The Pittsburgh Penguins, with about $10 million in cap space at their disposal, have been linked to two big-name players who could potentially be seeking new home bases.
Bobby Ryan, who sounded off earlier in the summer about how he felt unappreciated as part of the Anaheim Ducks and expressed a desire to just be traded and be done with it, still has yet to move. If he wanted to, though, and his first choice of the Philadelphia Flyers proves unavailable, he might settle for the other Pennsylvania team. Sure, it would mean a longer drive to his hometown of Cherry Hill, N.J., but he would still be in the general area.
Ducks general manager Bob Murray reportedly hasn’t put up much of an asking price for Ryan, but he might want to consider thinking about that, especially with the disputed Lubomir Visnovsky trade hanging over him. (Visnovsky was traded to the New York Islanders, but is contending the trade.) Justin Schultz also decamped from Anaheim for Edmonton earlier this summer, so with at least one defenseman gone, possibly two, Murray could consider asking for a defenseman in exchange for Ryan.
The Penguins don’t have much to offer in terms of blueliners, however. Penguins general manager Ray Shero would surely be unwilling to part with Kris Letang. Paul Martin carries a $5 million cap hit and a limited no-trade clause that would need to be waived. Matt Niskanen might be a choice, if wrapped in a package with some other prospects and a draft pick or two.
But maybe that won’t be what lands Ryan in Pittsburgh at all. Shero is definitely good at surprising trades–see also the Jordan Staal draft-night deal–so he might be able to put something shocking together that Anaheim will enjoy. Of course, uncertainty over a new collective bargaining agreement could be contributing to teams going quiet in regards to new acquisitions, so once that environment becomes more favorable, Shero could act.
The other big-name player, by the way, who might or might not be on the market: Shane Doan. Pittsburgh was prepared to offer Doan four years at $24 million ($6 million annually) as recently as late July, but nothing more has been heard from either side since then. Doan remains hopeful that the ownership situation with the Phoenix Coyotes will turn out well so he can stay with the only team he’s ever known.
