Sellers at the deadline?

As the regular season nears its halfway point, it is strange to say, but the odds are against the Pittsburgh penguins making the 2016 playoffs. They currently have, according to sportsclubstats, a 27.9% chance to make the playoffs and a 0.3% chance to win the cup. As much as I hope they can turn it around, at the end of the day, the numbers don't lie.

While the Penguins usually make deadline trades to hopefully assist them in a longer playoff run, this year I fear GMJR may move assets at the deadline in order to simply make the playoffs down the stretch. That's just not good asset management.

Instead, I hope that if the Penguins playoff chances do not sharply began to increase, which would take an unlikely impressive stretch of games over the next 2 months, that GMJR considers making some different moves at the deadline. Those being seller's moves.

The deadline is early this year too, Feb 29th!

This would not only add a few draft picks or assets to the penguins organization (to be developed or traded later), but also potentially create a bit of cap space for next season. It could also create the potential for some younger prospects in the organization to come in and play a few games down the stretch, and get some NHL experience to help them prepare for next season.

Here are some potential pieces that could be sold off:

Perron- rental top nine winger, good underlying numbers, under-performing on middling team

Kunitz- good third line banger that can still show flashes up top as a energy guy, good around net, good playoff record. Limited NTC (can block 8 teams), and one remaining year are a negative

Cullen- wanted to retire with a contender, having a solid year, great salary, and "hey" last year some idiot gave a 4th and 2nd for Daniel Winnik. Could be a contenders missing 4th line center. Nashville?? He may be worth a bit and could be in demand.

Hornqvist- having a career low year, but generally a solid top six, good for "playoff style" hockey, many GM's love players like this. Salary is high however, and has years of term left

Lovejoy?-yes, Lovejoy. Penguin's fans have a bias against him because of how he was acquired, or rather for whom he was acquired, but that aside, he may be a good deadline sell. He is a really nice 5-6 or 7 piece on a team that is short of capspace and needs a lttile more stability out a a bottom pair. A team like Chicago (oh wait, they have Scuderi) generally has a need for minor defensive pieces come spring. Cheap, durable, rental

With a few of these moves made, the Penguins can play some prospects. Derrick Pouliot could get some games on the bottom pair, maybe with Clendening, and give management an idea of how he has come along this season in the AHL. Oscar Sundqvist could get a call-up and a look as the 4th line C or RW for next season. Simon also is another player that may be given a few games for a look at LW or RW. This gives the GM (Rutherford or otherwise) a better look at what they will need to bring in during the 2016 off-season.

If its a losing year, lets not waste it!

I am interested in what people think these players would be worth.