It's a tough, but not impossible job for Ron Hextall to make some sort of move with the Pittsburgh Penguins.
PITTSBURGH - Fans have been begging for Ron Hextall to make a move and improve the Pittsburgh Penguins lineup for about two months now and it’s been pretty silent on his end.
The Penguins most recent loss to the New York Islanders exposed many of the team’s flaws and where areas need to be tweaked or downright changed.
Last time Hextall spoke to the media, he stated that talks of a trade have started picking up, and that’s possible, but there’s still a problem.
What teams around the NHL not only have an asset the Penguins need, but who is willing to take what the Penguins need to get rid of?
Sure, the ‘take all of our bad players for all of your good players’ argument is fun to have, but it can’t be stressed enough how important it is to be realistic about the options.
Are any teams around the NHL willing to take on any of the anchors on the third line? Brock McGinn hasn’t recorded a point since before Christmas and Jeff Carter has a full no-move clause.
Would a team jump on the final year of Brian Dumoulin? Add on a modified no-trade clause and the question changes to are the Dumoulin friendly teams willing to take him?
Hextall is locked in a tough position, but it’s not impossible, and the salary cap still isn’t an excuse.
There was another trade involving a huge contract and a team up against the cap ceiling that got pulled off, now it’s Hextall’s turn.
If the Penguins swing for the fences, it likely involves a useful piece to the current lineup; Jason Zucker comes to mind, but again, modified no-trade clause.
Time is running out for Hextall and the Penguins, a move needs to be made but is one possible?
It feels like we’re talking in circles at this point… it truly is up to Hextall to figure something out, and fast.
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