Penguins Eyeing D-Man on Trade Market; Targeting Red Wings Veteran

It wouldn't be the splashiest of moves, but at this early point in the season, we'll take any trade at all to spice things up. The Pittsburgh Penguins are looking for help on the left side of the blueline, and youth movement be damned, they've got their eye on a 33-year-old, nine-year veteran, according to Dan Kingerski in Pittsburgh Hockey Now:

Sources say Penguins general manager Kyle Dubas is “kicking tires” on spare left-handed defensemen...
One defenseman that sources believed the Penguins have inquired about is 33-year-old Erik Gustafsson. The Detroit Red Wings waived Gustafsson on Oct. 5, and after he cleared was assigned to the Grand Rapids Griffins of the AHL.

The Penguins are off to a surprising start at 7-2-1 heading into Tuesday's play, good for 15 points, and the second-best record in the Eastern Conference. But after losing third-pairing defenseman Caleb Jones for eight weeks with a lower-body injury, the team is looking to plug the hole, and keep the good times going.

Gustafsson has 515 games of NHL experience, but his production and effectiveness dropped off considerably in his first year in Detroit last season, registering just 18 points in 60 games, with a plus/minus of -19. He didn't even break camp with the team this fall. He's played three games with the Grand Rapids Griffins of the AHL after being sent down to start the year, and has two points.

The Red Wings were Gustafsson's 8th NHL team in nine seasons. He's totaled 240 points in those 515 games with a minus-15 rating.