UFA targets at the Trade Deadline?

[Crush_Me]

Hi there fellow Pens fans,

I do not post very often here so bare with me on this one.

I have been trying to assess the most pressing needs for this team (top-six winger, depth defenseman, a new backup?) and with the recent signing of free agent Eaton, I believe the most pressing need is a top six winger, as is pretty obvious from the lack of scoring on the second line aside from Malkin and Neal (before the injury to Malkin).

Here's a list of potentially available pending UFA wingers (with current season stats) from teams currently out of playoff contention (bottom 4 of each conference) if they were to start this week:

Jarome Iginla - RW Calgary
Season Stats
GP G A Pts +/- PIM PPG SHG GWG TOI S PtsPG
YTD 18 3 10 13 -3 13 0 0 0 19:44 67 0.72
On Pace 48 8 27 35 -8 35 0 0 0 19:44 179 0.73

Vaclav Prospal - W/C Columbus
Season Stats
GP G A Pts +/- PIM PPG SHG GWG TOI S PtsPG
YTD 20 6 4 10 -1 10 2 0 2 15:59 33 0.50
On Pace 48 14 10 24 -2 24 5 0 5 15:59 79 0.50

Milan Hejduk - RW
Season Stats
GP G A Pts +/- PIM PPG SHG GWG TOI S PtsPG
YTD 18 3 6 9 -1 0 2 0 0 13:23 30 0.50
On Pace 48 8 16 24 -3 0 5 0 0 13:23 80 0.50

Alex Kovalev - RW
Season Stats
GP G A Pts +/- PIM PPG SHG GWG TOI S PtsPG
YTD 14 2 3 5 -1 6 1 0 1 15:40 21 0.36
On Pace 43 6 9 15 -3 18 3 0 3 15:40 65 0.35

Brad Boyes - RW
Season Stats
GP G A Pts +/- PIM PPG SHG GWG TOI S PtsPG
YTD 20 4 11 15 -11 10 1 0 1 18:31 38 0.75
On Pace 48 10 26 36 -26 24 2 0 2 18:31 91 0.75

Obviously, my first choice would be Iginla off of that list, but what will be the asking price from Calgary in return? I would imagine a first round pick, plus a current roster player (top-9 forward like Kennedy) and a blue-chip prospect at D would be sufficient for a rental UFA. I would forget about Hejduk or Kovalev as they seem to be in the twilight of their careers, but I would curious to see how Prospal could fit alongside Crosby or Malkin.

What are your toughts? What if (in a worst case scenario) Malkin is gone for the season with severe and persistent post-concussion symptoms? Do the Pens then refocus their energy on acquiring a UFA center at the deadline, such as Ribeiro (WAS) or Weiss (FLA)?

[columbia]

I feel like Shero is going to either:

a.) Stay away from UFAs and make a hockey trade
b.) Do nothing

I'm leaning towards b.)

[Kovy27]

lol@Alex Kovalev. Been there, won't happen again.

[slappybrown]

I've recently seen Ray Whitney mentions as well, though he is signed for next year as well. He was off to a good start this year but then broke his foot and won't be back till mid-March.

[Hawkeynut]

Iginla - Top priority if they are serious about a legit cup run (ala Hossa pickup). Iggy addresses everything from "LEADERSHIP" to team toughness that the Pens could almost certainly use. I would be so excited to have him in a Pens uniform even if it is only for a couple lf months. This guy is all class.

Kovalev - Pfft.

The rest - Take it or leave em, wouldn't mind them on the team, but wouldn't break out in hysterics if they got any of them.

[slappybrown]

I feel like Shero is going to either:

a.) Stay away from UFAs and make a hockey trade
b.) Do nothing

I'm leaning towards b.)

I'd be kind of disappointed if it is b, because I'm less confident this team can win a Cup as currently constituted (and I mean with a healthy Geno). I don't think its a major overhaul, but a couple small moves could help (e.g., an aggressive, reckless, lower line presence would be nice).

[Idoit40fans]

As soon as Malkin was out, I mentioned Prospal. That would be for now to play center on the second till he was gone then move to wing when he returned. I think he's useful and could be had at a reasonable price.

[Crush_Me]

I feel like Shero is going to either:

a.) Stay away from UFAs and make a hockey trade
b.) Do nothing

I'm leaning towards b.)

I'd be kind of disappointed if it is b, because I'm less confident this team can win a Cup as currently constituted (and I mean with a healthy Geno). I don't think its a major overhaul, but a couple small moves could help (e.g., an aggressive, reckless, lower line presence would be nice).

such as Clutterbuck perhaps if he is available from Min?

[MRandall25]

Prospal is pretty poor. He only looks good because he's playing for the Blue Jackets. Do not want.

[IanMoran]

Shero's never really traded a big time prospect... Unless of course count Esposito, but I think the Pens had turned sour on him..

[Nizzy]

Prospal is bad.

I just hope they do nothing. Only trading pieces I wouldn't mind giving up are Niskanen, Kennedy, 2nd. Whats the best that could get us? I'm saying this and also saying that they should not give up Niskanen until the end of the season.

[IanMoran]

Prospal is bad.

I just hope they do nothing. Only trading pieces I wouldn't mind giving up are Niskanen, Kennedy, 2nd. Whats the best that could get us? I'm saying this and also saying that they should not give up Niskanen until the end of the season.

I kind of agree.. I really feel like this team is good enough to win it all, but then again I did last year too...

