The defensive core of the Pittsburgh Penguins doesn't need much, but a top talent could help.
The Pittsburgh Penguins are in need of a jump start to their lineup, that’s no doubt, but where will it come from?
The front office has said that the Penguins are currently looking for a trade, but what kind of trade does that mean?
Will they go out and get someone to bolster the bottom six? Are Ron Hextall and Brian Burke actually looking into the goalie market? What about the inconsistent defensive core?
What about the defense? There’s an area that hasn’t been looked into too deep with the Penguins.
That could be because they have ‘nine NHL-ready defensemen’ in their system and they’ve seen every one of them at some point this season.
The thing is, outside of Kris Letang, they don’t have another true top line defender.
Marcus Pettersson is having a great season, yes, but he’s not yet consistent enough to warrant that kind of ice time.
P.O. Joseph is playing with extensive confidence, and can be the top guy one day, just not yet.
That leaves, Brian Dumoulin to start logging top line minutes again; no, thanks.
It might cost a high price and multiple players in the current D-core would have to be cut loose, but that might be worth it for some help no the back end.
Who’s available, though? Who could find themselves not only finding a new home in Pittsburgh, but being slotted right next to Letang?
Jakob Chychrun is probably the biggest defender on the trade block, and he’s got all kinds of potential to be a perfect fit.
Only 24-years-old, Chychrun is a left-shot defenseman who still has term left on his deal after this year.
And, only a $4.6 million against the salary cap, that’s a great number for one of the biggest names on the market.
Dumoulin alone makes the price work pretty well; obviously other pieces would need to be involved, but it’s a start.
Other defenders like Vladislav Gavrikov, Erik Karlsson, John Klingberg, and Shayne Gostisbehere have been rumored to be on the move, but it’s Chychrun who makes the most sense for the Penguins if they decide to go that direction.
Pittsburgh’s defense doesn’t need that much work, but adding a top-end talent is never a bad idea.
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