The Vancouver Canucks announced on Tuesday the acquisition of defenseman Mark Friedman and forward Ty Glover in a trade with the Pittsburgh Penguins.

The Canucks are sending defenseman Jack Rathbone and forward Karel Plasek to Pittsburgh in exchange for Friedman and Glover. There were no draft picks included in the trade.

Friedman is expected to boost Canucks’ blue-line depth, something the team has been looking for since the start of the 2023-24 NHL season. The 27-year-old player played 65 games in the NHL and has 12 career points. Glover, on the other hand, is more of a project, considering he has yet to make his NHL debut.

The Penguins, on the other hand, get a talented prospect in Rathbone. The 95th overall pick in 2017 was a standout performer during his time at Harvard University, but his transition to the pros was bumpy as he struggled with inconsistency and injury. He has five points in 28 NHL games with Canucks.

 Finally, Plasek will play in the United States for the first time this season. He played in his native Czech Republic last season, contributing six goals and nine assists for 15 points in 31 games with HC Olomouc.

“I would like to thank Jack for all the time he spent with our organization and always pushing hard when competing for a spot,” said Canucks’ general manager Patrik Allvin in a statement. “It has been a tough couple of years for him, and this will give him a fresh start. The two players coming back in this trade will add to our depth as we continue to look at ways to improve our organization.”

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The NHL’s 2022-23 regular season hasn’t officially wrapped up, but there are no more playoff spots up for grabs after Wednesday night. The New York Islanders got the last postseason ticket with a 4-2 win over the Montreal Canadiens. They have also eliminated the Pittsburgh Penguins from playoff contention, ending their impressive streak of 16 consecutive postseason trips. 

The Penguins will finish 5th in the Metropolitan Division behind the Islanders regardless of the outcome of their game against the Columbus Blue Jackets on Thursday. 2022-23 will be the first season since 2005-06 that Pittsburgh isn’t in the Stanley Cup Playoffs.

It was a wild week for both the Islanders and the Penguins, with each team being in the driver’s seat for the last wild-card spot at one point. The New York team lost to Washington Capitals on Monday, which meant that Pittsburgh could get into the playoffs if they won out. However, the Penguins shockingly lost to the Chicago Blackhawks on Tuesday, giving the Islanders another chance to get the job done.

The Penguins’ 16-year playoff streak was the longest active across NHL, NFL, MLB, and NBA. Its 16 consecutive playoff appearances were also the most ever by a franchise in all of the history of American major sports. During that time, Pittsburgh reached the Stanley Cup Finals four times and won the Stanley Cup in 2009, 2016, and 2017.

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The Pittsburgh Penguins captain Sidney Crosby continues to write his name in the NHL history books. Crosby scored his 30th goal of the season in a recent 5-2 win over the Colorado Avalanche and hit a pair of big career milestones in the process.

The 2022-23 season marks the 11th time Crosby had a 30-goal campaign, which ties him with Hall of Famer Mario Lemieux for most in Penguins’ history. Also, by having a 30-goal season at 35, he also became the first player in NHL history to record it at both age 18 and again at 35+.

“It means I’ve been in the league for a while,” Crosby jokingly said after being asked what these achievements mean to him. “That’s been the thing that’s driven me since I got into the league — in your first year, you want to prove that you belong. Even at 35, I still think you want to prove you belong, because it is a younger league.”

Crosby scored another goal in the meantime, bringing his total to 31. He now has back-to-back seasons in which he scored at least 31 goals and dished at least 53 assists. This impressive run follows a pair of campaigns in which Crosby struggled with injuries.

The Penguins will hope Crosby continues with great performances considering that they are currently in the hunt for a playoff spot. They have a 35-27-10 record in the Metropolitan Division, trailing the New York Islanders, who hold the last wild-card spot, by three points.

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Veteran forward Kasperi Kapanen didn’t have to wait long to find out his next NHL destination after being waived by the Pittsburgh Penguins on Friday. The St. Louis Blues moved quickly to claim him, confirming the move on Saturday.

By claiming Kapanen, the Blues are taking over the remainder of the two-year, $6.4 million deal Kapanen signed with the Penguins during the offseason. The 26-year-old player has seven goals and 13 assists for a total of 20 points in 43 games this season.

