It was no secret the Penguins were looking to deal Staal at some point this offseason, especially after he turned down a ten year deal the day before and what better place to send him than Carolina, where he will play alongside his brother, Eric. Its never fun to see a great player leave Pittsburgh, but the NHL is a business and the move had to be made. Shero left him a message to explain the news but Staal didnt pick up, and for good reason: he was getting married. Hopefully Staal was able to enjoy his wedding regardless, as we wish him nothing but the best on both fronts.
Staal, known for his ability as a shutdown center, improved this season, setting a career high with 50 points (25 goals and 25 assists) in just 62 games. In return the Penguins received 23 year old center Brandon Sutter. He was drafted 11th overall by the Hurricanes in 2007 and spent time in the WHL with the Red Deer Rebels and with the Hurricanes AHL team, the Albany River Rats. Sutter played 50 games for the Hurricanes during his rookie campaign but only scored 6 points. One interesting tidbit on Sutter is that his first NHL goal came against his new teammate, Marc-Andre Fleury.
In the 2009-10 season Sutter spent his entire time playing for the Hurricanes in the NHL while setting a career high in points, with 40 (21 goals 19 assists). In both the 2010-11 and 2011-12 seasons he played all 82 games with the Carolina, putting up 29 points and then 32. Sutter won 50.5% of his faceoffs last season (654 won, 641 lost) and averaged 17:23 of ice time a game. He is a very strong penalty killer and will have big shoes to fill in replacing Jordan Staal as the Penguins top penalty killer. Though Sutter isn't a highly skilled player, he can play both ends of the ice and still score some goals. He should fit nicely into the Penguins line up as their new third line center. Sutter is currently signed through the 2013-14 season with a cap hit of $2,066,666.
In addition, the Penguins also received Boston College product Brian Dumoulin. Dumoulin
is a defenseman who was drafted 51st overall in the 2009 NHL draft. On April
10th Dumoulin was signed to an entry-level contract. He was
named Hockey East First-Team All-Star in 2010-11 with Boston College. At 6’3” and 220 pounds, the Penguins have added yet another big blue liner.
Obviously with their immense depth on defense, he likely will not crack their NHL
lineup this year and will likely play in Wilkes-Barre/Scranton. Dumoulin is signed
through 2014-15 with a cap hit of $900,000.
It was after 11:00 pm when Ray Shero announced the
Penguins second trade of the night, this time with the Phoenix Coyotes. The deal was done primarily to free up some well needed cap space for Pittsburgh, as they traded away defenseman, Zybnek Michalek, who was
taking up $4,000,000 worth. In return, Phoenix sent a defenseman of their own in Harrison Ruopp, Marc Cheverie, a goalie and a third round pick (81st overall).
Harrison Ruopp is a 19 year old Canadian, who was drafted 84th overall in the 2011 NHL draft. This season Ruopp played for his WHL team Prince Albert, appearing in 62 games, recording 2 goals and 7 assists. Though not very skilled, he is a hard-nosed defenseman, who is not shy about dropping the gloves. He is comparable to Deryk Engellend and will certainly protect our stars when needed.
Marc Cheverie, who was originally drafted by the Florida Panthers in seventh round of the 2006 NHL draft, was traded prior to 2011-12 season to the Hurricanes. He is a University of Denver product, and is currently playing for the Gwinnett Gladiators in the ECHL. Marc still needs to progress and could make for a solid goaltender in the AHL for the Penguins.
Zybnek Michalek is a great defensive defenseman, who the Coyotes were certainly happy to have back. Michalek, who played two seasons with the Penguins, had a rough outing this year, playing in 62 games and recording just two goals and seven assists.
With all the new cap space the Penguins will be able to make a strong push for Zach Parise of the New Jersey Devils and perhaps even defenseman Ryan Suter of the Nashville Predators.
Here's a video of Harrison Ruopp getting hit then dropping the glovesHarrison Ruopp is a 19 year old Canadian, who was drafted 84th overall in the 2011 NHL draft. This season Ruopp played for his WHL team Prince Albert, appearing in 62 games, recording 2 goals and 7 assists. Though not very skilled, he is a hard-nosed defenseman, who is not shy about dropping the gloves. He is comparable to Deryk Engellend and will certainly protect our stars when needed.
Marc Cheverie, who was originally drafted by the Florida Panthers in seventh round of the 2006 NHL draft, was traded prior to 2011-12 season to the Hurricanes. He is a University of Denver product, and is currently playing for the Gwinnett Gladiators in the ECHL. Marc still needs to progress and could make for a solid goaltender in the AHL for the Penguins.
Zybnek Michalek is a great defensive defenseman, who the Coyotes were certainly happy to have back. Michalek, who played two seasons with the Penguins, had a rough outing this year, playing in 62 games and recording just two goals and seven assists.
With all the new cap space the Penguins will be able to make a strong push for Zach Parise of the New Jersey Devils and perhaps even defenseman Ryan Suter of the Nashville Predators.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R2ZZKa1xWc8
With the eighth overall pick the Penguins drafted Canadian
defenseman Derrick Pouliot. Pouliot is undersized for
most defenseman in the NHL but with such a tremendous offensive game he will
make up for it. Pouliot had been Pittsburgh's radar for a long time and
were excited about the opportunity to draft him. Some have compared
Pouliot to Kris Letang. Yes, his potential is that great and if
he can bulk up and add some physicallity to his game, he could be a top prospect in the future. My lone concern is how he will do mathcing up against bigger NHL forwards and winning puck battles with them. At only 18 years old, he is not NHL ready and will likely play for the Portland Winterhawks in the WHL.
Derrick Pouliot highlights: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rC522VhI1H8
The Penguins then drafted Finnish defenseman Olli Maatta who was listed as the 10th best prospect in the draft but fell into the Penguins lap at 22nd. He played with the
London Knights in the OHL last season while racking up 32 points in 58 games and was a +25. Maatta's season was cut
short after receiving a concussion in the World Junior Championships causing him to later
miss the prospects game. At 6’2” 220 pounds he has
been compared to the Nashville Predators defenseman Ryan Suter, which is fairly high praise. At just 18 years old, Maatta will most likely continue to play in the OHL with the Knights.
Olli Maatta highlights: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FVNRYvUcusY
Rounds 2-6:
C Teddy Blueger (52nd overall) Shattuck St. Mary's (HIGH-MN)
C Oscar Sundqvist (81st overall) Skelleftea (SWE-JR)
G Matthew Murray (83rd overall) Sault St. Marie (OHL)
F Matia Marcantuoni (92nd overall) Kitchener (OHL)
G Sean Maguire (113th overall) Powell River (BCHL)
D Clark Seymour (143rd overall) Peterborough (OHL)
RW Anton Zlobin (173rd overall) Shawinigan (QMJHL)
*The Penguins did not have a 7th round pick becuase they used it to aquire G Tomas Vokoun.
By: Kevin Antosz
Rounds 2-6:
C Teddy Blueger (52nd overall) Shattuck St. Mary's (HIGH-MN)
C Oscar Sundqvist (81st overall) Skelleftea (SWE-JR)
G Matthew Murray (83rd overall) Sault St. Marie (OHL)
F Matia Marcantuoni (92nd overall) Kitchener (OHL)
G Sean Maguire (113th overall) Powell River (BCHL)
D Clark Seymour (143rd overall) Peterborough (OHL)
RW Anton Zlobin (173rd overall) Shawinigan (QMJHL)
*The Penguins did not have a 7th round pick becuase they used it to aquire G Tomas Vokoun.
By: Kevin Antosz
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