With the Pittsburgh Penguins returning to play on Saturday against the Washington Capitals in their first game following the 4 Nations Face-off break, it’s easy to forget that another key date is approaching.
And that would be the Mar. 7 trade deadline, which is exactly two weeks away.
With the Penguins six games out of a wild card spot – and GM and POHO Kyle Dubas reiterating the organization’s desire to rebuild on-the-fly – they are likely going to be pretty heavy sellers, with, maybe, a surprise or two in store.
Here are some players to keep an eye on ahead of the deadline:
Matt Grzelcyk
Although he started out a bit rough with Pittsburgh, Grzelcyk has helped revive a once-dead Penguins power play and is enjoying a career year offensively. Over the past couple of months – despite some defensive hiccups – Grzelcyk has been good for the Penguins, as his 28 points have already surpassed his previous career high.
Defensemen are highly coveted assets at the trade deadline, and therefore, the Penguins should be able to get a decent return, with at least a third-round pick pretty much seeming a guarantee at this point. A contending team in need of a cheap rental who can elevate their blue line offensively will blow up Dubas’s voicemail.
Unless Pittsburgh plans to re-sign the 31-year-old Grzelcyk – which seems doubtful, given their desire to get younger – he is, likely, as good as gone.
Anthony Beauvillier
It should come as no surprise that teams have been calling about Beauvillier as well. Another pending-UFA rental, Beauvillier has had a nice bounceback season offensively with 12 goals – which is a vast improvement over the five total he scored between three teams last season and more remniscent of his early years with the New York Islanders.
Beauvillier has proven valuable in a top-six role with the Penguins, as nine of his 12 goals have come in that role. He would be a nice depth addition to a contending team that needs to add some speed, forechecking ability, and puck pursuit to its forward group.
Like Grzelcyk, Beauvillier, 27, doesn’t figure to to be part of Pittsburgh’s future plans. Therefore, he’s someone to keep an eye on in the lead-up to the deadline.
Rickard Rakell
Being that Rakell is the Penguins’ most valuable trade asset, don’t expect him simply to be sold to the highest bidder at the trade deadline.
The Penguins need to be calculated about the way they handle Rakell. Which makes sense for a lot of reasons.
For one, trading Sidney Crosby’s best winger two years in a row doesn’t exactly send the message that the Penguins are interested in winning with Crosby still around, which Dubas has reiterated is the goal. Also, Rakell’s $5 million salary for three more seasons will look even better this summer, when more teams will be in the mix for him with the rising salary cap.
The Penguins need to make sure they get the return they want for Rakell, which should include NHL or near-NHL talent in return. Unless Dubas is blown away, expect him to stay.
Alex Nedeljkovic
Nedeljkovic’s situation may, honestly, be much more interesting than Rakell’s.
The goaltender – who signed a two-year extension this past offseason – is on a tear in recent games, posting a .936 save percentage over his last eight starts. His strong play has led to decreased starting time for rookie Joel Blomqvist, who needs starting minutes at the NHL level.
With another veteran goaltender in Tristan Jarry being stashed in the AHL due to poor performance – and two other legitimate goaltending prospects in Filip Larsson and Sergei Murashov being blocked in development by the veterans – it wouldn’t be surprising to see the Penguins capitalize on Nedeljkovic’s high value at the moment to make way for more opportunity with the young guns. This is especially true with another veteran in Jarry still in the fold.
Nothing is a given, and the Penguins like Nedeljkovic. But moving him may be the only way they can truly see what they have in their three goaltending prospects.
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