A playoff spot is hardly assured to the Pittsburgh Penguins, but, as currently constructed, they are all-in.

And if they get in, who knows in this parity-filled league -- particularly the Eastern Conference -- how far they just might get.

It's why rumblings around the league suggest that veteran Penguins general manager Jim Rutherford, who has already made a couple of nice moves this season by adding Carl Hagelin and Trevor Daley, may not yet be done.

Word is he'd like to help his team even more given the injuries they're battling to secure that playoff spot, and that help might come in the form of adding both a forward and a defenseman.

I think on defense, pending unrestricted free agent Roman Polak is among the available defensemen the Penguins are monitoring; he'd be a nice fit on their third pairing and penalty kill. The Toronto Maple Leafs won't have a hard time peddling the very likable Polak, a tough dude who oozes character, as there is lots of interest in him among the league's contenders ahead of the Feb. 29 trade deadline.

Up front, I think a guy who would be a terrific add-on for the Penguins is winger Mikkel Boedker, should he not re-sign with the Arizona Coyotes. His speed would be a nice complement to that top-six group in Pittsburgh. Again, there will be competition for the skilled 26-year-old Boedker, so perhaps too rich for the Penguins, but we shall see.

He's also a pending UFA and you might wonder about the Penguins being in the rental player market given the fact they're not assured of making the playoffs, but I think after adding Hagelin, who had term on his deal, the Penguins would rather deal for pending UFAs at this point in order to not add to their salary cap situation next season.

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