Pens forced to make another trade!

The Pittsburgh Penguins did manage to move Phil Kessel to the Arizona Coyotes - and everyone is happy - however, GM Jim Rutherford is well too aware that more needs to be done. 

After signing defenseman Brandon Tanev to a hefty contract on Monday as the free-agency market opened, the Pens now have around $1.6 million in salary-cap space. 

You know it ain’t enough… 

Therefore, team insider Matt Vensel of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette believes the Penguins will be making another cost-cutting trade shortly. There is still a lot to do on the to-do lis, including resigning affordable depth options in restricted free agents Marcus Pettersson, Zach Aston-Reese, and Teddy Blueger, and money is hard to come by. 

It is believed that forwards Nick Bjugstad or Bryan Rust could become trade candidates, but it remains to be seen if there will be any takers to help out the Penguins in their quest to shed salary. 

Both trade targets suggested by Vensel could gather interest seeing that they are versatile enough to play in various spots and roles. A full trade of their deal would free up $4.1 million when it comes to Bjugstad and $3.5 million if Rust is the one moved. 

While defenseman Jack Johnson remains a trade candidate, it appears to be harder to move the veteran blue liner who has struggled mightily over the past seasons. The Penguins had a deal in place with Minnesota in May that would have included Johnson, but Kessel nixed it based on a clause in his contract and eventually headed out to the desert instead. 

We are sure Rutherford will find a way, but will it the best move for the team or will it only loosen up the cap space…?