The Pittsburgh Penguins have traded Riley Sheahan, Derick Brassard, 2019 second-round pick and two 2019 fourth-round picks to the Florida Panthers for Nick Bjugstad and Jared McCann. This is the first major blockbuster trade of this season.
The Penguins will use Bjugstad as a depth forward that can play right-wing and center. Bjugstad is currently signed for two more years with a $4.1 million cap hit. The Panthers plan to use Sheahan and Brassard in the third and fourth lines. The Panthers are now focusing on their future by loading up draft picks.
Panthers general manager Dale Tallon released a statement on the trade saying, “We are pleased to have acquired two quality veteran forwards in Derick and Riley, while adding three valuable 2019 draft selections. This move allows our team to remain competitive this season while providing additional flexibility and permitting us to be aggressive in the free agent market this summer.”
Earlier this week the Penguins gave up Jamie Oleksiak for the 2019 fourth-round pick. They used that same fourth-round pick for this blockbuster deal. The Penguins are focused on competing for the Stanley Cup this year by investing in players like Bjugstad. In this year’s draft the Penguins only a first, fourth, fifth, and two seventh-round picks.
Stay tuned for more rumors and news about the trade deadline. This year’s trade deadline ends on Monday, February, 25.
Featured Image credit to Rich Graessle of Icon Sportswire
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