The Pittsburgh Penguins are gearing up for what should be a busy off-season. After missing the playoffs for the third straight year, the expectation is that they will make some moves this summer.
One clear area that the Penguins should be looking to address is the left-side of their defense. It is apparent that it could use a boost, and they reportedly have a notable one on their radar.
According to the Toronto Star's Nick Kypreos, the Penguins are one of the teams looking to acquire Vegas Golden Knights defenseman Nicolas Hague.
"I’m hearing the Montreal Canadiens and Pittsburgh Penguins are hot on the trail to potentially trade for him," Kypreos reported about Hague.
It is easy to understand why the Penguins reportedly have interest in Hague. He is a 6-foot-6, hard-nosed defenseman who could work well in the Penguins' top four and penalty kill. In addition, at 26 years old, he would be a good fit for a retooling club like the Penguins. However, the Penguins would also need to sign him to a new contract if they acquired him, as he is a pending restricted free agent.
Hague appeared in 68 games this season with the Golden Knights, where he posted five goals, 12 points, and 82 hits. In 364 games over six NHL seasons with Vegas, he has 20 goals, 83 points, 572 hits, and a plus-20 rating. Overall, he is a shutdown defensive defenseman, so he could be a nice pickup for a Penguins club looking for more stability on their blueline.
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