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Darren Dreger Provides Update on Penguins Division Rival Trade Candidate
Photo credit: Amy Irvin - The Hockey Writers
Tonight a new report from insider Darren Dreger has provided key insight on the trade status of a key player from one of the Pittsburgh Penguins' biggest rivals.
With the NHL Trade Deadline just a few weeks away reports are continuing to swirl on which players might be available at the deadline.
While the Penguins are expected to mostly be sellers at the deadline this season while building for the future some of the other teams in the Metropolitan Division have tougher decisions to make.
One of those teams is the Columbus Blue Jackets as they are currently in the playoff race unexpectedly with a young group.
With that the Blue Jackets now need to decide what to do with several impending free agents who were once assumed to be sure fire trade chips.
This includes forward Mathieu Olivier who is in the final season of a two year deal he signed with the Blue Jackets.
Olivier's physical style and versatility is expected to draw major interest at the trade deadline this year.
As a result of this insider Darren Dreger gave an update on the Blue Jackets plans for Olivier.
Darren Dreger Reveals Penguins Rival's Plans For Key Forward
In a new post on X NHL insider, Darren Dreger decided to give a key update on Olivier's status when the trade deadline comes.
Interestingly it seems that the Blue Jackets have decided to give their group a chance to go on a playoff run and are expected to keep Olivier according to Dreger.
This likely means that one of the Penguins' biggest rivals will not be selling off assets at the deadline to look toward the future.
With this new information, it once again signals that the Penguins should lean into a rebuild and try to be competitive a couple of years down the road when fewer teams in the Metropolitan Division are at their peak.
If the Penguins decide to rebuild now they can develop their young players and get good assets for veterans who they deem tradeable before trying to re-load around Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin in the offseason.
| POLL | ||
FEVRIER 28 | 276 ANSWERS Darren Dreger Provides Update on Penguins Division Rival Trade Candidate What do you think the Pittsburgh Penguins should do at the trade deadline? | ||
| Trade away veterans for young pieces | 146 | 52.9 % |
| Trade for NHL ready veterans | 59 | 21.4 % |
| Trade for draft picks | 71 | 25.7 % |
| List of polls | ||