Jordan Staal

It was early May when the rumors started to flow;  the talk of Jordan Staal being traded and Pittsburgh making a major move or two.  Ray Shero and Dan Bylsma said changes will be made and they weren't kidding.

Just before the 2012 NHL Draft got underway; the Pittsburgh Penguins traded Jordan Staal to Carolina.  In return, they received Brandon Sutter, prospect Brian Dumoulin, and the 8th overall pick in the draft that became Derrick Pouliot.  Overall, the value sent to both teams can be considered very fair, but Pittsburgh was not done dealing. 

It was just a few hours later when the Penguins selected another defenseman in the 2012 draft, at number...

General manager Brian Burke has limited options to bolster the Toronto Maple Leafs’ center position.

Much like goaltending, which is another priority this off-season, the market is bare. If Burke wishes to ensure better odds for a playoff berth next season, the goaltending and center positions will have to be addressed.

How exactly that can be accomplished remains to be seen.

This year’s unrestricted free agency crop lacks depth across the board, but particularly so at center, with Olli Jokinen being the top among the list.

Bad news.

So, who’s available in the trade market? Well, none other than the oft-rumoured Jordan Staal, of course.

Though Pittsburgh fans treat every Flyer with a nice chorus of boos, none received a worse ovation than Jaromir Jagr did in Thursday night's 4-2 win against the Penguins.

And if he didn't have many friends to begin with in the Steel City, he made sure to leave with fewer. It was Jagr's second period goal - and a salute to cap it off - that gave the Flyers their lead.

With the score knotted at one-apiece, Jagr found the back of the net for the 12th time this season, giving the Flyers a 2-1 lead with under 14 minutes left in the second.

But the star of the night for the Flyers was in net. Sergei Bobrovsky improved to 4-0 in his career in Pittsburgh, making one huge save after another.

Islanders fall to short-handed Penguins lineup. Travis Hamonic ejected from the game for a mystery elbowing penalty. (Picture courtesy of zimbio.com)