James Neal

By now, every Pittsburgh Penguins fan knows the story of winger James Neal.

Neal was traded to the Penguins from the Dallas Stars last season in a deal that also brought defenseman Matt Niskanen to Pittsburgh. In return for the two players, the Penguins sent offensive defenseman and power-play quarterback Alex Goligoski to the Stars.

There is always a lot of speculation about trades when the draft and the offseason shows up.

There has already been a little bit written about one team that might have interest in trading with the Avalanche.

That got me thinking, if the Avalanche were to go the trading route this particular summer, who might be the ideal with whom to trade?

The Penguins won seven straight shootouts on their way to an 8-2 record in games decided by a shootout round. These weren't consecutive games, but it was still an impressive streak and the Pens have continued their shootout success into 2010.

It seemed like every other game the Penguins played this season without their two superstars ended in shootout. While it is an uncanny way to decide a highly competitive contest, it is exciting and suspenseful nonetheless.

Change is the only certainty in the NHL's salary cap era. Dynasties are harder to come by as teams are forced to make difficult financial and personnel decisions each year, but sustained success can still be had by the clubs which are best able to maneuver within the system.

The Pittsburgh Penguins have been one of the most consistently successful clubs since the salary cap was enacted at the beginning of the 2005-06 season, with five straight postseason appearances and counting and a Stanley Cup win to their credit.

Marc-Andre Fleury stepped onto the ice to receive the first team MVP award ever given at the Penguin's new home, the CONSOL Energy Center, prior to the team's Sunday afternoon matchup with the Florida Panthers.

Since Sidney Crosby, the face of the franchise, who was last year's most valuable player, hadn't played in two months, it left the honor wide open for the taking.

The NHL trading period is now over and teams have either added pieces for a playoff run or started rebuilding.  Let's take a look at how teams did with their February transactions, including the NHL trade deadline. 

The playoff grade deals with how the addition will impact a playoff run, while the fantasy grade deals with offensive addition and long term potential.

Looking at the Penguin's current injury roster, a lot of people may be thinking that they are down and out.

Although the Pens are definitely a different team without its core of stars, it's no reason to write them off so easily. The acquisition of veteran forward Alexei Kovalev and power forward James Neal could catapult the Penguins' offense into something to behold again.  

Since the dust has settled in south Texas, fans of the Dallas Stars franchise have been coming to terms with the loss of fan favorite James Neal, a 20+ goal-a-year power forward with a big frame and what looked to be a promising future in the Lone Star State.

The trade deadline hasn't passed although it seems like it has. But that's the joy of it.

In the NHL, when the trade deadline comes close, teams start dealing almost a month in advance.

Once again that has been the case this year.

This slideshow breaks down the trades to date and which players went where.

Feel free to comment below and give your input on who you think will be the next to go and where!

Pittsburgh Penguins General Manager Ray Shero has struck again, and this time he didn't wait until the trade deadline. Despite the fact that the Penguins are without Evgeni Malkin for the rest of the season and without Sidney Crosby out indefinitely with a concussion, Shero was bound to try to improve his team short-term should Crosby return for a playoff run.&