5 Potential Trade Deadline Targets For The Penguins
There are a couple of dates any die-hard hockey fan circles on the calendar every year.
One of those dates is July 1, which signifies the start of an unrestricted free agent frenzy.
The other is trade deadline day, which will be here before we know it.
Teams will have to soon decide if they are buyers or sellers, but they will have until 3 p.m. on March 2 to complete any trades.
In fact, some have already made those decisions as was evidenced by a seven-player blockbuster deal between the Winnipeg Jets and Buffalo Sabres on Wednesday.
The Pittsburgh Penguins are believed to be in the market for some additional pieces to bulk up for a Stanley Cup run.
So, who might they be looking at?
Here's a list of five potential trade targets for the Pittsburgh Penguins:
Chris Phillips – Ottawa Senators
The Penguins are allegedly in the market for another defenseman to help bolster their depth for the playoffs.
At 36-years-old, Phillips is probably a bit of a reach for the Penguins, especially considering he's been a healthy scratch on a couple of occasions this season.
However, he can still contribute.
He only has three assists this season in 36 games, but he's averaging over 20 minutes of ice time a night. He also fills a shutdown defense role and would bring another veteran presence into the locker room.
The 6-foot-3-inch, 230-pound defenseman has dished out 70 hits and has blocked 54 shots this season.
As for possible red flags, Phillips is believed to be dealing with a possible back injury that may keep him out for a little while.
Another potential red flag is that he's signed through the 2015-16 season at $2.5 million per year. This would almost have to be a last-resort type of deal for Jim Rutherford and the Penguins.
Mike Santorelli – Toronto Maple Leafs
Not to pick on the Maple Leafs or anything, but this is a team that appears poised to make a lot of moves in the coming weeks as their playoff hopes are all but toast.
Santorelli would be another guy that could bolster the Penguins' bottom six forwards.
His 11 goals this season prove that he's got enough hands to provide some secondary scoring, which will be vital in the playoffs. He's also not afraid to put the puck on net, having registered 100 shots this season.
Santorelli is effective and doesn't take a lot of penalties in the process. In 312 career games, Santorelli only has 64 PIMs, including just 8 this season.
Santorelli is due to become an unrestricted free agent after this season.
Andrej Sekera – Carolina Hurricanes
In 56 games for the Hurricanes this season, Sekera has 2 goals and 16 assists. Carolina finds themselves in the basement of the Metropolitan Division.
However, they have only allowed 139 goals in 52 games. Only the Rangers (127), Penguins (135) have allowed fewer in the division.
So, it may not be a big stretch to think that Sekera has played a small role in that. What's tanking the Hurricanes is their inability to score. Their 116 goals are the second fewest in the entire league (Buffalo, 103).
Additionally, the 6-foot, 201-pound defenseman is only a minus-6 and has just 6 PIMs this season.
Sekera could fit in as a second or third pair defenseman with the Penguins.
He would also likely be a rental-type player as he is due to become an unrestricted free agent this summer.
Jaromir Jagr – New Jersey Devils
Here we go again.
Reports surfaced this week that Jaromir Jagr wants to be dealt to an Eastern Conference contender. He even said he'd be willing to accept a lesser role in order to make it happen.
On Feb. 15, Jagr will turn 43 years of age, but the man continues to produce. In 50 games with the New Jersey Devils this season, Jagr has racked up 29 points (11 goals, 18 assists), which leads the team.
As of this posting, he has played in 1,523 career games and has an astonishing 1,784 points, which is good enough for fifth all-time. It's entirely possible that Jagr moves ahead of Ron Francis (1,798) for fourth on the all-time list this season.
As for where he would fit in, that's the tricky part. You'd like to think he's got enough left to play alongside Evgeni Malkin on the second line, but that's why Mike Johnston is getting paid the big bucks.
Daniel Winnik - Toronto Maple Leafs
Winnik has been one of the lone bright spots for the falling Maple Leafs this season.
In 53 games, Winnik has five goals and 17 assists, which doesn't sound all that impressive. However, Toronto is 23-28-4 this season. They have lost 12 of their last 13 games and have allowed 170 goals this season.
Somehow, Winnik is a plus-13, which leads the team. He's also only spent 14 minutes in the box this season.
There was also a report last month that the Penguins already made an offer for Winnik, prior to their acquisition of Maxim Lapierre.
At 6-feet-2-inches and 210 pounds, Winnik could be a nice addition to the bottom six group of forwards.
Winnik is set to become an unrestricted free agent after the season. He's currently making just $1.3 million, so there may be a possibility of keeping him around should he fit in and play well.
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