The NHL landscape could begin shifting ahead of the March trade deadline, with a couple of teams, including the already formidable Pittsburgh Penguins, potentially making a move to strengthen their roster's depth.
The Penguins, scoring seemingly at will on a nightly basis - they currently average 4.1 goals a game, far and away the best mark in the league - are looking to add a top-6 forward to play alongside Evgeni Malkin on the second line, according to a report from Pierre LeBrun of ESPN.com.
Malkin and linemate Pascal Dupuis have played well this season with fill-in Blake Comeau, but Comeau's skill, or lack thereof, has kept the unit from dominating the way it really could or should. Malkin is a number one center on most teams - he just happens to play on the same team as, arguably, the best player in the league, Sidney Crosby.
"The Pens don't have anything in the hopper now, but when the time is right, we're told the plan is to try and add a top-six winger to play with Evgeni Malkin," writes LeBrun. "Blake Comeau has done a nice job of late on Malkin's line with Pascal Dupuis, but in reality he's a bottom-six forward. Pittsburgh eventually will look for an upgrade for that spot."
Comeau currently has three goals and four assists in 11 games of action. Malkin has 16 points on the season, and Dupuis has managed nine. Comeau has done his best to keep up, but when watching the unit, it's not hard to see that another, more talented forward, could thrive in his role.
Trade bait for interested potential dealers would most likely start with the seemingly ubiquitous talented, young defensemen filling out the lower ranks of the Pittsburgh organization - but the team may be willing to part with an established veteran.
"Youngsters such as Scott Harrington, Derrick Pouliot, Philip Samuelsson or Brian Dumoulin could be put out there as trade bait, but I suspect if teams come calling on a more established NHLer from Pittsburgh's back end, the Pens may have to listen depending on who's being offered."
This addition, were it to happen, would seriously cement the Penguins' status as a Cup contender this season.
