It is now almost December and here is what we know. Pascal Dupuis is out for the season due to a blood clot. Evgeni Malkin has played with different wingers every three or four games. The Penguins should have made a move for a Top 6 wing then, and they certainly look as if they need to do it very soon. An added factor into this, Beau Bennett may miss an extended period of time after being injured against Boston on Monday night.
What are the Penguins to do? They currently have Blake Comean and Nick Spaling in their top six. Beau Bennett will be out tonight and likely will miss more than just a game or two if history serves. The Pens have little in Wilkes-Barre past Jayson Megna, who is with the big club currently, as far as wingers who could make the jump. This is a major problem for the Penguins, but despite that, they still find themselves winning games.
So what am I proposing in this post? Very simple, I am going to give you options. Last week I named 9 guys that I thought the Pens should target to replace Pascal Dupuis. This time around, I am going to suggest a bunch of players who could not only step in right now, but could give the Pens some depth at forward. In this piece, I will name several players and teams that the Penguins should target, who these players are and what the deal should be. So, lets get to it. Here is my wish list for the Penguins going forward to add to the organizational depth at forward.
Jiri Tlusty, Chris Terry from Carolina
The 26 year old Czech was drafted 13th overall by the Leafs in 2006. He was traded to Carolina in 2009 and has played there since. The left winger usually plays on the Canes' top line alongside Eric Staal and Alex Semin. He has good hands and speed, and would fit in with the likes of Evgeni Malkin probably more than Sidney Crosby. Last season in 68 games, Tlusty scored 16 goals and 30 points. Those aren't great numbers, but Carolina was horrible last year. Tlusty with the likes of Malkin and Kunitz could find a revival, especially going into free agency year.
The other player on the Canes roster that I think the Pens should take note of is left winger Chris Terry. At 25 years old, the 2007 mid-round selection is developing into a solid forward. Last season in the AHL he scored 69 points (28G-41A) in 70 games. This season, he has played in 17 games for the Canes and put up 7 points (4G-3A). Now, this morning Terry was sent to the AHL for a "conditioning assignment." I was not aware that he's missed any time, but the conditioning assignment is a concern for me. Regardless, if his NHL stats could translate to 75% of his AHL points, he would be a good fit on the Penguins. Terry will be a restricted free agent at seasons end.
So what do the Pens need to do to get a Tlusty, Terry or both? Carolina has a lot of needs. Their goaltending and defense are particularly bad and the Pens have some organization depth at both positions. The Hurricanes cannot get out from the Ward contract for another year (unless they buy him out) so they won't be looking for immediate goalie help, so count Zatkoff out. Dumoulin could be back in play as are the likes of Phil Samuelsson or even Reid McNeill on the blue line. So, here are my proposed trades.
For ONLY Tlusty: D Brian Dumoulin, G Eric Hartzell and a 2nd round pick.
For ONLY Terry: D Philip Samuelsson and a 3rd round pick.
For BOTH Tlusty and Terry: D Brian Dumoulin, D Philip Samuelsson, G Eric Hartzell and 2nd round pick.
David Perron, Nail Yakupov from Edmonton
The name that is being shopped the most is David Perron. The winger would be a good fit alongside the likes of Sidney Crosby and Patric Hornqvist on the Penguins first line. He has the skating ability of Kunitz and the net-front fortitude of Hornqvist. Perron would be controlled for the rest of this season and next year as well before becoming a UFA. He is owed 3.8 million next year and the remainder of his salary this year. He is also playing well. He has 10 points (2G-8A) in 22 games this year and put up 57 points (28G-29A) in 78 games.
The name that has been reportedly shopped the last two seasons has been that of Russian winger Nail Yakupov. He has been scratched before and has had open feuds with the staff and organization. The 21 year old only put up 24 points int 64 games last season and 7 in 22 this year. He is on the final year of his ELC and could figure a way to make his way back to the KHL after the season. Despite all of that, the Penguins would benefit from him as much as Yakupov would a change of scenery. He would provide a playmaking winger for Malkin, as well as give Geno a fellow Russian to "pal-around" with.
