The Penguins are on the cusp of getting healthy bodies back and they need to be cap compliant. One good way to do that is to trade away players. They accomplished their goal by moving Erik Gudbranson and his 4M contract.
The Penguins have acquired forward Andreas Martinsen and a 2021 seventh-round draft pick from the Anaheim Ducks in exchange for Erik Gudbranson.
— Pittsburgh Penguins (@penguins) October 25, 2019
Details: https://t.co/1I98XLjsN6 pic.twitter.com/gLl9A7aizm
Gudbranson is just the latest Rutherford acquisition who has been jettisoned less than a year after joining the team. These players are usually on the roster during the draft and free agency and limit the team’s flexibility for making roster moves during the most important time of year to make roster moves. That said, moving Gudbranson’s 4M for what they did is the proper thing to do. Gudbranson isn’t anywhere close to living up to his cap hit and the Penguins have a million defenseman. Specifically, John Marino made Gudbranson expendable in the eyes of the organization
Why the Ducks?
Just going to put this here https://t.co/Q9Jo6KGjdd
— Ryan Wilson (@GunnerStaal) October 25, 2019
The Penguins caught a huge break here. Other than the wasted time and tied up cap space they got out of this deal with minimal cost to assets. The modern NHL still has a few GM’s who have no idea how to evaluate defensemen.
Who is Andreas Martinsen?
He makes 750k if he's in the NHL. If he never plays a game for the Penguins it is fine.
Who will be the next player to join the Penguins ala Gudbranson/Johnson that makes no sense? Stay tuned. You usually don’t have to wait long.
Thanks for reading!