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List of not looking to trade but… Penguins players for 2021-22

June 11, 2021, 11:10 AM ET [104 Comments]
Ryan Wilson
Pittsburgh Penguins Blogger • RSSArchiveCONTACT
Last blog I listed of the players I perceived to be untouchable in 2021-22 as it pertains to the Penguins situation and today I’m going to talk about players I am not looking to actively move, but if somebody wanted to discuss them I certainly wouldn’t hang up the phone. These could also be players I think the Penguins would be happy to keep, but also not using a slot to protect them in the expansion draft.

Brian Dumoulin

I’m certainly not going out of my way to move him. He has been part of one of the best pairings in the league for the past number of years. He still has two years left on his deal at 4.1M. He turned in another quality performance in 2021-22. The only way I’m even contemplating moving him is if somebody wants to trade a quality forward back. The only reason I would even do that is because the Penguins already have quite a bit of money tied up in Marcus Pettersson and Mike Matheson on the left side. Moving Dumoulin certainly isn’t higher on the list than those two.

John Marino


His rookie campaign was certainly better than his sophomore one. Given the Penguins right defense depth I am not looking to actively shop Marino, but his contract is no guarantee to be good value at the present time. Jim Rutherford rushed in with a six-year 4.4M AAV contract which will start in 2021-22. Next year will be a big year for Marino. Can he return to form from his rookie season or will he just be another guy making ~4M on a mid-tier contract. I’m certainly willing to find out. It isn’t like the Penguins have an in-house option to replace him anyways. Cody Ceci will likely price himself out of the Penguins range given how well he played in his role last year. Marino will be 24 so he isn’t exactly a young prospect. He is entering what should be the best years of his career.

Jared McCann

I’m not looking to move McCann. In fact, I would use a slot to protect him in the expansion draft. He is a streak shooter, but has positional flexibility being able to play center or wing. He showed chemistry in playing with Jeff Carter and can help with constructing a quality third scoring line.

Kasperi Kapanen

He makes a totally reasonable 3.2M. He had a very nice start to his second stint with the Penguins. A lot of his success came off of the rush and an inflated shooting percentage so I do feel like he is a negative regression candidate. It isn’t the easiest thing to sustain rush scoring success. His value is higher now than it was in Toronto so you would be selling high. I would listen, but not seek out a trade involving Kapanen. I would use a slot to protect him in the expansion draft.

Teddy Blueger


He is a really good fourth line scoring center. I really like his fit on the team. He fills that Matt Cullen role well. He is a restricted free agent looking for a raise from the 750k he made. I am willing to double it or give slightly more. Unfortunately, I don’t have a slot to protect him in the expansion draft. My preference is to use it on Jeff Carter instead because of the importance of the 3C position and how the Penguins have chased their tail for four years trying to find one. I would really like Blueger to come back, but if losing him is the cost of doing business in the expansion draft there are worse things that could happen even if it is not ideal at all. I’m not interested in paying off Seattle to not take a player and I believe Ron Hextall is on the record saying the same. Replacing a 4C is way easier than a 3C.

Zach Aston-Reese


Really good depth winger who specializes in defense. This is a similar situation to Blueger as I personally would not be using a slot to protect him in the expansion draft. He has 1M left on his contract for another year. I would like it if he were back, but if he doesn’t survive the expansion draft it is what it is.

Chad Ruhwedel


Remember him? He is a perfectly fine bottom pairing/7th defender. He makes 700k and with the probable departure of Ceci you need somebody to play back there. Still don’t understand why he signed a two-year extension with the team considering how they’ve used him, but he’s still under contract and I think it is still a contract with value.

Pierre-Olivier Joseph

I’m looking more towards playing him full-time on the roster than moving him. Having playable ELC contracts is something the Penguins have sorely lacked. If he can provide NHL minutes he gives the Penguins an opportunity to cut some of the fat from the defense budget whether it is Mike Matheson (fingers crossed) or Marcus Pettersson. The Penguins could reallocate that money towards their goaltending or another forward capable of providing much needed scoring depth.

Casey DeSmith


He is a capable backup goalie and doesn’t make a lot of money. I don’t want him as part of a duo with Tristan Jarry, but I don’t mind if he is back so take that for what it’s worth. Pairing DeSmith with a veteran goaltender with a larger track record of success isn’t a bad path to take.

This group of players certainly don’t qualify for the untouchable category, but each of them brings something to the table and when looking at each player in a vacuum they are all acceptable at what they do and how much they cost (maybe not Marino in this regard). That said, all of these players I would be willing to listen to offers for in order to change the look of the roster if the right deal came about.

Thanks for reading!
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