TSN’S Darren Dreger reports via Twitter the Edmonton Oilers have dealt winger David Perron to the Pittsburgh Penguins in exchange for a first-round pick in 2015 and center Rob Klinkhammer.
Penguins acquire David Perron from the Oilers.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Perron’s been on the trade block since November, though at the time the Oilers were in the market for a second-line center. It’s apparent their needs have changed as their playoff chances died in December. It’s a good return for the Oilers, which they can use for themselves or as a bargaining chip for another deal. Klinkhammer isn’t a second-line center but has good size (6’3″, 220 lbs) and should be a decent addition to their checking lines, especially given recent speculation claiming the Oilers could soon return young Leon Draisaitl to the WHL for the remainder of this season.
Perron, 26, is a former three-time 20-plus goalscorer who also reached the 50-point mark twice, including a career-high 57 points last season. He currently has five goals and 19 points in 38 games. Expect his numbers to improve with the talented Penguins, who made this move both to address their longstanding need for an additional top-six winger and to bolster a lineup plagued of late by injuries and illness.
I confess I’m surprised the Penguins opted to part with a first-round pick in a draft which is supposedly a deep one, but Perron is signed through 2015-16 at a reasonable annual cap hit of over $3.812 million. Given the Penguins are currently among this season’s top teams, that pick will likely be in the bottom of the first round. If Perron regains his offensive touch and proves a worthwhile addition for the Penguins, it could be worth giving up that first-round pick.
Wow, I am surprised Pitt gave up the first round pick.
My only question is: Do the Oil keep the pick or is this a building block for another trade? It would allow them to hold on to at least one first round pick for this year if they can get a player to help them now without giving up the farm.
I think they will trade that pick for a younger dman with some term! I there might of been a bidding war between boston and pitts for perron especially cause it ended up being a 2015 1st rounder
If they are looking for a top young d-man for there system then they should have tried to pull one from the pens. That’s one thing the pens have in aces.
I mean someone who has played a few years! the pens young dmen haven’t played a whole lot
So an NHL level D man who is younger with term for a late first round pick? Sure lots of those guys around, that I am sure GMs are willing to throw away, with the cap not really going up fpr a package of the 28th pick overall and Petry or Yaks or maybe even Boyd Gordon! LOL!
Their firsr rounder for Perron?
Wow.
Works out great for the oil. Lose more offense. Win less games. Better shot at the top pick in the draft. Get a depth centreman and a first round pick.
I hope Perron gets his groove back in Pittsburgh.
Sigh. Oilers need more high draft picks like they need a hole in their high glove side. Aren’t the problems that they have no veteran leadership and no mid-tier talent??
It’s a good return for them, but absolutely not what they need. Any other team/GM, I’d assume they were planning on parlaying it into something they could actually use. But with Oilers…?
I don’t care how deep a draft is, when you are picking late 20’s it’s an educated guess at that point … Pens are lucky to have Jim Rutherford … this is the 2nd really nice big deal he has made … and Perron didn’t cost one of the Pens young d-men … Rutherford adds a little grit and meanness and the Pens will be ready for the tournament …
I still expect more moves coming. Especially with how top heavy the pens are in d-men. Worst case I see Martin still moved for another top winger or picks and forward prospects.
Good move for both clubs.
I’m glad Boston didn’t give up their first rounder.
I find it hard to believe that Edmonton didn’t try to get a defenseman out of Pittsburgh. I guess it shouldn’t surprise me considering the incompetence of Oilers management.
Wow… MacT is finally trading… My guess is Perron asked for a trade… Any trade is good for Edmonton. Get rid of yet another small winger… Getting bigger is the right way to go…