The Penguins could have a defenseman and center on the block
Dan Kingerski of Pittsburgh Hockey Now: Pittsburgh Penguins defenseman Jamie Oleksiak carries a $2.1 million salary cap hit for two more seasons and can play both sides. The Penguins may need to move a defenseman before the deadline and Oleksiak could be made available.
Last year at the deadline defensemen Michal Kempny, Ian Cole and Brandon Davidson all brought back a 3rd round pick. All were pending UFAs which lowered the return.
The Penguins might be able to get a 2nd round pick or a middle six winger for Oleksiak.
Maybe the Penguins could look at packaging Oleksiak with Derick Brassard. The Winnipeg Jets are looking for a center and a defenseman.
Brassard could be okay with moving on from the Penguins
TSN: Darren Dreger going off of Pierre LeBrun’s comments about the Penguins potential interest in Micheal Ferland and that Derick Brassard may have to be moved in the deal because of the salary cap, and then flipped by the Hurricanes.
“And I think Derick Brassard would be okay with that scenario. He just simply wants to be on a playoff team and for whatever reason, it hasn’t worked out in Pittsburgh. That’s fine, you move on. Derick Brassard has been down this road before.
But it’s going to be interesting to see how aggressive Jim Rutherford and the Pittsburgh Penguins get in terms of trying to move him. They aren’t going to give him away. They’d like to get a third line centre back as part of that return package. The Winnipeg Jets have explored some interest in Derick Brassard, but there will be some other teams that jump in as well.”