The move makes sense for the Blues, who will benefit from Kapanen’s speed on ice for the remainder of the season. They will also be able to determine whether he fits into their long-term plans. 

“It’s a good pick up, he brings speed, has good skill,” said Blues’ head coach Craig Berube. “I’m looking forward to getting him here, coaching him, and having him be part of the team.”

Penguins surprisingly gave Kapanen a new deal in the summer despite his inconsistencies since arriving in a trade from the Toronto Maple Leafs in 2020. The move didn’t work out, and Pittsburgh’s front office decided to admit their mistake sooner than later. By placing Kapanen on waivers, the team also managed to clear enough salary cap space to add veteran defenseman Jan Rutta to the roster from long-term injured reserve.

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The Pittsburgh Penguins general manager Ron Hextall told reporters back in May that he is determined to keep franchise legends Evgeni Malkin and Kris Letang, both free agents this offseason, with the organization. Hextall’s goal is now half-accomplished after the Penguins announced they managed to hammer out an extension for Letang.

According to the franchise, Letang inked a new six-year deal that will pay him $36.6 million. The agreement keeps him with the franchise through the 2027-28 NHL season when he’ll be 41.

Confirming the deal in a statement, Hextall said that the organization is thrilled to make Letang “a Penguin for life.”

“Kris epitomizes what it means to be a Pittsburgh Penguin,” said Hextall. “The role he plays on our team is irreplaceable, he is a leader in our locker room, and has made countless contributions to the organization over the last 15-plus years, which includes three Stanley Cup Championships.”

Hextall will now probably shift focus to Malkin, although that is predicted to be a tougher challenge. Pittsburgh also has several other free agents it is considering bringing back, including winger Rickard Rakell and center Evan Rodrigues.

Kris Letang made his debut for the Penguins during the 2006–07 season and has since played 941 games in the NHL for the franchise. Letang scored 144 goals and dished 506 assists for a total of 650 points in those games. The Montreal native, who owns almost every Penguins record for a defenseman, has six All-Star appearances and two NHL Second Team All-Star nods.

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The Pittsburgh Penguins aren’t dwelling on a disappointing end of the 2022 Stanley Cup Playoffs that saw them getting eliminated by the NY Rangers despite a 3-1 lead at one point. Instead, the organization is already getting ready for another run next season.

One of the biggest offseason tasks that Pittsburgh’s front office is facing is the status of franchise legends Evgeni Malkin and Kris Letang. The veteran All-Star duo is entering the free agency for the first time in their career, and retaining them will be a challenge, especially from a financial standpoint.

Speaking with reporters earlier this week, Penguins’ general manager Ron Hextall admitted the franchise might have a hard time re-signing Malkin and Letang. However, that doesn’t mean he won’t make an attempt.

“In a perfect world, [Malkin] retires a Penguin,” Hextall explained. “And I think Tanger’s [Letang’s nickname] the same.”

Malkin, who will turn 36 in July, struggled with injuries in 2021-22 but still managed to contribute with 42 points (20 goals and 22 assists) in 41 games. However, it is hard to see Pittsburgh giving him anywhere close to the $9.5 million he earned last season.

On the other hand, Letang delivered a career year despite turning 35 in April. The defenseman had 68 points, his most as a pro while remaining reliable and playing 78 games. He looks more likely to stay from the duo, especially since he recently said that playing in Pittsburgh in 2022-23 remains his priority.

“They’re both great athletes,” Hextall added. “They both have been here a long time. They’re both performing at a high level right now. We’d certainly like to have them in the mix come September.”

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Pittsburgh Penguins will be without captain Sidney Crosby during their opening game of the 2021-22 NHL season against the Tampa Bay Lightning. Crosby revealed this news in an episode of Monday Night Football.

While the 34-year-old star made the trip to Tampa Bay with his team and participated in practices, he is still recovering from a wrist surgery that he had in early September. His left wrist’s post-surgery recovery is expected to take six weeks.

Crosby’s leadership is not the only thing that will be lacking as the Penguins open the new season against the reigning Stanley Cup Champions. Center Evgeni Malkin has been ruled out of the clash as he recovers from an offseason knee injury, while forwards Jake Guentzel and Zach Aston-Reese will be unavailable after both players tested positive for COVID-19 during training camp.

