This NHL season has been stranger than ever. That has also allowed for more speculation and more NHL rumours. The Ottawa Senators are a team that could be looking to add to their roster. In the Pittsburgh Penguins front office, they are searching for a new GM. The New Jersey Devils may have one of their candidates. We will take a look at each situation in this edition of NHL Rumours.
NHL Rumours
Ottawa Senators
Rumour: TSN’s Shawn Simpson is reporting that the Ottawa Senators may be looking to bolster their roster via trade.
I would expect Dorion is trying to make a trade.
— Shawn Simpson (@TSNSimmer) January 26, 2021
If Ottawa’s front office was looking to add a big name in a trade, they have missed their chance. With both Pierre-Luc Dubois and Patrik Laine both off the board from the same deal, superstars will be difficult to come by. The Senators are in a good position. The team has struggled in recent years and they have capitalized on their draft positions. This team has many rising stars that could turn the organization into the next powerhouse in the NHL.
Considering Ottawa’s current position in the standings, this may not be the wisest move. They currently sit at 1-6-1. That record is poor enough that they should almost consider staying put to capitalize on a draft slot again. This team is not one or two pieces away from competing for a title. They need big additions to turn this roster into a contender. While this team is on the rise, they are not there yet. A trade could sabotage their future with little to nothing of major significance on the trade block.
Pittsburgh Penguins
Rumour: The Athletic’s Jesse Marshall is reporting that the Penguins are considering former Los Angeles Kings Assistant General Manager for their GM opening.
Can confirm that Mike Futa is among the GM candidates for the Pittsburgh Penguins.
— Jesse Marshall (@jmarshfof) January 29, 2021
Mike Futa’s background includes the scouting and drafting of many talented NHL calibre players. This speaks volumes about what the Penguins ownership is looking for in their new GM. The Penguins have an ageing team and the retirement of Jim Rutherford has forced them to find a replacement. Rutherford spent a rather large amount of time trying to patch holes he created from other moves. Futa could wind up trying to fix his mess.
The Penguins could truly benefit from a rebuild. If this team can start that process now, they could be one of the best teams in the NHL again in just a few short years. The biggest roadblock is that Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin are both ageing as well. They may not be on board with a rebuild. If they were, however, Mike Futa could be the answer the organization was seeking.
New Jersey Devils
Rumour: Via the 31 Thoughts Podcast, Elliotte Friedman is reporting that New Jersey Devils GM Tom Fitzgerald is in the running for the Pittsburgh Penguins job.
Tom Fitzgerald is another candidate for the opening in the Pittsburgh Penguins front office. This is Fitzgerald’s only opportunity with the New Jersey Devils as their GM. He was ultimately put in place as the interim until the organization could find a permanent replacement. While his future may be sealed in New Jersey as a former hire of Ray Shero, he could make a name for himself in a new city if he is successful.
The Penguins could be looking to rebuild under their new GM. Fitzgerald may not be the best option for that. While ultimately he was not fully in charge until recently, the organization has been rebuilding for years. They do not appear to be much better suited to compete for a title now than they did four years ago. Considering Fitzgerald was a part of that group the entire time, we have to wonder if hiring him as your GM outright is the appropriate move.
That does it for this edition of NHL Rumours. Check back tomorrow for another edition.
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