Pens have reportedly been testing market on Galchenyuk for a while

It hasn’t been a great season for Pittsburgh Penguins forward Alex Galchenyuk. As we earlier reported, it seems very likely the 25-year-old will not finish out the season in Pittsburgh if a suitable trade partner can be found. GM Jim Rutherford recently told The Athletic that Galchenyuk would have to fight hard just to stay in the top 12 once everyone is healthy again.

“The fact of the matter is, when we're totally healthy, he's going to have to work very hard just to get in the top 12. That's just the way it is, because we have a lot of guys playing well. So that's the good news and the bad news."

It has now been revealed that the Penguins have been thinking about ditching Galchenyuk for a while now. Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman made that very clear in his latest 31 Thoughts article. Here’s what he wrote:

“Even before Jim Rutherford told The Athletic’s Josh Yohe that Alex Galchenyuk may not fit in Pittsburgh’s top 12 forwards, the Penguins were testing the market on the winger. Buffalo has considered it. There were rumblings about Ottawa, but a few sources pooh-poohed that.”

Friedman elaborated some on that statement on a recent edition of Hockey Night in Canada Headlines.

“I do think Buffalo was one of the teams that looked at him. I’m sure there’s more. But Galchenyuk is someone who could be finding a new home.”

Friedman later added that “moving him is something that has been discussed I think for a few weeks now.”

Galchenyuk is now four seasons removed from his career year of 2015-16, when he put up 30 goals and 56 points with the Montreal Canadiens. He had another good season two years later when he recorded 19 goals and 51 points but was also a minus-31 at the same time. That is definitely at the core of Galchenyuk’s issues. Not only is he no longer reaching his potential offensively, he’s also a major defensive liability when on the ice. Perhaps yet another change of scenery could do him good (should he get traded this season, it would be his fourth NHL team in less than four years). At some point, you have to wonder if other teams are willing to give up much of anything for the former 3^rd overall pick in 2012 if he continues to sputter the way he currently is.