The Penguins’ injured players proved to form a crucial part of the team’s offensive efforts last season, with Crosby leading the Penguins’ scoring with 62 points, followed by Guentzel with 57 points.

While the Lightning may be the reigning Stanley Cup champions, the Penguins have also proven to be highly successful in recent seasons, winning both the 2016 and 2017 Stanley Cup championships.

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Pittsburgh Penguins captain and team leader Sidney Crosby once again needed surgery. This time it was a procedure on his wrist. However, the team would not say which wrist was in question.

According to the team, the procedure was successfully performed on Monday, August 31. The good news for Penguins fans is that the injury does not appear to be serious because Crosby is expected to be fully recovered in one month at the latest if no complications arise.

Crosby has been in an out of the operating room this year a few times. The 33-year-old franchise star had to repair his core in November, which led to Crosby missing well over two months of the season.

Crosby was also out for a short period of about a week in July, but no official statements were released at the time regarding why he wasn’t participating in practices.

The Penguins were eliminated in the playoffs by the underdog Montreal Canadiens, losing the best-of-five series 3-1. And while Crosby played in all four games, he clearly wasn’t himself, recording only two goals and one assist.

He was particularly quiet in the last two games of the series, during which he was only able to record four shots on goal.

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Toronto Maple Leafs and Pittsburgh Penguins engaged in a massive trade on Tuesday that was highlighted by forward Kasperi Kapanen and included five other players.

Maple Leafs sent Kapanen, journeyman forward Pontus Aberg and prospect defenseman Jesper Lindgren to Pittsburgh while receiving 15th overall pick in 2020 NHL Entry Draft, center Evan Rodrigues, defenseman David Warsofsky, and Swedish forward Filip Hallander in exchange.

The trade between the Maple Leafs and the Penguins sees Kapanen, who has 90 points in 202 NHL games, return to the team that originally drafted him. He was Pittsburgh’s first-round pick in 2014 NHL Entry Draft but ended up being traded to Toronto as part of Phil Kessel trade one year later.

“Super excited about that obviously,” said Kapanen after learning about the trade. “It’s where it all began for me, which is pretty cool.”

The Toronto Maple Leafs received a nice return for Kapanen with the first-round pick, but are also set to receive some salary-cap flexibility. Both Warsofsky and Hallander are on rookie deals, while Rodrigues is set to become a free agent this offseason.

Pittsburgh Penguins, on the other hand, receive a young forward that could help their aging core and possibly propel the team to another Stanley Cup run.

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The New York Rangers have secured the first pick in the 2020 NHL draft by winning the draft lottery on Monday.

That means that they will most likely be welcoming Alexis Lafreniere to the team, who is the consensus No. 1 pick. This bodes very well for a Rangers team that began a rebuild in 2018 and has had a surprising amount of success in speeding up the process by making a string of very smart roster moves.

New York had the second pick in the 2019 draft and selected lauded Finnish winger Kaapo Kakko. After that, they picked up star free agent Artemi Panarin, who had a brilliant season this year and was one of the finalists in the run for league MVP.

Asked about the proposition of playing in New York, Lafreniere seems to be completely on board, stating that the Rangers are “an unreal team” and that he is “really happy” that they have the first pick.

Lafreniere is an 18-year-old winger from Quebec. He’s 6-foot-1 and he led the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League this year with 112 points in 52 games before the season was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Lafreniere and Pittsburg Penguins star captain Sidney Crosby are the only two players in history to win the QMJHL MVP awards in back-to-back seasons.

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The Vancouver Canucks announced on Tuesday the acquisition of defenseman Mark Friedman and forward Ty Glover in a trade with the Pittsburgh Penguins.

The Canucks are sending defenseman Jack Rathbone and forward Karel Plasek to Pittsburgh in exchange for Friedman and Glover. There were no draft picks included in the trade.

Friedman is expected to boost Canucks’ blue-line depth, something the team has been looking for since the start of the 2023-24 NHL season. The 27-year-old player played 65 games in the NHL and has 12 career points. Glover, on the other hand, is more of a project, considering he has yet to make his NHL debut.

