Rutherford looking for a first round pick & Bylsma with the Sabres

Rutherford looking for a first round pick & Bylsma with the Sabres

So there have been two news stories relating to the Penguins that have been front page this week. The first is that general manager Jim Rutherford has been attributed to saying that he is looking to get a first round pick in this years draft. The Penguins traded their pick to the Edmonton Oilers in the deal for David Perron. Currently, the Penguins have a 2nd and picks through rounds 5-7. Not a lot.

I wouldn't be surprised to see the Penguins try and get some more picks, likely in the 2nd-3rd round range. But to get a 1st round pick would be a lot when you consider that there isn't a lot that the Penguins can realistically give up to get one in the deepest draft for years.

The Penguins 2nd round pick would of course be involved but what players could they include? The Penguins have a few players that are out of contract this summer which rules them out. Bennett is a RFA but could be included with a strong likelihood of the team signing him to a contact. The Penguins could look to move the anchors of Kunitz and Scuderi and remove their large cap hits but who would want them and would they be enough to get a 1st round pick?

The only package I could see to move up would be one that involves Brandon Sutter, Beau Bennett and the 2nd. It might seem a lot to move up for but if that drafts us someone in the 20-25 range it will likely be worth it. Not to mention that there is a possibility of Sutter being replaced in the center by either Spaling or Sundqvist next year. Sundqvist is of course dependent on how his camp progresses.

Elsewhere former Penguins coach Dan Bylsma has been signed to a five year contract with the Buffalo Sabres. In complete honesty I am happy that he hasn't been left out of the game for ages and has found himself a good job but I don't think he is the best candidate for the job.

It is of course well known that the Sabres were in hard for Mike Babcock but missed out on him to the Toronto Maple Leafs. The Sabres are going through their rebuild process and with Jack Eichel joining this year they look to be able to start moving up the ladder back into the playoffs.

Bylsma is the right coach to get the team up and competing but I don't believe he is the best to develop young players. You can bet that Buffalo will sign a few older players who will end up having more ice time than necessary. Craig Adams is available..

In all though it is a good move for him and tests him at a new level. The Penguins also receive a third round pick in 2016 for compensation as he was still under contract. Good luck to him.