Another Pens-Kings trade coming up!?

Pittsburgh Penguins GM Jim Rutherford isn't afraid of making moves and so far this season, the general manager had no other choice to move pieces around to get his team back on track and back in contention talks. In mid-November, forward Carl Hagelin was traded to the Los Angeles Kings by the Penguins in return for Tanner Pearson. After Rutherford pulled the trigger, he stated that he might not be done. The Penguins have made a few minor trades since, however, Rutherford might have meant he wasn't done dealing with the Kings...

"This could be the start of more changes. We'll see how it goes," had said Rutherford on the trade of the trade after signing a three-year contract that will take him through the 2021-22 season. "The way things have gone, it's obvious that we had make a change. I feel bad; Hagelin is a popular guy. I like him a lot personally. He was part of winning a Cup ... but changes are necessary."

NHL insider Elliotte Friedman has reported in his latest 31 Thoughts column on Sportsnet that the Kings and Pens might be on the verge of making another trade this season. While the Tampa Bay Lightning might also be in the mix to make a deal with LA as well, but seeing the history between the Pens and the Kings, this one could come sooner. 

"Los Angeles is also fielding queries from opponents looking for defence. I’d heard a link between Jake Muzzin and Tampa Bay, but that was debunked. Could also see Pittsburgh (among others) checking out both Muzzin and Alec Martinez, currently out of the lineup," Friedman writes up in his column. 

It is no secret the Penguins need a boost on the back end. Since Justin Schultz fell injured at the start of the season, Pittsburgh has struggled with goals allowed, especially with the inconsistency of star goalie Matt Murray, who just returned from injury on Wednesday. While Friedman revealed that the Kings could be looking to shop their goalie Jonathan Quick, it isn't believed that the Pens are hoping to acquire him. 

Earlier this week, TSN's Bob McKenzie reveals that while Murray could be used as a trade chip, the Pens are simply hoping he will get back to form and lead the club once again. 

“I think in a perfect world what the Pittsburgh Penguins would like is for Matt Murray to come back healthy from his injury and play at the top of his game, and not have any issues in goal whatsoever.”

Murray has yet to play 50 games in any regular season and he won’t hit that mark this year. His ailments during his four-year career: two concussions, a broken hand, a head injury, an upper-body injury and now he’s sidelined with a lower-body injury…

To be continued...