On the Pittsburgh Penguins …
Dave Molinari of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette: (chat) Conor Sheary is a pending restricted free agent, so that will lessen his negotiating power a bit. It won’t be cheap to re-sign him, but will be worth it.
Think that the Penguins will try to bring in a veteran defenseman before the trade deadline. If GM Jim Rutherford is to make a big move, he would have to move out salary as they don’t have a lot of space.
With it being a buyer’s market for goalies, trades of Marc-Andre Fleury or Ben Bishop may not bring back as big of return as you may hope. Getting a top-four defenseman for Fleury isn’t a realistic return.
Indications are the Penguins would like to extend defenseman Justin Schultz. May depend on what type of deal Schultz is looking for. He’s making $1.4 million this season and in for a raise. He’s still a RFA.
The Penguins may be willing to include defenseman Derrick Pouliot in a trade if it necessary. He was once an untouchable, but that doesn’t seem to be the case anymore.
On the Calgary Flames, Pittsburgh Penguins and Tampa Bay Lightning …
Jared Clinton of The Hockey News: Brian Elliott hasn’t worked out in Calgary like they had hoped. Some think the Flames will go after pending free agent Ben Bishop or trade for Marc-Andre Fleury.
Rumor was the asking price for Fleury was too high for the Flames. The Flames were close landing Bishop before the draft last year, but the Flames decided on Elliott.
It’s unlikely the Flames would be able to trade for either Bishop or Fleury before the trade deadline. All three teams are close to the salary cap, so any deal would have to be money for money.
After the season, the Lightning or Penguins could get an asset for their goaltender instead of losing for nothing in free agency or the expansion draft.