NHL Rumors: Penguins untouchables, early trade deadline sellers, and Ducks keeping Ryan Getzlaf
Anthony Scultore
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The Penguins are one of the more intriguing teams heading into the offseason and considered buyers. However with 18 games remaining to play until the trade deadline and Pittsburgh on the playoff fence that could change.
NHL Rumors: Pittsburgh Penguins untouchables
There’s a lot of questions surrounding their stars Evgeni Malkin and Kris Letang. To a lesser extent, Sidney Crosby as well. When you look at the lineup, who are the Penguins “untouchables”?
The Athletic’s Josh Yohe took a stab at it and comes up with this list:
- Sidney Crosby
- John Marino
- Tristan Jarry
- Pierre-Oliver Joseph
He dives a little deeper to categorize the rest of the lineup. I for one would add Jake Guentzel and Brandon Tanev to the untouchables list myself.
NHL Rumors: Certified Sellers at the Deadline
David Pagnotta of The Fourth Period identifies several teams as sellers for the upcoming deadline. They are as follows:
- Detroit Red Wings
- Ottawa Senators
- New Jersey Devils
- Buffalo Sabres
- Nashville Predators
- Anaheim Ducks
Also noted are the San Jose Sharks and Vancouver Canucks. Both are interesting teams as the Sharks have a lot of high priced stars but aren’t getting it done. Can they even sell off that many pieces in the flat cap era? The Canucks have won three in row and are back in the North playoff picture. That will keep them on the see-saw a little longer.
As for the list put forth by Pagnotta, I am in full agreement. I also believe that the Calgary Flames will be sellers if they are out of the playoffs come April 12.
NHL Rumors: Ducks have not asked Ryan Getzlaf to waive his clause
Speaking of the Anaheim Ducks, GM Bob Murray addressed the media and gave his coach Dallas Eakins a vote of confidence. He also provided these quotes on pending UFA, Ryan Getzlaf.
“I’m tired of hearing this from Toronto [media] anymore, how his name is out there,” an irked Murray said. “The only way Ryan Getzlaf would go anywhere is if he came to me and said, ‘Bob, can you try and trade me to a contender?’
“As for next year, we’ve talked and we’re going to see how he feels after this year. We’ll see how his body feels. We’ll see how it’s going,” he continued. “You know, he may just say, ‘I don’t want to keep going through this rebuild we’re doing here.’ But the relationship is wonderful and he’s not going anywhere.”
So Getzlaf is not on the trade bait list – for now.