Trade Deadline Preview

With the Penguins off until Wednesday, goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury still licking his wounds after the abuse he took from the Washington Capitals on Sunday, and our Boys of Winter on the fence between a playoff spot and just the next spot on the list of Stanley Cup finalists who have failed to make the postseason just one year after competing for the Silver Chalice, there's no better time to examine the fulcrum which could determine the Penguins fate.

The NHL trade deadline.

8 days from now, on March 4, 2009 at 3 PM, the team could look meaningfully different than it does today, since the Penguins are among the teams that are being mentioned as much as any in NHL rumor circles.

I'll be tracking the rumors I'm hearing from now up until the deadline, but thought it would be worth mentioning the several players I've heard connected to the Penguins over the last few months. Some have been mentioned here before, but with trade deadline closer, it's worth being more inclusive.

The names I've heard the most, OR those I think with greater potential to be a part of a deal to bring them to Pittsburgh include:

Martin St. Louis
Erik Cole
Dany Heatley
Chris Neil
Nik Antropov
Alex Ponikarovsky
Alexei Kovalev
Derek Morris
Petr Prucha
Greg Zanon
Martin Erat
Dan Hamhuis
Ryan Smyth


Other names I've heard, but not as frequently, OR those who I do not feel have as much of a chance ending up as a Penguin:

Ilya Kovalchuk
Colby Armstrong
Nathan Horton
David Booth
Thomas Kaberle
Maxim Afinogenov
Bill Guerin
Martin Havlat
Ville Koistenen
Keith Tkachuk
Marion Gaborik
Darcy Tucker
Wojtek Wolski
Milan Hejduk
Steve Sullivan
Alex Frolov

I've also known the Penguins and Dallas Stars to be scouting each other, but haven't heard any names thrown around.

It's obvious that the Penguins have needs. In my estimation, there are 2 primary things they lack:

1) A top winger for the top center -- some guy named Crosby.
2) Grit and physicality, primarily up front but also on defense.

Despite the salary cap, it looks as if the Penguins are not afraid to make a play for the top winger again. That seems to be their top priority at the deadline, with adding some mustard to the team a bonus, if they can manage it.

However, for the Penguins to add a top player, they probably will have to get rid of some salary, which explains why, even though Shero has considered players like Ryan Whitney and Jordan Staal a part of the team's "young core", he is fairly evaluating whether or not one of those two should be moved to better balance out the team.

I've even heard rumors where both have been involved.

In addition to Whitney and Staal, I've heard of other Penguins being involved in trade talks as well. Max Talbot's name has been mentioned, as have the names of defensemen Hal Gill, Kris Letang and Alex Goligoski. Miroslav Satan's name has been thrown around a little too, although to a much lesser degree.

Personally, the guys I've love to see in a Penguin unform the most are Heatley, Neil, Morris, Booth, Tkachuk, Wolski and Frolov. Of course, not all of them will be wearing the skating Penguin anytime soon, but if the Penguins are able to land any in that group, they'll be adding nice pieces to their team. Heatley is the big scorer they need. Neil would give them a lot of grit. Morris is a nice top-4 defenseman. Tkachuk is the veteran presence who can still score and be physical. Booth, Wolski and Frolov are the young forwards that could flourish playing with Crosby and be fixtures here for years.

It's going to be an interesting next 8 days for Shero and Penguin followers. Ownership has made it clear that missing the playoffs isn't an option, so even though Shero described his firing of former coach Michel Therrein as his "big move", I wouldn't at all rule out him making one or more deals before the deadline.

The only question is .... who is coming and who will go?