Pens GM Rutherford puts another player on trade block!

The Pittsburgh Penguins were handed a tough blow over the weekend, as star forward Evgeni Malkin suffered a soft tissue injury that could keep him out for some time. 

This also impacts the roster in a big way as the Pens are now left with 12 forwards, but do have nine defensemen. This observation prompted NHL insider Elliotte Friedman to reveal in his latest 31 Thoughts column that general manager Jim Rutherford might be shopping one of his blue liners. 

And no, we are not talking about Jack Johnson again, he who seems impossible to sell on the trade market. Friedman believes Rutherford is pushing another player on the block. 

“A lot of the trade talk on the Penguins blue line surrounds Jack Johnson , but another possibility is Juuso Riikola. He hasn’t got into a game yet.”

As Friedman points out however, Riikola has yet to play a game this season so it could be hard to sell the guy if interested teams haven’t managed to see him in action. 

We will have to keep an eye on this - especially if the Penguins insert him in the lineup to showcase him to the rest of the league. 

To be continued…