The Penguins, on the other hand, get a talented prospect in Rathbone. The 95th overall pick in 2017 was a standout performer during his time at Harvard University, but his transition to the pros was bumpy as he struggled with inconsistency and injury. He has five points in 28 NHL games with Canucks.

 Finally, Plasek will play in the United States for the first time this season. He played in his native Czech Republic last season, contributing six goals and nine assists for 15 points in 31 games with HC Olomouc.

“I would like to thank Jack for all the time he spent with our organization and always pushing hard when competing for a spot,” said Canucks’ general manager Patrik Allvin in a statement. “It has been a tough couple of years for him, and this will give him a fresh start. The two players coming back in this trade will add to our depth as we continue to look at ways to improve our organization.”

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The NHL’s 2022-23 regular season hasn’t officially wrapped up, but there are no more playoff spots up for grabs after Wednesday night. The New York Islanders got the last postseason ticket with a 4-2 win over the Montreal Canadiens. They have also eliminated the Pittsburgh Penguins from playoff contention, ending their impressive streak of 16 consecutive postseason trips. 

The Penguins will finish 5th in the Metropolitan Division behind the Islanders regardless of the outcome of their game against the Columbus Blue Jackets on Thursday. 2022-23 will be the first season since 2005-06 that Pittsburgh isn’t in the Stanley Cup Playoffs.

It was a wild week for both the Islanders and the Penguins, with each team being in the driver’s seat for the last wild-card spot at one point. The New York team lost to Washington Capitals on Monday, which meant that Pittsburgh could get into the playoffs if they won out. However, the Penguins shockingly lost to the Chicago Blackhawks on Tuesday, giving the Islanders another chance to get the job done.

The Penguins’ 16-year playoff streak was the longest active across NHL, NFL, MLB, and NBA. Its 16 consecutive playoff appearances were also the most ever by a franchise in all of the history of American major sports. During that time, Pittsburgh reached the Stanley Cup Finals four times and won the Stanley Cup in 2009, 2016, and 2017.

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The Pittsburgh Penguins captain Sidney Crosby continues to write his name in the NHL history books. Crosby scored his 30th goal of the season in a recent 5-2 win over the Colorado Avalanche and hit a pair of big career milestones in the process.

The 2022-23 season marks the 11th time Crosby had a 30-goal campaign, which ties him with Hall of Famer Mario Lemieux for most in Penguins’ history. Also, by having a 30-goal season at 35, he also became the first player in NHL history to record it at both age 18 and again at 35+.

“It means I’ve been in the league for a while,” Crosby jokingly said after being asked what these achievements mean to him. “That’s been the thing that’s driven me since I got into the league — in your first year, you want to prove that you belong. Even at 35, I still think you want to prove you belong, because it is a younger league.”

Crosby scored another goal in the meantime, bringing his total to 31. He now has back-to-back seasons in which he scored at least 31 goals and dished at least 53 assists. This impressive run follows a pair of campaigns in which Crosby struggled with injuries.

The Penguins will hope Crosby continues with great performances considering that they are currently in the hunt for a playoff spot. They have a 35-27-10 record in the Metropolitan Division, trailing the New York Islanders, who hold the last wild-card spot, by three points.

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Veteran forward Kasperi Kapanen didn’t have to wait long to find out his next NHL destination after being waived by the Pittsburgh Penguins on Friday. The St. Louis Blues moved quickly to claim him, confirming the move on Saturday.

By claiming Kapanen, the Blues are taking over the remainder of the two-year, $6.4 million deal Kapanen signed with the Penguins during the offseason. The 26-year-old player has seven goals and 13 assists for a total of 20 points in 43 games this season.

The move makes sense for the Blues, who will benefit from Kapanen’s speed on ice for the remainder of the season. They will also be able to determine whether he fits into their long-term plans. 

“It’s a good pick up, he brings speed, has good skill,” said Blues’ head coach Craig Berube. “I’m looking forward to getting him here, coaching him, and having him be part of the team.”