I think Shero will obviously see what's out there and if he gets a value he likes pull the trigger, but I don't think there's some pressing need to overspend for a trade...

Wouldn't be surprised to see a Guerin / Roberts / Poni /Kovalev, etc... type of low-risk that may or may not work type of trade

[Pitts]

If Malkin is out for much longer, I expect Stephen Weiss to be a Pen soon. Although, for some reason (groin?), he's having a bad season so far. But, he is 2nd line center material.

I've been on the Iginla train since last season.

[JoseCuervo]

Iginla is going to be too expensive. If you think adding Iginla will make this team instant cup contenders, then it would be worth it, but I personally don't think it does.

With the addition of Cole in Dallas, they will likely be shopping Morrow, and I think the Pens could get him for cheap (2nd-3rd round pick/ one of the lesser defensive prospects). Morrow's career is starting to go downhill but he can still hit, work the boards, and fight in front of the net. His lack of speed would limit him to playing on Malkin or Sutter's line, imo.

[Defence21]

If Malkin is out for much longer, I expect Stephen Weiss to be a Pen soon. Although, for some reason (groin?), he's having a bad season so far. But, he is 2nd line center material.

I've been on the Iginla train since last season.

I like Weiss in a vacuum as a player to compliment our stars, and the fact that he's a natural center capable of playing wing only makes him more desirable. But I feel this team is approaching the "soff" label it once had. That might be an exaggeration, as Kunitz, Cooke, Orpik, Letang, and Glass skate regular shifts, but I'd rather see some bigger bodies with a little snarl find their way to Pittsburgh, as the playoffs aren't for the faint of heart. Guys like Weiss and P-M Bouchard are quality players who would be welcomed additions in my book -- if there was a bit more snarl up and down the lineup. That said, don't think for a second I'd be disappointed with a Weiss addition...but I'd be pulling for someone else to balance him out.

[Nizzy]

UFA Seth Jones.

[Defence21]

Iginla is going to be too expensive. If you think adding Iginla will make this team instant cup contenders, then it would be worth it, but I personally don't think it does.

With the addition of Cole in Dallas, they will likely be shopping Morrow, and I think the Pens could get him for cheap (2nd-3rd round pick/ one of the lesser defensive prospects). Morrow's career is starting to go downhill but he can still hit, work the boards, and fight in front of the net. His lack of speed would limit him to playing on Malkin or Sutter's line, imo.

Nice observation. I would love to add Morrow to the mix, as he's my all-time favorite non-Penguin. I love his game, and even as he declines, his physicality as a "third wheel" on one of the top-two lines would be fantastic.

I could see him working well with either center. Ideally, he'd play with Malkin, keeping Crosby's line in tact. But Kunitz helped bring success to the Malkin line and Morrow is a workmanlike player, making him the prototypical Crosby winger.

I mentioned in a response to Pitts above that I would only like to see a Weiss-like player if a gritty player also was brought in to balance things out. Here's the guy.

Kunitz-Crosby-Weiss
Morrow-Malkin-Neal
Cooke-Sutter-Dupuis
Glass-Vitale-Adams

Kennedy gets dealt in a trade, Bennett returns to WBS to get big-time minutes and gain experience before a permanent call-up next season, and the new new players each take a wing with a star. I hate to "demote" Dupuis, as he's performed so well with Crosby, but bumping him to his more prototypical role creates depth down the lineup that current is missing.

[MRandall25]

Morrow wouldn't be able to keep up with this team.

Hell, he can't even keep up with his current linemates.

He's done. I want nothing to do with him.

[Rylan]

Morrow wouldn't be able to keep up with this team.

Hell, he can't even keep up with his current linemates.

He's done. I want nothing to do with him.

Said many about Guerin.

[Pavel Bure]

Give me one of

Clowe
MacArthur
Penner - Say what you want the guy is a playoff man

For scoring line purposes

Give me one of

Torres
Belanger
Nystrom/Fiddler

To upgrade PK and lower lines

Give me one of

Scuderi
Smid
Regehr

To help the PK and D

[MRandall25]

Morrow wouldn't be able to keep up with this team.

Hell, he can't even keep up with his current linemates.

He's done. I want nothing to do with him.

Said many about Guerin.

But Guerin wasn't playing with a 41 year old Jaromir Jagr.

Morrow has 0 speed. Guerin had at least a 2 or 3.

[DontToewsMeBro]

We got a solid 3 months out of Guerin before he went completely downhill, he was horrible the following season. That's where Morrow is at right now.

[Rylan]

I don't recall Guerin as an Islander, but the change of scenery for Morrow could spark a burst of energy for 30 games. He would be cheap to acquire and has a medium reward ceiling. It allows for pieces to spent in other facets of the game such as acquiring one more defenseman and perhaps some solid 3rd and 4th liners (since that is the fun thing to complain about)

[Defence21]

Morrow wouldn't be able to keep up with this team.

Hell, he can't even keep up with his current linemates.

He's done. I want nothing to do with him.

I'm aware he's slowing down drastically and that his physical style of play has worn him down to the point that he's a shadow of what he once was. But he's also been given a reduced role in Dallas and has seen the team transition from his to Benn's. It's got to be a difficult position for a player for that to happen. I could see a new home and a legitimate Cup opportunity fueling a short-term resurgence the way it did for Guerin, who appeared to be washed up on Long Island before he was acquired in the trade.

[MRandall25]

I don't think playing the 2nd line with Jagr and Benn is a "reduced" role.