Penguins Need to Move On from Teddy Blueger

The Pittsburgh Penguins are inching closer to the trade deadline, and speculation continues to swirl around who they will add to their roster. While the team certainly needs to improve through addition, it may be possible to improve through subtraction as well. 

The Penguins have several players who are underachieving vastly compared to their salary cap hits. Players like Jeff Carter, Jan Rutta, and Brock McGinn all feel overpaid for what they bring to the roster and most likely have low trade value around the league. This isn’t the case however for center Teddy Blueger. 

Why it Makes Sense

Unlike some of the other veterans listed above, Blueger has a much higher trade value. At 28-years-old, Blueger's defensive abilities are well known across the league. He's also respected as a fourth line center, with two nine goal seasons and a 28-point campaign last season. 

The problem is Blueger is been snakebitten this year. His scoring touch has dried up, with only one goal and eight points in 38 games played this season. He also counts $2.2 million against the salary cap. Simply put, he isn't producing enough. 

Despite the offensive inefficiencies, Blueger still has a good reputation around the league. So much so, that Daily Faceoff's Frank Seravalli added him to his list of league wide trade target list in January and has kept him there since. Blueger's penalty killing and defensively responsible play are apparently enough to entice a slew of teams. Couple that with him being a player some believe could benefit offensively from a change of scenery, and the Penguins could get a valuable return for Blueger. 

The other main reason to trade Blueger is his expiring contract. He signed a two year, $4.4 million contract prior to the 2021-22season. It's unlikely he will take less on his next contract, and the Penguins can easily find a cheaper replacement. With all of this, it makes sense for the Penguins to try to get some sort of return for a player they are bound to lose for nothing.

Potential Trade Destinations

If the Penguins decide to move on from Blueger, there will be several teams lining up for his services. Contending teams searching for a fourth line, defense-first forward could pony up a draft pick. Perhaps Blueger could be swapped for another bottom six player that could plug into the Penguins' lineup. Some teams that come to mind are are Edmonton or Tampa Bay. 

Another option that is more likely, is that Blueger is included in a trade for another player to offset the incoming salary. With the Penguin's precarious salary cap situation, Blueger's $2 million plus salary could go a long way in acquiring another middle six forward or goaltender. and make way for another move that could seriously help this team. 

The Penguins are in a tough place and general manager Ron Hextall has the difficult job of upgrading his roster with few assets and tight financial constraints. Making a move, like trading Teddy Blueger, could give some flexibility 

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