McGinn has been added to Seravalli’s board. There are a lot of intriguing players on it. I only skimmed it and I think the only other mention of the Pens is linking us to Bonino
Thanks for sharing. I was just looking to see if Seravalli or The Athletic updated their trade boards, and it looks like Seravalli is the only one so far.
I like the fact that he mentioned we may now see more traditional hockey trades rather than UFA dumps, because I think that fits what Hextall wants to do.
He didn't connect the Penguins to these players, but I'd be interested in at least exploring how this less high profile batch might fit:
C/LW Mikael Granlund - Basically does everything. Could jump onto the penalty kill. Could center the third line or play with Malkin as a faceoff-capable left wing. Real solid defensively, can make plays, score some goals. Nashville would have to retain for at least the first year, so the cost could jump.
LW Jordan Greenway - Buying low here, hoping that he rediscovers some of his offensive touch. The Penguins just don't have anyone with his size or physicality in the forward group. Is his 3.3 shooting percentage an aberration or a sign that something has gone seriously wrong and can't be fixed?
LW Lawson Crouse - I like him better than Schmaltz because he brings something the Pens don't have to their winger group with his size. Schmaltz is a capable offensive player, but he's the same size as Rust, Rakell, etc. Crouse is bigger, heavier and two years younger, not to mention under contract longer. You could either plug him in now alongside Malkin and bump Zucker to the third line, or let him play on the third line to get his feet wet before sliding up after Zucker departs.
G Joonas Korpisalo - I think Vejemelka is the better goalie, but Korpisalo won't cost as much. You could include DeSmith in the deal along with prospect(s) and/or pick(s). He's been on bad teams much of his career, but he's used to being the 1B or backup. Why bother? He's bigger and plays a slightly different style than DeSmith, whose athleticism gets out of control at times.
LW Nils Hoglander - I don't know what Vancouver is doing, but if they're going to make him available, why not? He's waivers exempt, so you can still stash him in the AHL this year. He's 22. He can essentially be in the mix for the bottom six next year.
RW Taylor Raddysh - A Heinen replacement. Bigger, sure as hell more productive on a bad team than Heinen has been this year with the Pens. Cheap. Would like him on the right wing a lot more than what we've seen recently.
C Colin White - If you send out Blueger in a deal to get more cap space and assets, White could be a nice replacement. He'd be another righty in the faceoff circle, which means you'd be less reliant on Carter to take all those righty draws. He's battled some injuries and is cheap enough at $1.1 million as an upcoming RFA that he doesn't handcuff you if he doesn't work out.
I don't know what the deals would look like, but if you can get Crouse, Korpisalo and Raddysh while moving out McGinn, DeSmith and Heinen, you'd be a much better team.
Guentzel-Crosby-Rakell
Zucker-Malkin-Rust
Crouse-Blueger-Raddysh
Poehling/O'Connor-Carter-Archibald
Dumoulin-Letang
Pettersson-Petry
POJ-Rutta
Friedman-Ruhwedel
Jarry
Korpisalo
