Penguins Dubas in Difficult Spot for NHL Trade Deadline

Penguins Dubas in Difficult Spot for NHL Trade Deadline

Pittsburgh Penguins general manager Kyle Dubas doesn’t yet know whether he will trade Jake Guentzel. But he’s taking calls and listening to offers.

It would be malpractice not to know his options as the clock ticks toward the March 8 NHL trade deadline.

Dubas is in a tough spot. His Penguins are technically seven points out of a playoff spot with 26 games to play. Dubas has already said he won’t be a buyer. He is not going to give up draft picks or prospects for short-term help.

But will he be a seller? Dubas has said he won’t move franchise players Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin or Kris Letang.

However, players like Guentzel, Reilly Smith, Marcus Pettersson, Tristan Jarry and Alex Nedeljkovic have no such guarantee.

Guentzel is on the injured list, but is expected to be healthy enough to play after the trade deadline. He skated today in Vancouver.

The Penguins have six games before the trade deadline to persuade Dubas not to allow the Penguins to be sellers for the first time since the 2006 deadline.

Those six games include a four-game Western road trip that includes contests against Vancouver, Seattle, Calgary and Edmonton. Pittsburgh’s other two games are at home against Columbus and Washington.

It’s impossible to know how many points they need to earn in those games to keep their roster mostly intact.

Even if Dubas believes he should let this team try to earn a playoff spot, trading Guentzel (if he can’t get him signed) might be the best move for the franchise.

The rumored return for Guentzel would be a first-round pick, a prospect and an NHL ready player. Some say the price could go higher.

The Penguins plan to let their older stars remain with the Penguins if they want, and to build around them. The Guentzel return could be a big step in that process.

Reportedly, the Vegas Golden Knights, Edmonton Oilers, Vancouver Canucks, Carolina Hurricanes and Florida Panthers are interested. The line could get longer.

But it will be difficult for Dubas to make that call to Crosby to tell him his favorite goal scorer is being dealt.