NHL Trade Rumors: Imagining the Best Destinations for Penguins' Evgeni Malkin

Could Evgeni Malkin be on the trade market? 

According to Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman, there is at least some possibility that the Penguins will look to move the veteran centre. In an interview with Calgary's Sportsnet 960, Friedman cast doubt on how content Malkin is in Pittsburgh, suggesting the rumours the team is for sale may open a window to trade the player.

“[T]here have been rumors about Malkin’s happiness. About whether or not he wants to stay," Friedman said, per Chris Nichols. "[T]here are people around the league who have been saying they’ve been hearing rumors Malkin is not happy and would welcome a change of scenery."

There's obviously a gap between that kind of speculation and an actual trade taking place, but assuming Malkin was made available, which teams might be good fits? They would need to be teams with the cap space to take him on, the need for help down the middle and have quality young players to send back to the Penguins.

The following is our list of hypothetical possibilities.

Anaheim Ducks

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Why it could work: Ducks general manager Bob Murray sounded open to all kinds of changes following his team's loss to Chicago in the Western Conference Final, telling the team's official website that he was "evaluating everything." Malkin's the kind of piece that could put a close team over the top.

The Ducks have lots of good young players and a decent prospect depth chart.

Potential pitfalls: The presence of Ryan Kesler might be an issue, though both Kesler and Malkin have played on the wing in the past and could well end up forming a brilliant 1A line to Ryan Getzlaf and Corey Perry. Alternatively, Kesler could be the team's No. 3 pivot and play some extra shifts on the wing. 

However, finding room for Malkin's $9.5 million cap hit would be an issue.

Calgary Flames

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Why it could work: With rivals the Edmonton Oilers on the verge of adding Connor McDavid, Calgary might well want to add its own superstar pivot. The Flames have the cap space to take Malkin on and the necessary young players to acquire him. A depth chart featuring Malkin, Sean Monahan and Mikael Backlund would be formidable indeed.

Potential pitfalls: As NHL.com noted shortly after Malkin signed his contract, the player owns a full no-trade clause, which will put him in the driver's seat on any deal. Would he be willing to join a relatively remote Calgary team that has only recently turned the corner back toward respectability?

Montreal Canadiens

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Why it could work: Montreal's need for a top centre is obvious; general manager Marc Bergevin spent a good chunk of his year-end press conference talking about how hard it is to add one. So the Habs' interest in Malkin can safely be regarded as strong.

The Canadiens have a solid base of young NHLers and a deep prospect pool besides, so they have the horses to make a deal.

Potential pitfalls: Would Pittsburgh really consider bolstering an Eastern Conference rival with a player of Malkin's caliber? He's a piece that could put Montreal over the top, which is a consequence the Penguins would need to think very hard about.

Additionally, Montreal has done a good job of managing the cap, but fitting in Malkin's $9.5 million contract would be tough all the same.

Nashville Predators

Gene J. Puskar/Associated Press

Why it could work: When Pittsburgh decided to move out James Neal, the Predators were the team that came calling. As a Western Conference power on the cusp of being something very special, the possibility of adding an offensive star such as Malkin could be extremely appealing.

Nashville has a wealth of good young players, particularly on defence. With a number of expiring contracts, it has the salary cap flexibility to make a deal work. 

Potential pitfalls: Famously a budget team, Nashville would need to find a way to pay Malkin $9.5 million while simultaneously handling $21 million in combined salary to Shea Weber and Pekka Rinne.

St. Louis Blues

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Why it could work: The Blues have been in a somewhat similar position to Pittsburgh over the last few years. They have proved they can win during the regular season but have struggled during the playoffs, so they have some motivation to make changes.

Malkin would certainly be a desirable piece, instantly boosting their offence—the potential of him and Vladimir Tarasenko together is fun to imagine. The Blues are in the West, which makes trades easier, and they have a long list of young NHLers and top prospects who might intrigue Pittsburgh. 

Potential pitfalls: Malkin's $9.5 million cap hit might well pose problems for the Blues, who would certainly need to send significant salary back in any trade. Another issue is that most of the top players who could be centerpieces of such a trade only have one or two years left on their current deals.  

Winnipeg Jets

Gene J. Puskar/Associated Press

Why it could work: The Winnipeg Jets are a franchise in need of some success; after finally making the playoffs in 2015, they were ousted in an—admittedly closer than it looks on paper—four-game sweep by the Anaheim Ducks.

Malkin would give them a franchise center point, the kind of first-line centre the team hasn't had since coming to Manitoba. Given the Jets are loaded to the gills with prospects, they're also one of the teams best positioned to put together an enticing package.

Potential pitfalls: Like Calgary, Winnipeg is a relatively small, relatively northern NHL city, and those considerations might make Malkin veto any such deal.

Salary information courtsey of NHLNumbers.com.