Should the Pens get Landeskog?

According to Adrian Dater the Penguins are interested in Gabriel Landeskog and General Manager Jim Rutherford has contacted Joe Sakic regarding a possible trade. A number of teams have been mentioned and it isn't surprising that the Penguins are one of those name dropped.  The Penguins are always looking to improve their team and Landeskog would absolutely do that on their forward corps but can the Penguins get him?

So far this season the Avalanche are dead last in the NHL with 27 points through 39 games. They've struggled for a few years since their last playoff appearance in the 2013-14 season and they're not going to make it this year. The team is bare on depth and is ripe for a rebuild programme. How they do that remains to be seen but personally, I wouldn't trade guys like Landeskog. He is young and they'll need players like him going forward. But, say they decide to pull the trigger, the asking price will be steep.

Looking at the Avalance you would think that a top six forward and a top four defenseman would be the priorities. The Avalanche have the fewest goals this season with just 79 through 39 games, an average of 2.02 a game. They also have the worst defence with them conceding 130 goals in those 39 games and that includes 10 in a 10-1 loss to the Canadiens.

Landeskog and Duchene could be considered to be having slumps this year. Landeskog has just 13 points in 29 games. That would be Landeskog's worst through a full season at his current pace. Duchene is currently on 24 points through 35 games which, through an 82 game season, would see him finish with around 56 points. Far from his high of 70 points in 71 games back in 2013-14 under Patrick Roy.

Looking at Colorado's back end you can see why they're struggling. They're devoid of any top four quality outside of Tyson Barrie. The only plus aside from Barrie is that Zadorov is young and improving. Those two players should be the key to the Avalanche defence going forward. Someone like Dumoulin or Maatta would be a key to add, or, with lower value, Pouliot.

The forwards corps has been a troublesome thing in previous years before Sullivan joined and I would be reluctant to trade them. I could see someone like Hagelin being expendable but I would be more hopeful of Colorado also taking Kunitz. But they won't want him. With a couple of young prospects knocking on the door in Guentzel and Sprong there will be some change going forward up front but I would not be comfortable giving up one of those in a deal. I want to see them develop in Pittsburgh.

Overall, I'm not sure that there is a deal for Pittsburgh to make without overpaying and if there is heavy interest then I think the Penguins should step aside and let other teams bump up the asking price. The offence is clicking and I think only minor changes are needed, not a major one like this.