [Soderberg] as a potential free agent solution.…
I wrote about the potential of Carl Soderberg replacing Brandon Sutter here
Dave Molinari had a piece that covered a few topics of interest. You can find his work here
Pittsburgh is still looking to move up in the draft to acquire an earlier selection than what they currently have. He cites the new-found third round picks from Bylsma and Hynes as a means of enhancing their chances.
He expects both Ian Cole and Beau Bennett (both RFA's) to be back. Brian Dumoulin is also an RFA but it is highly expected that he will be back as well.
Mike Reilly met with the Penguins and by all accounts the meeting went well.
“We had a real good conversation,… Rutherford said. “He handled himself extremely well.…The Penguins’ sales pitch, he said, centered not only on their first-rate facilities and core of world-class personnel, but on how well Reilly would fit with the way they play.
“We’re a team that plays an up-tempo game that really suits his style,… Rutherford said, adding that the Penguins are “transitioning into a younger defense, possibly a younger team.…
Although Chicago is a popular choice to land Reilly and Columbus is the only team that can sign him before July 1, Rutherford hopes to get at least one more chance to sell him on the Penguins.
“We’re hoping that when he narrows his list, he’ll take the time to come in to Pittsburgh and see the city and meet some more people, see all the facilities we have,… he said.
This would be a huge coup by the Penguins if they could land Reilly. Not many teams get the chance to fix an awful trade so soon after they make it without giving up anything in return.
Lastly, the Edmonton Oilers are perhaps shopping the 16th overall pick. If you recall that is Pittsburgh's pick that was given to Edmonton to acquire David Perron.
Chiarelli won’t be parting with the first overall, which is expected to acquire Erie Otters sensation Connor McDavid. Asked specifically about the number 16, 33 and 57 picks, he acknowledged they could be available for the right return that helps the Oilers now.Other clubs with extra picks in the first round this year (Toronto, Buffalo, Winnipeg, Philadelphia and Arizona) could also dangle the lowest of their selections as trade bait. However, the Oilers second pick (which originally belonged to the Pittsburgh Penguins) sits highest in the order and that could attract considerably more attention.
Chiarelli could have several suitors for that 16th overall pick. The Penguins, New York Rangers, New York Islanders, Nashville Predators, St. Louis Blues, Chicago Blackhawks and Tampa Bay Lightning all lack first-round selections this year.
I'm not really sure what Pittsburgh could do here to entice the Oilers to move that pick back to them. The Oilers were rumored to have been looking at Artem Anisimov before he got hurt so I suppose there is a long shot chance of Brandon Sutter being packaged with an additional piece. However, the Oilers have since won the draft lottery and the right to draft Connor McDavid. They will not have as many center openings as originally expected.
Chris Kunitz slumped at the end of the year offensively and carries a cap hit of 3.85M for the next two seasons. I tried my best to find out if he has a no trade clause in his contract and I couldn't find anything that said he did. If that is indeed true there is a little flexibility on that front if Pittsburgh chooses to go down that road.
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