Rival teams conspiring against Penguins as deadline approaches!

GM Rutherford has been voted off the island!

HockeyFeed
HockeyFeed
Published 6 years ago
Rival teams conspiring against Penguins as deadline approaches!
Zuma Press

It seems impossible to say "quiet trade deadline" and "Pittsburgh Penguins" in the same sentence, but fans may have to this time around. Pens general manager Jim Rutherford is known for making exuberant deals ahead of the deadline, and for the past two years, it has been the best approach on the market. 

The two-time defending champions have been said to be looking to add a boost down the middle, but Jason Mackey of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette has revealed that the Penguins might have changed their game plan. 

While it had been reported that Pittsburgh could acquire a third-line center, Mackey believes they might settle for just the addition of a fourth-line one. At the same time, rumors are heating up that the Penguins will acquire veteran and former Penguin Matt Cullen before the trade deadline, giving them flexibility at center and on the wing.

However, there seems to be a major obstacle for the Pens as the trade deadline approaches. Rival teams are believed to be conspiring against Penguins,  not wanting to be trade partners with them since they won the past two Stanley Cups.

We’ve made as many trades as anybody else to this point in the season,” Rutherford said. “There just hasn’t been a lot of trades made. Everybody’s competitive. Everybody wants their own team to win."

Rutherford does not want to believe that anyone in the National Hockey League would be unprofessional about the deadline, and thinks some GMs are simply waiting for the right time to make a move. 

Nobody that we compete with is cheering for us, but the general managers I talk to talk to me the same way. They’re very cordial and very professional. I don’t sense that.”

What do you think? Will teams refuse to make a move with the defending champions?