
Plus, has Auston Matthews already become the greatest Leafs player of all-time?
Jake Guentzel might not want to pack his bags just yet.
According to Pittsburgh Penguins GM Kyle Dubas, the team will use the upcoming games against Montreal and Philadelphia to determine what strategy to take heading into the March 8 trade deadline.
“It’s been outlined to them,” Dubas told reporters on Wednesday. “We’ve got the last two remaining games of this homestand, a western trip, and then we’re back here to show where we want to go.”
Call it delaying the inevitable, if you like. But not much is going to change after these next two games. Pittsburgh is not a playoff team.
The way the team is constructed, the Penguins are certainly not a Stanley Cup contender.
Currently in 12th place in the Eastern Conference standings, the Penguins are eight points back of the Detroit Red Wings for the final wild-card spot. In other words, time to get your offers in. The fire sale is about to begin.
Is Matthews the Greatest Leaf of All-Time?
Get ready to raise another banner to the rafters.
Forget about Mats Sundin or Darryl Sittler. Has Auston Matthews, who scored his league-leading 50th goal of the season on Wednesday — and could be en route to his second Hart Trophy — already become the greatest Leaf of all-time?
"You can make the case that he still needs to do it in the post-season," writes Toronto Maple Leafs site editor David Alter. "But in terms of individual play, there hasn't been anyone who has done anything like what Matthews is doing with the Leafs."
Perry Drops the Gloves Again
Corey Perry has three goals and five points since joining the Edmonton Oilers. But he's also making his impact felt in other ways — primarily with his fists.
On Wednesday, Perry got into his second fight with the Oilers, this time taking on Boston Bruins' Parker Wotherspoon.
[embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cCLuraOT8JY[/embed]
Sergei Bobrovsky Goes After Brady Tkachuck
Having a Tkachuk as a teammate does not prevent you from drawing the ire of another Tkachuk, as Sergei Bobrovsky discovered on Wednesday.
After making a series of saves, the Florida Panthers goalie had enough of Tkachuk swiping at the covered puck and took matters into his own hands. "He jumped up and immediately thrust his gloves into Tkachuk’s face," wrote Panthers site editor David Dwork, "hitting him a second time with his blocker hand before Tkachuk began angrily sent a few jabs back in Bob’s direction."