NHL Trade Deadline: Should Ray Shero Shake Up the Pittsburgh Penguins?
The Pittsburgh Penguins just can't seem to catch a break.
It seems like every time they take the ice, someone else goes down with an injury.
Then, they get ripped to shreds by the New York Islanders in a fight where a hockey game broke out. Penguins legend Mario Lemieux was so appalled by the game and the aftermath that he issued a strongly worded statement.
And oh yeah, their bus broke down in New York City and they had to take cabs to practice.
Although the Penguins are having some tough luck, they must keep marching towards the postseason and their ultimate goal of a Stanley Cup.
Lately, Penguins fans, myself included, have been wondering if General Manager Ray Shero should make a trade to help keep Pittsburgh afloat.
We wonder how much longer the team can go on with no Sidney Crosby, no Evgeni Malkin and a bunch of American Hockey League call-ups. We know that the likelihood of a Cup is shrinking, but we still want to hope.
Here are some reasons why Shero should and should not make a trade for the Penguins and my thoughts on what he should do.
If you have any arguments for or against a trade, or any ideas on what Shero should do, let me know in the comments.
Alison Myers is a Pittsburgh Penguins Featured Columnist on Bleacher Report. You may contact her at Alison.Myers@mail.com or follow her on Twitter.
Yes: Not Enough Offensive Talent
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Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin are first and third on the Penguins in scoring with 66 points and 37 points, respectively.
But after Malkin, there is a noticeable drop in offensive talent.
Chris Kunitz has 36 points, but he is currently on injured reserve.
Dustin Jeffrey has shown his stuff with seven points in 13 NHL games, but he's not in the lineup right now, either.
Alex Goligoski and Kris Letang are the team's highest scoring defensemen, but offensive defensemen aren't what the Penguins need to carry them through.
As we go down the forwards list, we see Tyler Kennedy with 27 points, Pascal Dupuis with 25 points and and Matt Cooke with 23 points.
These guys are valuable to the team, but they can't turn it up enough to make up the points that a healthy Crosby and Malkin would contribute.
Shero should realize this and look for a high-scoring forward.
No: The Penguins Are Putting Up Enough Points
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Since Crosby last played on Jan. 5, the Penguins have put up at least three goals in nine of the 17 games he has missed. They score 2.91 goals per game, which is tied for seventh in the NHL.
Kennedy may only have 27 points this year, but he still improved on his 25-point total from 2009-10.
Letang's 44 points are tied for second among NHL defensemen.
Furthermore, several of the call-ups from Wilkes-Barre/Scranton are contributing some points. Brett Sterling has two goals in his last two games, and Nick Johnson scored in today's loss to the New York Rangers.
Jordan Staal has a point in three of his last five games and has 11 points in 19 games since returning from offseason foot surgery and a hand injury.
If the Penguins had a full lineup, they would have 10 players who have 20 or more points on the season.
Shero knows he has offensive depth on his team and may feel content with what he has; therefore, no need to acquire anyone else.
Yes: No More Malkin (Until Next Year) and Crosby's Return Date Uncertain
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Shero may not be sure when Crosby will take the ice again, but he knows that Malkin won't be back in a Pens uniform until training camp opens next fall.
He may feel better about the Penguins' chances for a long postseason run if he finds a player who can put up the same kind of numbers as Malkin.
The only problem here is that a player of Malkin's caliber is not going to be cheap. Shero would definitely take that into consideration when trying to get another scoring center.
Also, with Crosby's return date uncertain, Shero knows the rest of the NHL will not wait for Sid to recover. He wants the Penguins to keep pace with their opponents now.
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No: Wait for the Return of Sidney Crosby
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As of this writing, there is no timetable for Crosby's return, and many rumors are floating around about his progress.
Crosby recently left the Pittsburgh area to visit his parents in his Nova Scotia hometown. He returned to the Penguins on Thursday and spoke with the media about his progress.
"There's no timetable whatsoever. There's nothing you can do but give yourself a chance to heal. I hope that happens sooner rather than later."
Crosby seemed understanding of his situation but also is restless and wants to be back on the ice. He is still optimistic he will get his wish.
"I'm expecting to play this year. I'm sure there's 1,000 different things being said out there, and missing the rest of the season is one of them. I expect to be playing."
