The NHL trade deadline is nine days away, and the Pittsburgh Penguins sit in hockey purgatory. They are not planning on spending future assets to add to this lineup, but they are also not in position to sell off all of their valuable pieces.
Jake Guentzel has collected most of the Penguins' headlines over the past few months, but center Lars Eller may be the next most valuable player the Penguins have to offer. The veteran forward has quietly pieced together a terrific season as the Penguins third-line center.
According to Natural Stat Trick, his underlying numbers are slightly above league average despite starting a career-high 75% of his shifts in the defensive zone.
Eller is no stranger to moving at the deadline. He was traded to the Colorado Avalanche last Spring for a second-round pick after seven seasons with the Washington Capitals.
His value may be even higher this year, given increased numbers in goals, points, ice time, and blocked shots. Not to mention, Eller has a team-friendly $2.45 million salary cap hit for this season and next.
The value is certainly there, but there is also immense value in the Penguins keeping him. The Penguins have struggled to find consistency in his position since Nick Bonino departed the organization in 2017. If the Penguins hope to compete and contend next season, which all indications say they do, Eller is a massive piece to that puzzle.
Plenty of discussion leading up to the deadline will revolve around Guentzel, Reilly Smith, Rickard Rakell, and even the Penguins goaltenders. But don't be shocked if Eller fetches a surprising return.
More must-reads: