Pittsburgh Penguins' Top Trade Candidate This Season

The Pittsburgh Penguins are just inside the playoffs, but have struggled recently. They have a couple of bottom-six forwards earning a bit too much and a need for a defenceman to fill the void while Kris Letang and Jeff Petry are sidelined. There are two trade candidates in particular that are most likely to be moved, but only one can be the top trade candidate for the Penguins.

Kasperi Kapanen and Teddy Blueger are the two forwards likely to be moved. It is going to be easier to move Blueger since he's a more reliable option, has played more than Kapanen this season, has a smaller cap hit, and can play the wing or centre. What Kapanen offers potential suitors is term and scoring ability. He has one year left on his deal at $3.2 million AAV and has six goals and 17 points in 34 games. Blueger is much more of an all-around player, but has one goal and seven points in 28 games.

The Minnesota Wild are a team the Penguins have been in contact with and Matt Dumba is the likely topic of discussion. Kapanen and/or Blueger would be a good starting point in a trade to benefit both sides. Even if these two teams can't get something done, a trade of similar magnitude could be executed elsewhere.

I believe that the Penguins will be willing to do a lot to move Kapanen, even if it costs them an asset. This team doesn't have many years left of the core together to win and have to go all in if they want to compete for another Stanley Cup.