The Pittsburgh Penguins never seemed quite able to find the perfect combination for their top two lines in the 2014-15 season. Injuries and inconsistency robbed their best performers, headlined by captain Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin, of the kind of elite production they're truly capable of.
Together or apart, Crosby and Malkin simply weren't able to generate the type of impact they had in previous seasons and it ultimately culminated in a disappointing, one-and-done playoff campaign for Pittsburgh.
Now back to the drawing board this offseason, Pens GM Jim Rutherford and head coach Mike Johnston are likely hard at working trying to figure out how to get their All World players back to their dominating former selves. While a lot of that effort will simply come from an offseason of rest and renewed focus for both Crosby and Malkin, potential forward additions could make the Pittsburgh offensive attack even more formidable heading into 2015-16.
"I've said before on your station I believe they will try and - and Jiri Hudler too. I'm sitting here and looking at Pittsburgh and saying this is a team that wants a winger to play with Malkin and Crosby. I'm wondering if Hudler might the kind of fit that Pittsburgh is looking for," said Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman, while appearing on Calgary's Sportsnet 960 on Tuesday, via TodaysSlapShot.com.
Hudler, 31, has blossomed over the latter portion of his career with the Flames after spending his first seven NHL seasons with the Detroit Red Wings. The former second-round pick really took his game to new heights in 2014 along with the whole Calgary top unit. He finished last year's regular season with 31 goals, 45 assists and a plus-17 rating - all career-highs which left the diminutive Czech as the Flames leading scorer.
Hudler added another four goals and four assists in 11 postseason contests as he helped the Flames advance past the Vancouver Canucks. Playing alongside No. 1 center Sean Monahan and electrifying rookie Johnny Gaudreau seemed to revitalize Hudler and with the 10-year vet entering the final year of his contract, his trade value likely will never be higher than at present.
Along with Marc-Andre Fleury and Kris Letang, Malkin and Crosby comprise about $31 million worth of the Pittsburgh salary cap for 2015-16, meaning any forward additions this offseason will likely be in the mold of a versatile player like Patric Hornqvist, able to shuttle between the two top units.
"This leaves some wiggle room upfront, where GM Jim Rutherford will try to find another Patric Hornqvist - the kind of player who can comfortably fit alongside either Crosby or Malkin," writes Friedman, in a previous 30 Thoughts column. "That's a real skill, because the two franchise players ask their linemates to play a little differently. Crosby likes to hit holes with speed, the puck delivered at that time so he can take advantage. Malkin likes to come back and get it, carry a bit more and have his wingers read off him."
According to NHLNumbers.com, the Penguins currently have just over $12 million in salary cap space heading into 2015-16. Hudler's contract carries a $4 million cap hit. It's a deal Rutherford certainly could make, but it wouldn't leave the team with much wiggle room.
Still, Hudler has certainly shown versatility during his decade in the NHL, able to perform as both a center and on either wing. He boasts a phenomenal shot and fantastic speed. His size will always be a hindrance of sorts but it hasn't stopped him from becoming almost a point-per-game producer since joining the Flames.
An extremely young Calgary franchise is likely reticent to let one of their few veteran leaders go, but if the Penguins and Rutherford are willing to pony up the dough for Hulder, it would be difficult for Flames GM Brad Treliving not to at least entertain the notion.
