Bad News for the Pittsburgh Penguins ahead of the Trade Deadline
The Pittsburgh Penguins' general manager, Ron Hextall, recently made it clear that he is not willing to give up the team's top draft picks just to move out salary ahead of the upcoming trade deadline. Despite facing mounting pressure as the team is barely clinging to a playoff position in the Eastern Conference, Hextall is not interested in "sweetening" any trade deals to meet other teams' demands.
One player who Hextall may be willing to move ahead of the trade deadline is forward Kasperi Kapanen. Kapanen, who was signed to a two-year, $3.2 million contract, has struggled to live up to his price tag, scoring only six goals in 35 games this season. While several teams may be interested in acquiring Kapanen, they may only do so if they receive another asset in the deal, which Hextall is not willing to offer.
Hextall has not ruled out the possibility of trading the team's first-round pick, but it is unlikely that he will pursue rental players. Instead, he is looking to add players with term left on their contracts, with the team's top priority being a checking-line center and a veteran goaltender for depth.
In addition to potentially making moves ahead of the trade deadline, the Penguins' future may also be affected by Tristan Jarry's injury concerns and contract status. While Jarry has expressed a desire to sign a new deal in-season, Hextall may need to consider trading for a 1-A type of starter if Jarry's injury concerns persist. The team cannot afford to risk starting third-stringer Dustin Tokarski in the Stanley Cup Playoffs again this year.
Despite the pressure, Hextall remains focused on making calculated moves that benefit the team's short and long-term interests. While he may not make a trade just for the sake of making a trade, it is likely that Penguins fans will see some movement ahead of the trade deadline.
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