Although the uncertainty is probably a concern for the team, Shero may not see it as a big enough one to get a rental.
Yes: Playoff Success Is Not Guaranteed
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With just a little under two months left in the regular season, every team is fighting for their postseason lives. The Penguins are no exception.
Currently, they sit in fourth place in the Eastern Conference and are eight points ahead of the Washington Capitals. They are also in second place in the Atlantic Division with a 10-point lead on the New York Rangers.
However, there are no guarantees in the postseason. The Penguins' playoff position can change. All it takes is one slump for the Pens and one hot streak for the Capitals for Washington to take over fourth place. They can also go higher or lower than fourth or fifth depending on how other teams fare.
Furthermore, the AHL call-ups, while solid, have no experience playing in the NHL playoffs.
Could you see Joe Vitale, Brett Sterling and Ryan Craig trying to knock off the Capitals or Steven Stamkos and the Tampa Bay Lightning?
I could, but I don't see a favorable outcome there.
If Shero is on "Jeopardy", he should be taking "Things That Wouldn't End Well" for $2,000. Then, he should make a trade for a player who understands the intensity of the Stanley Cup Playoffs.
No: The Penguins Have Playoff Experience
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14 players on the Penguins current roster were a part of the 2009 Stanley Cup championship team.
Three of those players (Craig Adams, Chris Kunitz and Mike Rupp) have won the Cup prior to coming to Pittsburgh.
Therefore, there is no need to worry about the Penguins' ability to handle a playoff run, even without their top two forwards.
Yes: Pens Are Having Their Struggles
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Last week, the Penguins lost to two teams that are likely not playoff-bound.
On Tuesday, they dropped a 4-1 decision to the Columbus Blue Jackets. It was their second consecutive loss after being shut out against the Capitals on Super Bowl Sunday.
On Friday, they lost to the Islanders. We all know what happened.
Fight Night Friday aside, the Penguins still gave up 13 goals in those two games while only scoring four.
It's also worth noting that Pittsburgh is 1-4 since Malkin suffered a season-ending knee injury on Feb. 4 against the Buffalo Sabres.
If this team hopes to go all the way, those totals will not cut it. That should give Shero all the more reason to make a trade.
No: Pittsburgh Still Winning Without Crosby
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Crosby has missed 17 games with his concussion, and the Pens are 9-7-1 in that span. That gives them a .529 winning percentage.
It's not the greatest record, but since Crosby first missed time with a major injury in 2008, the Penguins have shown more than once that they can carry on without him.
The Penguins may have lost their last two games, but it is hardly a disaster. No Crosby means no problem for them.
Shero knows the statistics do not lie and would consider this when deciding not to make a move.
Yes: Too Much Uncertainty Surrounding Injuries
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Eric Tangradi missed today's game after he reported concussion symptoms after a brutal hit at the hands of Trevor Gillies.
Meanwhile, several other players sit on the injured list with no set dates for return. No one has heard any recent updates on Arron Asham, Chris Kunitz or Dustin Jeffrey.
Mark Letestu's and Evgeni Malkin's return dates are a little more certain, but the Penguins will still be without them for a lengthy amount of time.
Shero cannot take a chance that all of his injured players will recover on time and not suffer any setbacks.
No: This Too Shall Pass
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Have you ever seen Avenue Q?
Well, one of the most popular lines from the show drives a great point home:
"Everything in your life is only for now."
That line certainly rings true for the Penguins.
This setback is not permanent. Slowly but surely, they will start to get healthy.
They will rekindle chemistry on familiar line combinations and get back to winning. They will use this adversity to make themselves stronger.
Shero has never been one to panic, and this shouldn't be cause for him to.
What Should Shero Do?
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In my eyes, it would be the best thing for Ray Shero to make a trade.
However, I don't think he should make a major trade where he sells off the farm and sends away one too many valuable players. A minor move would be fine, but it has to be the right fit. The Penguins do not need another fourth line player or offensive defenseman.
Even when, or if, Crosby does come back, it is going to take him time to get back up to game speed. He will be excited to come back, but he isn't likely to push himself too fast.
Meanwhile, a two game losing streak seems minor, but you don't want to not plug the drain to keep the water from overflowing. A trade could give the Penguins a new life and bring them some consistency, which they will need to keep pushing toward the playoffs.
Go for it, Ray.
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