Ron Hextall would like to add some toughness to his lineup, assuming the guy he'd bring in can play the game.
He's looking for some help on his second line, too, since Evgeni Malkin and Kasperi Kapanen are injured and Jason Zucker just returned from an 18-game absence.
That makes sense because, while Sidney Crosby and linemates Jake Guentzel and Bryan Rust has been incredibly productive of late and the Penguins have been getting offensive contributions from all over the lineup, there's no guarantee that can be sustained until Malkin and Kapanen return.
Adding a physical presence on defense to help keep the area in front of goalies Tristan Jarry and Casey DeSmith relatively clear during the stretch drive and playoffs would be a plus, too.
Hextall, then, would not have trouble justifying making some moves before the April 12 trade deadline.
That doesn't mean it necessarily would be prudent, unless it's a "hockey trade" that would help now and in coming seasons.
Hextall will be hamstrung, to some degree, by limited salary-cap space. That means he'd have to acquire personnel who don't make much money or convince his trading partner to retain some salary, which would compel Hextall to sweeten his offer.
Then there's the small pool of assets Hextall has at his disposal. More than a decade of trading early-round draft choices has left the Penguins with only a handful of quality prospects in the pipeline, and they've already traded their 2021 first- and third-rounders.
Finally, tampering with the makeup of the lineup could sour the exceptional chemistry and cohesion the Penguins have displayed lately, a key to accumulating points despite their injuries.
The Penguins aren't going to maintain their current 11-2-1 pace, of course, but it's not unreasonable to think they've built up enough of a cushion to hold onto a playoff berth until the likes of Malkin, Kapanen and Teddy Blueger return.
If they can get healthy and stay that way, the Penguins could be a factor in the playoffs without relinquishing more of their future.
YOUR TURN: Does Hextall have to make a trade?
