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On the Penguins: Defensemen at the trade deadline
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Sidney Crosby passes the puck in front of the Islanders' Andy Sutton in the third period.
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The Olympic trade freeze ends tonight and, with the deadline for completing deals set for 3 p.m. Wednesday, general managers across North America will spend a lot of time between now and then placing phone calls and checking contract details.
The Penguins could use at least one goal-scoring winger and also would benefit from reinforcing their blue line, ideally, with a guy who is reliable in his own zone and has a physical edge to his game.
Of course, a couple dozen other clubs would like to add that kind of defenseman, too.
Assuming the Penguins don't land Dan Hamhuis of Nashville, who apparently will be offered around the league if he isn't re-signed (or close to it) in the immediate future, they likely will have to pursue a "rental."
The defensemen listed below, with a couple of exceptions that are noted, qualify for that designation, since they're veterans who play for non-playoff clubs and will be eligible for unrestricted free agency this summer. Their 2009-10 salary-cap hits would be pro-rated for approximately a quarter of a season.
Andrew Alberts
- Team: Carolina.
- Stats: 2 goals, 8 assists, plus-6 in 61 games.
- Salary-cap hit: $1.05 million (signed through 2010-11).
- Upside: Plays a game not unlike that of ex-Penguin Hal Gill.
- Downside: Plays a game not unlike that of ex-Penguin Hal Gill.
Garnet Exelby
- Team: Toronto.
- Stats: 0 goals, 3 assists, minus-5 in 39 games.
- Salary-cap hit: $1,391,667.
- Upside: A big hitter and competitor who once tried to play on broken leg.
- Downside: Can be defensive liability at times, is prone to bad penalties.
Milan Jurcina
- Team: Columbus.
- Stats: 1 goal, 6 assists, plus-2 in 44 games.
- Salary-cap hit: $1,375,000.
- Upside: Has good shot and large frame that consumes lots of space near net.
- Downside: Skates like he's 6 foot 4, 240 pounds, but doesn't always hit that way.
Steve Staios
- Team: Edmonton.
- Stats: No goals, 7 assists, minus-19 in 39 games.
- Salary-cap hit: $2.7 million, (signed through 2010-11).
- Upside: Enthusiastic hitter with good intangibles.
- Downside: Has suffered series of head injuries this season.
Jason Strudwick
- Team: Edmonton.
- Stats: No goals, 4 assists, minus-15 in 51 games.
- Salary-cap hit: $700,000.
- Upside: Feisty and aggressive, can take occasional shift at forward.
- Downside: Sometimes, you get what you pay for.
Andy Sutton
- Team: New York Islanders.
- Stats: 4 goals, 8 assists, minus-3 in 54 games.
- Salary-cap hit: $3 million.
- Upside: Can be effective in shutdown role.
- Downside: Islanders might decide to hold onto him for run at playoff berth.
Aaron Ward
- Team: Carolina.
- Stats: 1 goal, 10 assists, minus-17 in 60 games.
- Salary-cap hit: $2.5 million.
- Upside: Three-time Cup-winner who is at his best when playing simple, physical game.
- Downside: Can make some bad decisions, quality of play tends to fluctuate.
First Published February 28, 2010 12:00 am
