Pittsburgh Penguins: With Pascal Dupuis Out For Season, Pens Should Target Matt Moulson
May 9, 2013; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Pittsburgh Penguins goalie Tomas Vokoun (92) makes a save against New York Islanders left wing Matt Moulson (26) during the third period in game five of the first round of the 2013 Stanley Cup Playoffs at CONSOL Energy Center. The Pittsburgh Penguins won 4-0. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports
The Pittsburgh Penguins again suffered horrible news Friday when it was announced that winger Pascal Dupuis has a torn ACL and he will be out for the remainder of the season.
Dupuis played on the Sidney Crosby line with Chris Kunitz, the only Penguins line that had stayed intact through the whole season due to all the injuries.
Does this mean it’s time for a trade? Let’s see.
Pittsburgh, in my mind and in many people’s minds, should call Buffalo and ask about winger Matt Moulson. The Sabres have no use for him this season as Buffalo is one of the worst teams in the NHL and they are surely not playing the playoffs.
Moulson is a goal scorer who just fights hard every single game for his team. In his time as an Islander, he was outstanding for them as one of New York’s leading goal scorers right behind John Tavares. Moulson would most likely be slotted right where Dupuis was on the Crosby line, which was the right wing. I don’t know who else Penguins general manager Ray Shero would call for a trade but this looks like the most logical solution for Dupuis’ injury.
The thing that concerns me would be: who do the Penguins have to give up to get a player like Moulson? Rob Rossi of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review says defenseman Simon Despres may be in play.
I could see the Pens trading him since Despres barely gets any playing time when he gets called up. Robert Bortuzzo may also be in play, but I highly doubt that they would trade him since he’s been decent this season.
Still, you never know with Shero. Pittsburgh could also target 41-year-old Dallas forward Ray Whitney to replace Dupuis, but the best option right now is Moulson for Pittsburgh. We’ll see what Shero does as we get closer to the trading deadline in early March.