Reports on Tuesday night are that left wing Alexei Ponikarovsky, who was scratched from the lineup by the Toronto Maple Leafs before their game against Carolina, will be dealt to the Pittsburgh Penguins for prospect Luca Caputi once the Penguins clear some cap space.
Ponikarovski, who will turn 30 in early April, will be an unrestricted free agent after the season and brings more scoring to an already-potent offense. In 61 games this year, he has 19 goals and 22 assists (41 points) and is +5 while averaging 16:50 on ice per game.
This deal adds significant fantasy value to Ponikarovski. He'll become the third-highest scoring player on Pittsburgh's roster and will probably become the left wing on their top line. Whether he's playing next to Evgeni Malkin, Sidney Crosby or Jordan Staal, the quality of his teammates and his production potential have just skyrocketed.
If possible, go after Ponikarovski. He could be fantasy gold down the stretch.
This trade has not yet been completed. The Penguins need to clear cap space before it's finalized. However, all indications are that the deal has been agreed upon and could be announced as early as Wednesday morning.
