I think Duchene is also on his wishlist. He said himself if he really wanted to he could pull the trigger for a few guys but is waiting, which means it's a big name he's hoping for and waiting for the ask price to go down. I think he may start the first few months without a real 3C and just keep waiting. It will be before 2017 ends though, he aint waiting untill the TD and will not do anything saying prices were too high because that's a waste, we need that 3C before the games start to really matter. Also if we get Duchene we can rest Crosby/Malkin more and give the 1C to Duchene while Crosby and Malkin get 2C and 3C and less icetime along the way to be more fresh for the playoffs. That top line can get more minutes, maybe rotate the wingers? but 1st line plays the bigger minutes.
I think Staal is probably easier to get, but it would require JR moving some other pieces around. Possibly Maatta for a cheaper young D option from a team that covets a guy like Maatta more so now than waiting for a guy to emerge from their pool of prospects.
Which would then fit Staal in the Pens cap structure. With 3m and some change, moving Maatta makes that 7m and some change, unless JR got Carolina to even retain 15%, that's tough. Even then, what would it take to get Staal?
I'd imagine Jarry would be someone the Hurricanes would covet (Obviously a 1st wound also have to go their way), yeah they have Darling, but he's also 29 signed to a 4yr contract, Ward is probably on his last contract too.
Curious if this would get us Jordan Staal back on the Pens:
To Carolina:
Penguins 1st in 2019
Tristan Jarry
Scott Wilson
To Pittsburgh:
Jordan Staal - 18% retained.
Then you just have to find a trade to move Maatta?
I don't know, I'm not great with the trade ideas.