Slot Jordan Staal next to Evgeni Malkin
We have heard the rumors all offseason as the Penguins failed to add scoring wingers. Bill Guerin remains a free agent while Alexei Ponikarovsky will try his hand on the West Coast. While the team still may maintain interest in Guerin, putting Jordan Staal on the left side of Evgeni Malkin would certainly make sense.
According to the Sporting News, Malkin would be okay with the move but puts the team first:
“The first time I asked (Malkin) how he felt about playing wing, he had the perfect response,” GM Ray Shero told USA Today earlier this week. “He said, “What does coach (Dan Bylsma) think?’ … I thought it was great, because I think he wants to do what’s best for the team.”
If Staal plays with Malkin he could hit a higher ceiling than his clear 30 goal potential. A few years ago Ryan Malone played a gritty game next to Malkin and potted 27; we consider Staal much more talented with the potential to really rack up goals. If you see him at a favorable point in the draft, pull the trigger.