Pittsburgh's top 3 deadline options with Maatta on the shelf

In the span of one game, the Pittsburgh Penguins' trade deadline plans took a significant turn.

The Penguins lost both Justin Schultz and Olli Maatta to injuries during their recent tilt with the big-bodied Winnipeg Jets, with the latter of those two rearguards out six weeks.

Pittsburgh now heads toward the trade deadline in a vastly different situation, both in terms of their needs (shifting from offense to the back end) and their finances.

If general manager Jim Rutherford moves Maatta and his $4-million cap hit to long-term injured reserve, the Penguins could use the accompanying cap relief to acquire assets at the deadline before bringing the blue-liner back for the playoffs - a crafty route for loading up before the postseason.

Keep in mind, Pittsburgh still has another significant deadline chip in a potential Marc-Andre Fleury trade. With the looming expansion draft forcing their hand, shipping Fleury out of town would remove his $5.75-million cap hit from the Penguins' books, leaving the defending Stanley Cup champions with plenty of room to play.

Here are a few of their top options moving forward:

Kevin Shattenkirk

The most obvious potential move would be a deal for St. Louis Blues rearguard Kevin Shattenkirk. The smooth-skating blue-liner would help fill the now-pressing need in the lineup with Maatta and potentially Schultz sidelined. He would also be a strong insurance option for Kris Letang, who's been forced to sit out multiple times this season.

It's a no-brainer in terms of potential fit. Shattenkirk currently boasts the fourth-most points among NHL defenders and remains one of the league's best power-play specialists. And that's without playing alongside the likes of Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin, and Phil Kessel.

With Blues goaltender Jake Allen struggling, the Fleury-for-Shattenkirk rumors are likely to swirl once again, with the deal now making more sense than ever.

If Maatta's cap hit is moved to long-term IR, fitting in Shattenkirk wouldn't be an issue, as he has a nearly identical cap hit of $4.25 million per year.

Mike Green

With the Detroit Red Wings on the cusp of missing the postseason for the first time since 1990, general manager Ken Holland may be looking to sell pieces at the deadline for the first time in a long time.

One of his key trade chips is defender Mike Green, set to be an unrestricted free agent in 2018. Given the Penguins' new-found financial situation, Rutherford theoretically has the room to fit in Green's annual $6-million cap hit and provide his blue line with a significant boost.

A dominant 70-point scorer in his prime, the 31-year-old still has enough offensive skill to be a key contributor on the back end. He's in fine form at the moment - on pace for nearly 40 points by the season's end - and could surely do some damage in the Penguins' offensive scheme.

Like Shattenkirk, Green's offensive instincts could serve as a useful replacement should Schultz miss more time, and an insurance policy in case any more blue-line injuries come up.

The veteran rearguard has a no-trade clause in need of waiving, but it's fair to assume it wouldn't be too difficult to convince Green to leave the Red Wings - ranked last in the East - for the defending champs.

Cody Franson

Judging from Rutherford's recent track record, a low-key name like Cody Franson might be more in line with the veteran manager's style.

Look at the two impact rearguards Pittsburgh acquired last season: Trevor Daley and Schultz. Both were under-the-radar names, possessing plenty of raw skill, but seen as no longer effective in the big leagues.

The Penguins turned both defenders' careers around dramatically, as the club's system and elite talent base provides plenty of opportunity for quick improvement. The chance to contend for a Stanley Cup doesn't hurt either.

Franson fits the bill perfectly. At his best, he's a 30-40-point scorer on the back end, capable of moving the puck and chipping in with some dynamic offense. But his stock has fallen considerably since signing with the Buffalo Sabres, where an injury-plagued roster has often left him little to work with.

A highly motivated Franson could provide some strong depth for Pittsburgh's blue line, and Rutherford could make it happen without giving up too much, avoiding a serious roster shakeup. If multiple deals are made, this is precisely the type of low-key move Rutherford could target.