The Oilers need a lot of help, particularly defensively and in net. Yet, they seem to be hunting down a top center. Brandon Sutter's name has been tossed around again in that, but it seems absolutely insane to trade Sutter at this point. If the Penguins could get the Oilers away from the top center idea then they should be able to make a deal for Perron or Yakupov.
For ONLY Perron: G Jeff Zatkoff, G Matt Murray, D Brian Dumoulin and a 2nd round pick.
For ONLY Yakupov: G Matt Murray, D Brian Dumoulin, D Reid McNeill and a 2nd round pick.
For BOTH Perron and Yakupov: G Tristan Jarry, D Scott Harrington, D Brian Dumoulin and 1st round pick.
Brett Ritchie, Scott Glennie, Curtis McKenzie from Dallas
Scott Glennie (RW): The 23 year old winger was drafted in 2009 by the Stars but has yet to make his NHL debut. He has respectable AHL numbers, including 28 points in 50 games last season. He is off to a good start for the Texas Stars (AHL) this year, 9 points (1G-8A) in 15 games. He will be a restricted free agent this summer, but he could be held on to at a low price.
Brett Ritchie (RW): Ritchie has impressive numbers in the AHL for Texas and seems ready to make the jump if room were available. In 68 games last season, he put up 48 points (22G-26A). This season, he has 7 points in 12 games. Ritchie is a big guy, 6'3" 209lbs, but has the hands and skill to be something special. He has had some injury concerns in the past, but he would be a great pick up for the Penguins who lack size.
Curtis McKenzie (LW): Like Ritchie, McKenzie is another big bodied winger the Penguins could benefit from. Drafted in 2009, he has been a consistent scorer in the AHL who is needing a chance in the NHL. Last season for the Texas Stars, he scored 65 points (27G-38A) in 75 games and this year in 5 games for the AHL team has put up 5 points. He got a 9 game stint with the big club before being sent down, but he is ready for a full time opportunity.
As I stated in the opening, the Stars need defense. The Pens have a plethora of young defensemen in Wilkes-Barre that are NHL ready, just as the Stars have a plethora of young forwards that are. To get any of them, the Pens would have to move Dumoulin, Chorney, Samuelsson or McNeill in a move along with picks. I think Ritchie and McKenzie would be the best pickups for the Pens at this point and any combination of the above mentioned would work.
Ty Rattie, Dmitrij Jaskin From St. Louis
The first is RW Ty Rattie. @GunnarStaal who writes about the Penguins had a full article about him about a week ago and it seems a good fit. The 21 year old winger would be a perfect fit in the Penguins lineup and he could step in immediately. In 72 games in the AHL last season he put up 48 points (31G-17A). This year, he has put up 13 points (11G-2A) in 18 games for the Blues minor league squad. He will be a restricted free agent after the 2016 season. Rattie is comparable to Edmonton's Ryan Nugent-Hopkins with incredibly scoring touch. Another note in the Penguins favor, Rattie played for Mike Johnston in Portland.
The other player the Pens should look at is left winger Dmitrij Jaskin. He is also 21 years old and from Russia. That right away has me thinking of a Geno pairing. He is 6-3 and can score as well. Last year in the AHL, he put up 29 points in 42 games and two points in 18 games for the Blues. He is also a restricted free agent after the 2016 season. He projects to be a solid forward but appears to also have that "Russian Factor" about him. Perhaps a partnership with Malkin would be good for them both.
I'd love to see the Pens get a hold of Rattie, but it may take a bit to acquire him. A Scott Harrington may have to be put in, but Brian Dumoulin would work too if another piece is thrown in.
Final Thoughts
The likes of Tlusty, Perron or Yakupov could help out immediately, which the Penguins could definitely use. The price on them would without a doubt be higher, but are they the moves that are absolutely necessary? I don't think so. The Pens are looking to find that next Chris Kunitz or Pascal Dupuis, and those are often guys just tossed into deals or that weren't getting an opportunity where they were. That's why the likes of Terry, Ritchie or Rattie make the most sense as far as the Pens are concerned.
Only time will tell what the Penguins will do. I think a big name may be the answer, but they are not easy to get during the season. I personally think the Pens need to go younger, and the likes of Rattie or Terry would do that. There is one month until Christmas, but the shopping will continue until the deadline in the spring.