Less than one month.

The NHL roster freeze is in effect for two more weeks, and there is less than one month until the March 6 NHL trade deadline. While Pittsburgh Penguins general manager Kyle Dubas roots for the fruits of his labor in Milan as AGM of Team Canada, he’ll also be sitting amongst fellow GMs and probably fielding more than a few calls from GMs back home.

The Penguins have trade chips available, but also have a couple of significant needs if Dubas decides to fortify the current team to enhance their Stanley Cup Playoff chances.

Multiple reports and confirmations to Pittsburgh Hockey Now indicate Dubas has been working the phones to uncover more young players to be part of the Penguins’ next era. Egor Chinakhov, who is just 24, was the first big get.

Stuart Skinner and Brett Kulak were pawns in the Tristan Jarry trade, but have quickly proven their fit and worth well exceeding their initially expendable status.

Combined, the trades have improved the Penguins to one of the better teams in the Eastern Conference without sacrificing any of the team’s future.

So, why stop now?

And maybe, just maybe, Dubas can sacrifice just a little bit of the future to give the dynamic duo of Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin one more ride.

The Penguins have a couple of spots, which, if fortified, could put them firmly among the shortlist of favorites in the Eastern Conference rather than glass slipper candidates. Yet, to examine the roster is to see a surprising lack of shortcomings–only potential improvements.

That puts Dubas in a position of strength.

Penguins Trade Talk

Primary: Right-handed defenseman

Ryan Shea has been filling the right-handed spot while Kris Letang is injured, but teammates have admitted he’s not as comfortable on the right side. After a season of playing on the left, he’s gotten to show his best self. He is now performing yeoman’s work, but is at best a stopgap option on the right.

With Letang healthy, Connor Clifton is the third pair right-sider. Clifton is solid in his role, but Letang is banged up even when in the lineup, and the Penguins’ defense is sketchy without him.

Jack St. Ivany’s hand surgery denied the Penguins a chance to get a good look at their greenhorn defenseman. He’s out until late March. Despite being 26, St. Ivany has only 50 NHL games of experience. While he showed increasingly well as a third-pairing defenseman, he would be a question mark should the Penguins count on him as their go-to in the playoffs–assuming he’s healthy and up to speed.

Another internal option might be Matt Dumba, currently toiling in Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, who seems to have gotten over his frustrations at being banished to the AHL and is performing significantly better than he was.

However, the short of the situation is that the Penguins could use help.

If long-term options aren’t available, there are affordable rentals. With some irony, Luke Schenn is a pending UFA, and the Winnipeg Jets are not in a playoff spot. And if Columbus ever stops winning at their red-hot clip, Erik Gudbranson could be a cheap pick-up.

Secondary Trade Need: Scoring Top Nine Winger

The Penguins would appear to be set at forward, but there are potential improvements and insurance policies necessary.

Will Malkin be able to withstand a punishing March schedule? And if he does, how soft is his shoulder? Anthony Mantha has been on his game, playing some of the best hockey of his career.

Justin Brazeau has already submitted a career year, but can the Penguins add more grit and offense on that third line? Brazeau has three goals and seven points over the last 18 games.

One bird, two stones here. One player could provide insurance and an upgrade. The same caveat applies: if a younger player is not available, the team can afford a rental.

There are as few scoring wingers as there are righty defensemen, so the pool is shallow. However, the Columbus Blue Jackets could have a few interesting candidates, such as Boone Jenner. Montreal Canadiens sniper Patrik Laine is notably available for pennies when the Canadiens find a replacement.

Whether a defenseman or winger, Dubas has shown no soft spots for players and is not afraid to acquire players for roles they may not enjoy, including consumption of press box nachos.

And the Penguins are the precipice of something unique, if not special.

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Categorized:Penguins Trade Talk