NHL Trade Deadline 2012: Penguins Make No Moves On Quiet Deadline Day

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NHL Trade Deadline 2012: Penguins Make No Trades, Still Wait On Return Of Sidney Crosby

The Pittsburgh Penguins were rumored to be active players at the Trade Deadline this year, but when it came and went, they stood pat without making any moves. Our Pittsburgh Penguins blog PensBurgh realizes that while they didn't make any moves, there is still a pretty big addition on the horizon that the Penguins hope can set them up nicely for the playoffs.

The Penguins, long-rumored to possibly pick up any forward, depth defenseman or a backup goalie, decided to do nothing and stand pat. Pittsburgh's big addition, if it ever comes, will be Sidney Crosby back to the lineup. Crosby's neck/head symptoms continue but he is practicing with the team in non-contact situations and able to exert himself physically to some extent.

The Penguins do need an additional forward, but there is already one in the organization who could help tremendously. They could have added an insurance policy if Crosby continues to have a tough time coming back from his concussion, but they elected to stand pat with what they already had.

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Penguins Trade Rumors 2012: Pens Not In Market For A Goalie

Various reports coming out Sunday afternoon suggest that, despite Brent Johnson's recent injury, the Pens will not be searching for a goalie this trading season.

Shelly Anderson:

#Penguins GM Ray Shero said if he makes no deal, he's happy with team. Not looking for backup goalie. Not stockpiling picks for draft in Pgh

Josh Yohe of the Trib confirms this report:

Shero also said he expects Johnson is going to be backup in playoffs, said there is no other goalie currently out there worth trading for

With Johnson out, Brad Thiessen is starting in goal on Sunday against the Columbus Blue Jackets. Starter Marc-Andre Fleury remains healthy.

More broadly, it sounds like the Pens won't be too heavily involved in the action in advance of the NHL trade deadline. Anderson again:

Shero on replacing Crosby's cap space w/trade: Right now there's no deal out there for me that makes any sense. #Penguins

For more on the Penguins, be sure to check out Pensburgh.

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Penguins Trade Rumors 2012: Hal Gill To Nashville -- Not A Big Loss?

When the Montreal Canadiens traded defenseman Hal Gill to the Nashville Predators, Penguins fans were not happy at the fact that a defender that helped the Penguins to a Stanley Cup championship in 2009 was not brought back to help a Penguins defense that has been suspect for much of the season.

However, Stephen Catanese of PensBurgh urges fans to not be too broken up over the failure to grab Gill, purely for the reason that the Penguins defense has changed up so much since Gill's departure.

Dan Bylsma wanted skilled skaters and offensively capable players going back to get the puck and bringing it back up ice. Go south, then quickly transition northward.

In all, that's something that Gill is not capable of. He's more of a defender who just wants to clear the puck out of the defensive zone and then let the offensive players score. A more fast-paced defense like this would not have been a fit for Gill.

For all news, information and trade rumors regarding the Pittsburgh Penguins, please visit PensBurgh, or check out SB Nation Pittsburgh. For all your hockey new and notes, be sure to check out SB Nation's NHL hub.

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Penguins Trade Rumors 2012: Team May Choose To Stand Pat At Deadline

A good GM knows when to make a trade to help augment his roster, but a great GM knows when not to make a move just to make one that could put their team in a bit of trouble. The Penguins and GM Ray Shero will be listening to calls as the trade deadline approaches, but according to Dejan Kovacevic of the Tribune-Review, they would also be comfortable standing pat if the right offer doesn't present itself.

The current trade market, as viewed by this front office, ranges from awful to abysmal. The only 40-goal type is Columbus' Rick Nash, and the cap-challenged Penguins aren't in on those talks. Defensemen are scarcer still. And goaltending couldn't be called a need with Marc-Andre Fleury as the starter.

It's very possible that there just aren't any players available that would prove to be an upgrade over what the Penguins have on their roster now, and if they were ever to get completely healthy they would be a very strong team.

For all news, information and trade rumors regarding the Pittsburgh Penguins, please visitPensBurgh, or check out SB Nation Pittsburgh. For all your hockey new and notes, be sure to check out SB Nation's NHL hub.

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Penguins Trade Rumors 2012: Will Pittsburgh GM Ray Shero Pull Off Yet Another Big Deadline Move?

The NHL Trade Deadline is 3:00 PM on February 27, just two weeks away, and now is the time when out-of-contention teams begin shopping their players to those teams with dream of playoff aspirations and championships.

SB Nation's Penguins blog PensBurgh noted several forwards Pittsburgh should target in the coming fortnight, including Ryan Malone of the Tampa Bay Lightning, Ales Hemsky of the Edmonton Oilers and Travis Moen of the Montreal Canadiens. They do an excellent job breaking down the pros and cons of each player, and the possibility of such a deal even occurring. They do note that Rick Nash, sought after by many teams at this year's deadline, is an unlikely possibility, but even with that said, current Penguins GM Ray Shero has certainly not been shy in his tenure about making a major acquisition at the trade deadline.

Via Mike Colligan of The Hockey Writers:

The Pittsburgh Penguins under the guidance of GM Ray Shero have been a perennial ‘buyer' at deadline time and haven't been afraid to make a splash:

2007: Acquired Gary Roberts, Georges Laraque
2008: Acquired Marian Hossa, Pascal Dupuis, Hal Gill
2009: Acquired Bill Guerin, Craig Adams (waivers)
2010: Acquired Alexei Ponikarovsky, Jordan Leopold
2011: Acquired James Neal, Matt Niskanen, Alex Kovalev

Even if Nash is not the move Pittsburgh makes, Shero is likely to add one or two of the key pieces the Pensburgh writers have noted, fortifying Pittsburgh for a 2012 playoff run.

For all news, information and trade rumors regarding the Pittsburgh Penguins, please visit PensBurgh, or check out SB Nation Pittsburgh. For all your hockey new and notes, be sure to check out SB Nation's NHL hub.