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Post by Wolfpack on Feb 26, 2009 13:05:57 GMT -5
The Pittsburgh Penguins have cleared up a bit of their log jam along their blueline as they have traded Ryan Whitney to the Anaheim Ducks for Chris Kunitz and Eric Tangradi. The 26-year old Whitney was a vital piece of the Penguins' Stanley Cup run last year; however foot surgery caused him to miss the first 31 games of this season. He has 2 goals and 11 assists in 28 games for Pittsburgh this year. The Boston-native is one of the better puck moving defencemen in the league and should be a big boost to the Ducks' power play. He became deemed surplus goods when fellow defenceman and Penguins' primary powerplay quarterback Sergei Gonchar returned from a shoulder injury. Whitney is in the second year of a six-year contract he signed with the Penguins last season. He was chosen fifth overall by the Penguins in the 2002 NHL Entry Draft. In Kunitz, the Penguins will be getting an offensive-minded player who won the Stanley Cup in 2007. After campaigns where he put up 60 and then 50 points, the 29-year old Regina-native has 16 goals and 19 assists this season. He has spent the majority of his four NHL seasons with Anaheim. Tangradi, who just turned 20, is having a fine season with the OHL's Belleville Bulls. In 52 games, he has 38 goals and 87 points. He was drafted by the Ducks in the second round of the 2007 NHL Entry Draft. www.tsn.ca/nhl/story/?id=268759&lid=headline&lpos=topStory_main
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Post by Wolfpack on Feb 26, 2009 13:07:06 GMT -5
Maybe Pronger is on the move?
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Post by Zipper14 on Feb 26, 2009 13:22:15 GMT -5
Pronger could be on the move, but I think this is Anaheim making sure they have some NHL d-men next year. Four of Anaheim's top six d-men are free agents come summer time, and Brett Hedican and Scott Niedermayer look like they might retire. With this, it looks like they saw they could fill Pittsburgh's need for a winger in exchange for filling a need they'll have next year.
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Post by fukufuji on Feb 26, 2009 13:51:06 GMT -5
with Chris Kunitz gone I think Bobby Ryan becomes a little more established on the team. With kunitz it was always like they tried to fit 7 in the top 6. wonder if Selane plays next year?
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Post by Zoom Waffles on Feb 26, 2009 14:01:54 GMT -5
i've heard rumors that nieds wants to stick around at least another year. no word on selanne or hedican.
great move for the penguins. we're fine on D, especially with offensive dmen. kunitz is a short-term solution to our top 6 winger problem, and tangradi is an excellent long-term solution. with caputi, taffe, jeffrey, pesonen, and hopefully minard in the pipeline along with tangradi, the future is bright.
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Post by The Hockey Hitman on Feb 26, 2009 14:25:14 GMT -5
This is exactly the kind of deal I was thinking the Pens would make, I knew Ryan Whitney was viewed as expendable and rightfully so as he has not been the same player that earned him that big contract in a while.
Pens get a winger with some grit but no size(5-11, 198 lbs) to play on Crosby's left side. They also get a young prospect who been turning heads all season and may be NHL ready next year, and if not then certainly the year after.
The cap saving isn't enough to even mention. All and all this should be a very good trade for both teams, these are the kind of deals that make "hockey sense" in my mind.
Oh and on Selanne, remember this past off-season he signed that ultra-cheap 2 year contract....he'll be a Duck again next season, unless he decides he wants to be traded which is unlikely.
Kunitz's fantasy value gets a significant boost, I would be surprised if he doesn't produce at a point per game or better for the rest of the season. Whitney's value may get a boost as while, as I think the change of scenery will be a wake up call to him.
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Post by fukufuji on Feb 26, 2009 14:56:41 GMT -5
i have a feeling kunitz and crosby will be a wicked pair. well be great to see what develops from this. this is certainly one of the more exciting trades so far.
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Post by The Hockey Hitman on Feb 26, 2009 17:00:45 GMT -5
Maybe Pronger is on the move? While its a possibility, the only way I could see Pronger being moved before the deadline is if Anaheim has received confirmation from Niedermayer that he does want to return for another season. I don't think Scotty will no the answer to that until this summer, so I don't think theres a way Anaheim would deal Pronger unless an offer comes around that just knocks their socks off. Imagine the nightmare if Pronger were dealt and than Niedermayer retires this summer. On top of having to cut Schneider go at the beginning of the season, it would be a devastating blow to the Ducks blueline. To me it makes more sense for them to deal Niedermayer(if someone has to go that is) and take a chance he re-signs with them in the summer(if he doesn't retire)...that way if he does retire you still have one more season of Pronger. I predict Niedermayer to an Atlantic division team within the week.
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Post by Zipper14 on Feb 26, 2009 18:10:20 GMT -5
Are the Ducks really sellers though? I know people keep saying they're gonna trade away some big names, but I don't see it. They're tied for seventh and only three points out of fifth.
Sure they're not in the elite like they have been over the past couple of years, but they've got a solid core and one of the best defensive groups in the league. They've got a team that could still make some nose in the playoffs.
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Post by Shredded Red on Feb 26, 2009 20:49:50 GMT -5
Am I the only one who thinks the Pen's lose out on this deal? Whitney is one of the more solid young d-men in the league. Sure his offensive upside may be higher than his defensive upside, but he was such an important part of their young core. Much like losing Malone, I don't think they're aware how much Whitney means to that team. It's been a rough year, but Whitney and Gonchar have been out almost all season. They would have had a wicked blue line with Whitney, Gonchar, and Letang, and Goligoski developing nicely as well.
Kunitz isn't nearly the caliber player that Whitney is. If anything he's like a substitute Malone. Anyone can put up points on Crosby's wing, but I think they could have gotten better for Whitney.
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Post by Zoom Waffles on Feb 26, 2009 22:07:31 GMT -5
whit is a defensive liability... his offensive game isn't any better than gonch or tanger, and gogo will probably be just as good too. and you don't need more than 3 OFDs (plus we have boucher and lovejoy's in the minors). the only way we lost this trade is if you think we could've gotten MORE for whit. but losing him won't sink us, that's for sure.
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