Daley and Bonino are keys to offseason moves

the Penguins, especially if they think they can address those needs cheaper and allocate those dollars elsewhere.

“This is a unique year,” Rutherford said Friday morning. “The timing doesn’t fall quite as good as other years with the expansion draft in between here. It’s going to depend what happens with Nick Bonino and Trevor Daley as to where we go as far as a centerice-man and a defenseman, whether it’s through a trade.

“A trade could come along prior to finding out what the market is for Bonino and Daley, then we’re going to have to move forward on it.

“It’s what I’ve said all along. We’re keeping the door open on all of the UFAs, let them go to market, see what they think they can get, and we could very well end up with some of these guys coming back.”

If the Penguins can’t bring back Bonino, Rutherford likely will look to add depth with a bottom-six center, a veteran with a little more offensive punch than his two young guys who fit that profile.

Rutherford said early in the day that he’s confident Carter Rowney and Oskar Sundqvist can do the job, but projecting a strong offensive season from him likely is not realistic at this point.

“I view those guys as good enough to do it,” Rutherford said. “The production at this point in time would be a projection. We don’t know where that’s going to go.

“If we start the season with those two guys, that’s OK. But if Nick doesn’t come back, then we have to see if there’s somebody available who’s been more productive in the league.

“Then of course adding another guy gives us more depth.

“We still have those [Rowney and Sundqvist]. It just gives us more depth at that position.”

Later Friday, Rutherford removed one of those options, shipping Sundqvist to St. Louis as part of a package deal that netted the Penguins right wing Ryan Reaves.

One easy fix could be Matt Cullen, although Rutherford said he’s heard nothing either way on whether Cullen is leaning toward retirement or playing another season.

The other player the dominoes could affect is Chris Kunitz, whom the Penguins would like to have back but for less than the $3.85 million he made in 2016-17.

His situation similarly will be dictated by the market: how it affects Bonino and Daley but also whether Kunitz decides to go for more money or stay in Pittsburgh, probably for less.

In time, and as other teams make their moves, the Penguins will know more.

“I feel confident in saying that ‘Kuni’ will continue to play,” Rutherford said.

“Once we get closer to July 1, we’ll have a better idea of where he will fit with us.”