The Pittsburgh Penguins don't have many trade assets, but who amongst the roster could be appealing to other teams?
PITTSBURGH - The NHL trade deadline continues to approach as the countdown reaches under 10 days and the Pittsburgh Penguins are still yet to move the needle.
While it’s possible the Penguins have their eyes on guys around the league, do other teams have eyes on certain players in Pittsburgh?
It’s hard to say exactly because a lot of the pieces that Ron Hextall may want to sell off, no one’s going to buy.
With how their seasons have gone, it’s doubtful any of the 31 other teams will want to take on Jeff Carter, Brian Dumoulin, or Brock McGinn.
So, if the Penguins want to make a move, who do they have to offer?
Hextall seemed hesitant when asked about the first round pick, but that is an attractive piece for potential trade parterns.
If Hextall truly wants to hang on to the first rounder, though, the Penguins have seven other selections they can move around, including a second round selection.
Kasperi Kapanen might be having another tough season, but he has the speed that a number of teams would love to have.
The potential is still there with Kapanen because he’s also very young still, but he would need a sweetener to go with him.
That brings us back to the draft picks that the Penguins have at their disposal.
It could also be argued that Kapanen is being held back by sharing a line with Carter and McGinn.
Drew O’Connor is an interesting piece; he’s young, has definite skills, but doesn’t have the experience to show it.
The Penguins prospect pool isn’t much to write home about, but O’Connor is turning out to be a top name in the system.
O’Connor has played 22 NHL games this year for five points (3G-2A) but it’s clear the ceiling is still really high for him.
It’s not ideal to send off O’Connor when part of Hextall’s job description is to also build for the future, but the youngster is turning into a great piece of trade bate.
A lot of people would say Jason Zucker should be dealt if it means making a blockbuster deal in the Penguins favor, but with every game that passes he solidifies his presence in the lineup.
The Penguins don’t have toughness, and Zucker isn’t exactly going to instill fear into opponents, but he’s not afraid to mix it up.
Just look at the last two games; Zucker laid a huge hit against the New Jersey Devils and had a smile on his face following the replay.
Against the New York Islanders, Zucker and nine career goal scorer Ross Johnston were having a very animated shouting match after a massive scrum.
When the camera cut to Zucker in the penalty box, he was hyping the crowd; he’s becoming more than a fan favorite but a momentum driver.
Zucker shouldn’t be going anywhere anytime soon.
The Penguins may not have many options, but there are a few pieces and it’s up to Hextall to get creative.
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