By Michael Augello, Featurd
With the NHL Trade Deadline just over two weeks away, clubs currently in the mix for the postseason are looking to add a key player or two to their club’s roster without significantly impacting their club’s future. The Pittsburgh Penguins and Washington Capitals have faced each other in the second round of the playoffs the last three seasons, with the winner going on to win the Stanley Cup, and are currently separated by two points in the Metropolitan Division standings.
The Pens have a window of a few years remaining with their core group of Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, Phil Kessel and Kris Letang all in their early 30’s and GM Jim Rutherford has been active this month, swapping the expiring contracts of Derick Brassard, Riley Sheahan and a package of draft picks to the Florida Panthers for forwards Nick Bjugstad and Jared McCann, but it is believed that Rutherford will be open to another move to improve his club’s chances before February 25th.