Pittsburgh addressing wants and not needs
Shelly Anderson of Pittsburgh Hockey Now: Jim Rutherford can afford to go after wants and not needs at this point. Pittsburgh is on a 16-4-1 stretch as they have steamrolled to around the top of the Metropolitan Division. This is a team poised for a few more runs.
The problem is that Derick Brassard is likely to have too high a price tag.
Michael Grabner being a divisional rival is going to create the same problem.
A backup goalie deal might involve Tristan Jarry and Pittsburgh does not want to risk that.
Matt Cullen would be reasonable but is Minnesota willing to deal him? That is a legitimate question.
Prices are always higher at the deadline for certain players.
Pierre Lebrun of The Athletic opines that Jim Rutherford still may not be done yet. The “January Man” has been a running joke with Rutherford but he did not do much in that month. Memories of the Pittsburgh Stanley Cup hangover have faded and the focus is on a threepeat.
Matt Hunwick and his $2.25 million salary may be on the move but a trade partner would have to retain money. Pittsburgh does not have the cap room.
They would have to be extremely creative in order to acquire a Derick Brassard or Tomas Plekanec. The cost would be high in picks and/or players and Montreal is not sure what they may do with Plekanec. Possibilities are open.
What Montreal may need…
Eric Engels of Sportsnet: The Montreal Canadiens have deals to make. Needs are including draft picks to re-shape the center and defense position. There is a reason why Montreal is fourth worst in the NHL currently.
Max Pacioretty has a high asking price from Marc Bergevin but he is not that old and has a $4.5 million a year contract through 2019. The Calgary Flames, Carolina Hurricanes, Winnipeg Jets, and even the New York Islanders have been curious.
Tomas Plekanec is up in the air as of yet but possible.
Andrew Shaw is days from returning to the lineup. More than likely he stays put along with Alex Galchenyuk, but that has not stopped teams from inquiring.
There are several lower tiered players which could move. One might be Antti Niemi if Bergevin finds a taker.
An outside the box move would include Jean-Gabriel Pageau but that seems very unlikely at this time. Bergevin cannot stand pat so stay tuned.