gracie12 Posted February 26, 2009 Report Share Posted February 26, 2009 As per TSN: http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/story/?id=268759&...s=topStory_main The Pittsburgh Penguins have cleared up a bit of their log jam along their blueline as they have traded Ryan Whitney to the Anaheim Ducks for Chris Kunitz and Eric Tangradi. The 26-year old Whitney was a vital piece of the Penguins' Stanley Cup run last year; however foot surgery caused him to miss the first 31 games of this season. He has 2 goals and 11 assists in 28 games for Pittsburgh this year. The Boston-native is one of the better puck moving defencemen in the league and should be a big boost to the Ducks' power play. He became deemed surplus goods when fellow defenceman and Penguins' primary powerplay quarterback Sergei Gonchar returned from a shoulder injury. Whitney is in the second year of a six-year contract he signed with the Penguins last season. He was chosen fifth overall by the Penguins in the 2002 NHL Entry Draft. In Kunitz, the Penguins will be getting an offensive-minded player who won the Stanley Cup in 2007. After campaigns where he put up 60 and then 50 points, the 29-year old Regina-native has 16 goals and 19 assists this season. He has spent the majority of his four NHL seasons with Anaheim. Tangradi, who just turned 20, is having a fine season with the OHL's Belleville Bulls. In 52 games, he has 38 goals and 87 points. He was drafted by the Ducks in the second round of the 2007 NHL Entry Draft. Both the Penguins and Ducks are in tight battles for post-season berths. Anaheim has 65 points and is in a logjam with three other teams for last two playoff spots in the Western Conference. Pittsburgh, the defending conference champions, finds itself 10th in the East, two points behind Buffalo for the final playoff spot. ------------------ Seems like an odd move to me. Whitney is still one of Pittsburg's best offensive blueliners & what do they get in return? A 'decent' second line winger & a decent prospect. I would have expected more of a return for Whitney. The Boston-native is one of the better puck moving defencemen in the league and should be a big boost to the Ducks' power play. He became deemed surplus goods when fellow defenceman and Penguins' primary powerplay quarterback Sergei Gonchar returned from a shoulder injury. This is the part I really dont understand. Whitney, 26, is expendable because Gonchar, 34 years old, came back. Wouldnt it make more sense to move the "old guy" ?? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jcammalleri Posted February 26, 2009 Report Share Posted February 26, 2009 So now can we Officially welcome Pronger to Montreal? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
911fred Posted February 26, 2009 Report Share Posted February 26, 2009 Tangradi is a monster prospect. Hes a heck of a player. I've seen him play. Great aquisitions for Pittsburgh except maybe for the fact that Kunitz isnt having that great of a year... And Im sure trading Gonchar wouldve made just a bit more sense... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mauro-Biello Posted February 26, 2009 Report Share Posted February 26, 2009 I understand Gonchar is older, but he always seem to stand out more than Whitney Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bourne Posted February 26, 2009 Report Share Posted February 26, 2009 While I do not know much about either, I always thought Goncher was the superior player and Pittsburgh cannot afford to lose their major assets unless the return is montrous, thus this deal seems almost down the line fair, perhaps slightly in favor of the Ducks however only marginally if at all. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Johnny_rudeboy Posted February 27, 2009 Report Share Posted February 27, 2009 Seems like an odd move to me. Whitney is still one of Pittsburg's best offensive blueliners & what do they get in return? A 'decent' second line winger & a decent prospect. I would have expected more of a return for Whitney. This is the part I really dont understand. Whitney, 26, is expendable because Gonchar, 34 years old, came back. Wouldnt it make more sense to move the "old guy" ?? It would have been my preference as well but Gonchar has a NTC and a contract that goes to 2010/11 whereas Whitney's NTC did not take affect until 2010/11. Anaheim also has the right to nullify Whitney's NTC when completing trade because Whitney's NTC has yet to vested. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ruuvimeisseli Posted February 27, 2009 Report Share Posted February 27, 2009 good trade for both teams. Anaheim makes pronger trade able. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
babinator77 Posted February 27, 2009 Report Share Posted February 27, 2009 It would have been my preference as well but Gonchar has a NTC and a contract that goes to 2010/11 whereas Whitney's NTC did not take affect until 2010/11. Anaheim also has the right to nullify Whitney's NTC when completing trade because Whitney's NTC has yet to vested. at first i was pretty shocked by this trade. i would've kept both. gonchar is a superior dman, imho, regardless of his age. he's their no. 1. however, when i looked at whitney's stats i was pretty surprised to see he was a lone ranger at -15. the worst on the team and by far the worst on d. the penguins aren't lacking in offense but they are lacking on d. i wonder if they'll try to find a defensive dman by the deadline. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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