While most of the NHL-watching world slept early Saturday morning, the Anaheim Ducks and PIttsburgh Penguins were hard at work putting together a trade that, from the outside looking, seems beneficial to both franchises. The Ducks and Penguins announced that they had enacted a trade that would see Carl Hagelin sent to Pittsburgh in exchange for David Perron and Adam Clendening.
For the offensively-challenged Ducks, this move looks to be a two-fold effort to get the team back on track. Hagelin was an important offseason acquisition, but he never quite seemed to find a consistently productive home in the Anaheim lineup. His failure to continue his development this year - he has just four goals and 12 points through 43 games and struggled to create offensively on the defensively-minded Ducks - seemed to play a large part in the team's overall failings.
Enter, Perron. Perron is a natural goalscorer. He's been erratic and streaky at times in his career and he's also dealt with injury issues, but when he's on his game he's a legitimate topline wing. That being said, neither he, nor the Penguins have really been on their game over the past couple of seasons. This year, Perron has just 4 goals and 16 points.
With Hagelin out and Perron in, Ducks GM Bob Murray is obviously hoping his team, full of so many tough, two-way guys, will get a little shot in the arm from the injection of Perron's talent.
Clendening, just 23, but now on his fourth NHL franchise, is a former second-round pick of the Chicago Blackhawks. Clendending is an offensive defenseman who provides a solid defensive game. He's not a "wow" prospect, hence why he's been dealt so many times, but he has the opportunity to develop into a consistent contributor if given the opportunity.
He's appeared in just nine games for the Pens this season, notching 1 assist.
