The Pittsburgh Penguins announced on Wednesday night that they have traded longtime bottom six centre Teddy Blueger to the the Vegas Golden Knights in exchange for a third-round pick in the 2024 NHL Draft and Peter DiLiberatore. Blueger is set for the free agent market at season’s end and was unlikely to be tendered an offer to remain in Pittsburgh. The staple of the Penguins’ fourth line for the past five seasons has 10 points through 45 games this season.
TRADE ALERT
We have acquired Teddy Blueger from the Pittsburgh Penguins in exchange for a 2024 third-round pick and Peter DiLiberatore.https://t.co/GYA4zs0HVX
— Vegas Golden Knights (@GoldenKnights) March 2, 2023
Penguins Make Teddy Blueger Trade to Golden Knights
The move signals a retooling for a Penguins team looking to contend in the final years of the Sidney Crosby/Evgeni Malkin era. Pittsburgh has been busy on Wednesday with getting Mikael Granlund from the Nashville Predators in exchange for a draft pick. Nashville will get a 2023 second-round selection in the NHL Draft.
Granlund has nine goals and 36 points in 58 games this season with Nashville. The 11-year veteran has 144 career goals in 729 games with the Predators and the Minnesota Wild.
Impact of the Teddy Blueger Trade
Blueger has anchored a Penguins fourth line for five seasons. The Latvian has been providing high end checking line work including exceptional penalty killing ability and more of a scoring touch than most fourth-line centers. However, Blueger’s play over the course of the last two seasons has taken a noticeable dip, statistically and at the eye test.
With an already struggling bottom six, moving Blueger is a needed hockey trade . This Penguins team looking to juice the most floundering area of their roster. Ryan Poehling will likely slot in as Penguins’ fourth line center from hereon out.
Adding Granlund will help out with the Penguins secondary scoring. Pittsburgh wants scoring from multiple locations and Granlund can slot into the middle six. The Predators add another draft pick to their stockpile they’ve gotten at the deadline.
Main photo by: Jeff Curry-USA TODAY Sports
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