LTP: Plotnikov Centre – Penguins #TradeDeadline Roundup

By: Clint Hagmaier (@CoachHagmaier2)

As I sat and watched TSN’s Trade Centre (yes that’s spelled right my American friends), host James Duthie did his absolute best to be the comic relief, for what was otherwise a yawner of a Trade Deadline Day all around. Of the 4 hour long special that TSN (Canada’s version of ESPN only with actually hockey highlights) 3+ of that time Duthie welcomed viewers back to what he referred to as Plotnikov Centre. As the most exciting trade up to that point that happened was the big splash the Pittsburgh Penguins made, trading Sergi Plotnikov to the Arizona Coyotes. Being that the Coyotes were in town to play the Penguins that night, most of us imagine the deal going down like this:

Coyotes show up for a morning skate.

General Manager Jim Rutherford takes the elevator down stairs and walks down the hall. “Hey! Please take Plotnikov!”

Coyotes say, “what do you want for him?”

Rutherford: Stock our pop machines for a year and a month worth of Giant Eagle Fuel perks.

Coyotes: Jim, were from Arizona, we don’t have fuel perks.

Rutherford: ok fine, you take him I’ll give you my fuel perks, but give me a player and a 7th round pick.

Coyotes: Deal!

Rutherford closes his eyes and points to a player on the AHL Springfield Falcons roster and lands on German player Matthias Plachta.

So, Head Equipment Manager Dana Heinze packed Plotnikov’s gear in a garbage bag and walked him down the hall to the visitors’ locker room, dumped his gear on the floor and took back the garbage bag. The man they call “Plots” then got dressed and played in Arizona’s lineup against the Penguins that night. He was 1 of only 5 Arizona players that didn’t boast a minus as the Pens shelled the Yotes 6-0.

The rest of the day proved to be very uneventful for the Pittsburgh Penguins on a hockey holiday that its fans hope see a deal go down that will have solidified their favorite team for the playoffs. The Pens did just the opposite. The only other action from the Black and Gold that day was a minor league deal. A deal that brought Dustin Jeffrey back to the Penguins system with the additions of forward Dan O’Donoghue and defenseman James Melindy as well. In turn the Pens sent forward Matia Marcantuoni to Arizona, who apparently are in the business of buying anything Rutherford is selling. Even though the day before Mr. Rutherford made a deal with one of the worst teams in the league, to bring defenseman Justin Schultz to Pittsburgh, in turn sending a 2016 3rd round pick to the Edmonton Oilers, rumors were still flying that a big name D-man was coming. The biggest of those names was Daniel Hamhuis. Even after the Penguins have previously acquired the rights to Hamhuis and he opted not to sign and instead fled to the western Canada, the rumor mill truly believed that he would waive his no-trade clause to come to Pittsburgh. If you follow me at all on Twitter, you would have seen that I was adamant about the fact he would not come here. Fast forward through the day you could see Hamhuis standing at a microphone podium with Vancouver Canucks logos behind him as he states that the only two teams he had considered leaving for were the Dallas Stars or the Chicago Blackhawks. Any of the east coast teams that were interested in him, were never an option for the purposes of his family. I hate stay I told you so…oh wait, no I don’t. I told you so!

It's now March 1st and the trade deadline has come and gone. The Penguins overall picked up a mediocre defenseman, 1 draft pick, and 3 minor league players. While giving up 2 draft picks and a busted KHL experiment. If you were expecting more from the Penguins GM, fear not Pens fans, Ben Lovejoy will be back in the lineup for playoffs along with Beau Bennett, until of course he pulls a hamstring putting on his breezers and goes back to the shelf for another 6-8 months. Are you excited for the back stretch of the season? I know I am! #LetsGoPens