The NHL trading deadline is on March 5 and as that gets closer more trade rumors will start to come out and one team to watch is the Pittsburgh Penguins, as they are best in the east and could pull the trigger on names like Thomas Vanek, Ryan Callahan, Martin Brodeur, Mike Cammalleri, Brad Boyes, Dan Boyle or Ryan Miller heading into the playoffs.
The Penguins have been the best team in the east all season and they now can look to the deadline for some more support, as they have recently been hit with some injuries, including to some key players. The Penguins were very active at the deadline last season and that ended up netting them Jarome Iginla, Brenden Morrow, Douglas Murray and Jussi Jokinen and many felt the team was going to go all the way to the Stanley Cup, but those trades weren't enough to get past the Boston Bruins and that could be a rematch in the postseason once again.
GM Ray Shero knows how to handle the deadline and with things getting pushed back and the freeze happening due to the Olympics, teams have the chance to really see what they need heading into the back stretch. The Penguins are dealing with a number of injuries with Pascal Dupuis hurting his knee and defenseman Paul Martin going down for four to six weeks according to Pro Hockey Talk and that could spark some moves.
The salary cap went down this season to $64.3 million so Shero will have to work very tigh compared to last season, but that doesn't mean there aren't deals out there. Thomas Vanek was traded earlier in the year to the Islanders and he has become a target, while the mean he was traded for in Matt Moulson is also considered a possibility. The Sabres have Ryan Miller and Steve Ott as well, while players like Ryan Callahan, Martin Brodeur, Mike Cammalleri, Brad Boyes and Dan Girardi could be moving at the deadline as well. Martin has been banged up all season and that could lead to the team trading for Islanders defenseman Andrew MacDonald, as he is on the block as well and could move.
Panthers winger Brady Boyes is leading the team with 15 goals in 56 games and that could be a move to make, while Moulson has also played well. Callahan likely will cost too much, but if the Rangers are looking to move him, a team like the Penguins could pounce. Sidney Crosby looks to be on his way to an MVP and he would like to add another Stanley Cup to the shelf and the team comes into the week first in the Metro division and they are first in the east and third overall in the NHL.