Hockey Trade Rumors: Could the Penguins and Senators Strike a Deal?
Photo credit: AP/Paul Sancya
Both the Ottawa Senators and Pittsburgh Penguins are having horrendous starts to their seasons, and a trade could be the key to solving both teams' issues.
An 8-11-1 start for the Ottawa Senators means the early-season speculation about possible roster moves has reportedly started.
GM Steve Staios seems to be considering his options. Per Bruce Garrioch of 'The Ottawa Sun', Staios has been making calls about the trade market, though he's still rather cautious when considering making major adjustments.
Josh Norris' name has come up a lot recently in trade rumors and discussions around the league and on social media.
Yes, with frustration from the fans rising along with their playoff hopes dwindling, there is mounting pressure on the Senators to try a flip of the script to make something out of what could very well be a completely lost season.
The mainstays such as Brady Tkachuk, Tim Stutzle, and Jake Sanderson remain off the block, but Josh Norris has emerged as the most likely candidate to get moved.
Hot to start this season, having put up 13 points in 20 games, Norris' $7.95M cap hit through 2027-28 combined with his collection of shoulder injuries in his young career make him a logical piece to move if the Senators seek cap flexibility or adjustments to their roster.
"His contract makes sense that he would be a guy they may think about moving," an NHL executive told Garrioch.
To this point, Staios has not singled out any one player. As Garrioch continues, though, the Senators' issues have been perpetuated with a lack of production off the back end and spotty goaltending, Linus Ullmark, for one, failing to live up to his big-name billing.
Norris could find his ideal fit in the similarly inconsistent Pittsburgh Penguins fighting to stay in playoff contention. Norris brings much-needed center depth behind Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin.
With two-way play, scoring touch, and flexibility, he brings pretty much everything they need from their forwards.
Norris' age and term can help offset the Penguins' core which is getting older as they try to stay competitive in the twilight of the Crosby and Malkin era.
Rest assured, unless fortunes change for the better, decisions by the Sens over the next few months, with March 7 as the trade deadline, are imminent.
It could be the next few weeks that tell the story of whether this roster can reverse course or if massive changes are in store to save this season.
The exact same could be said about the Pittsburgh Penguins. Perhaps this is a trade that saves both team's seasons.
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