Penguins General Manager Ron Hextall kept dealing over the weekend, even after a whirlwind week in which he signed Evgeni Malkin and a bunch of free agents.
Hextall beefed up the blue line, swapping defenseman John Marino to New Jersey for defenseman Ty Smith and a third round draft choice next year. Then, defenseman Mike Matheson and a fourth round draft pick were sent to Montreal for defenseman Jeff Petry and forward Ryan Poehling. Smith and Petry are bigger and more rugged than Marino and Matheson. Hextall said the Penguins needed to add muscle on the blue line.
Hextall said he might not be done dealing yet, but it would have to be a trade that makes sense.
Jeff Petry is 34 and a 12-year NHL veteran. He says he is eager to win, which makes the Penguins a good fit for him.
Ryan Poehling is a former number one draft pick of the Canadiens who struggled last season. He is hoping being around the Penguins’ star players will help him rediscover his game.
Ty Smith was the Devils’ number one pick in 2018 and after making the all-rookie team two seasons ago, scuffled last season. He says that like any kid growing up in Canada, he idolized Sidney Crosby so he can’t wait to join Crosby with the Pens.
Hextall still is carrying nine defensemen on the Penguins roster, two more than they carried last season.
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