Penguins surprisingly gave Kapanen a new deal in the summer despite his inconsistencies since arriving in a trade from the Toronto Maple Leafs in 2020. The move didn’t work out, and Pittsburgh’s front office decided to admit their mistake sooner than later. By placing Kapanen on waivers, the team also managed to clear enough salary cap space to add veteran defenseman Jan Rutta to the roster from long-term injured reserve.

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The Pittsburgh Penguins general manager Ron Hextall told reporters back in May that he is determined to keep franchise legends Evgeni Malkin and Kris Letang, both free agents this offseason, with the organization. Hextall’s goal is now half-accomplished after the Penguins announced they managed to hammer out an extension for Letang.

According to the franchise, Letang inked a new six-year deal that will pay him $36.6 million. The agreement keeps him with the franchise through the 2027-28 NHL season when he’ll be 41.

Confirming the deal in a statement, Hextall said that the organization is thrilled to make Letang “a Penguin for life.”

“Kris epitomizes what it means to be a Pittsburgh Penguin,” said Hextall. “The role he plays on our team is irreplaceable, he is a leader in our locker room, and has made countless contributions to the organization over the last 15-plus years, which includes three Stanley Cup Championships.”

Hextall will now probably shift focus to Malkin, although that is predicted to be a tougher challenge. Pittsburgh also has several other free agents it is considering bringing back, including winger Rickard Rakell and center Evan Rodrigues.

Kris Letang made his debut for the Penguins during the 2006–07 season and has since played 941 games in the NHL for the franchise. Letang scored 144 goals and dished 506 assists for a total of 650 points in those games. The Montreal native, who owns almost every Penguins record for a defenseman, has six All-Star appearances and two NHL Second Team All-Star nods.

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The Pittsburgh Penguins aren’t dwelling on a disappointing end of the 2022 Stanley Cup Playoffs that saw them getting eliminated by the NY Rangers despite a 3-1 lead at one point. Instead, the organization is already getting ready for another run next season.

One of the biggest offseason tasks that Pittsburgh’s front office is facing is the status of franchise legends Evgeni Malkin and Kris Letang. The veteran All-Star duo is entering the free agency for the first time in their career, and retaining them will be a challenge, especially from a financial standpoint.

Speaking with reporters earlier this week, Penguins’ general manager Ron Hextall admitted the franchise might have a hard time re-signing Malkin and Letang. However, that doesn’t mean he won’t make an attempt.

“In a perfect world, [Malkin] retires a Penguin,” Hextall explained. “And I think Tanger’s [Letang’s nickname] the same.”

Malkin, who will turn 36 in July, struggled with injuries in 2021-22 but still managed to contribute with 42 points (20 goals and 22 assists) in 41 games. However, it is hard to see Pittsburgh giving him anywhere close to the $9.5 million he earned last season.

On the other hand, Letang delivered a career year despite turning 35 in April. The defenseman had 68 points, his most as a pro while remaining reliable and playing 78 games. He looks more likely to stay from the duo, especially since he recently said that playing in Pittsburgh in 2022-23 remains his priority.

“They’re both great athletes,” Hextall added. “They both have been here a long time. They’re both performing at a high level right now. We’d certainly like to have them in the mix come September.”

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Pittsburgh Penguins will be without captain Sidney Crosby during their opening game of the 2021-22 NHL season against the Tampa Bay Lightning. Crosby revealed this news in an episode of Monday Night Football.

While the 34-year-old star made the trip to Tampa Bay with his team and participated in practices, he is still recovering from a wrist surgery that he had in early September. His left wrist’s post-surgery recovery is expected to take six weeks.

Crosby’s leadership is not the only thing that will be lacking as the Penguins open the new season against the reigning Stanley Cup Champions. Center Evgeni Malkin has been ruled out of the clash as he recovers from an offseason knee injury, while forwards Jake Guentzel and Zach Aston-Reese will be unavailable after both players tested positive for COVID-19 during training camp.

The Penguins’ injured players proved to form a crucial part of the team’s offensive efforts last season, with Crosby leading the Penguins’ scoring with 62 points, followed by Guentzel with 57 points.

While the Lightning may be the reigning Stanley Cup champions, the Penguins have also proven to be highly successful in recent seasons, winning both the 2016 and 2017 Stanley Cup championships.

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Pittsburgh Penguins captain and team leader Sidney Crosby once again needed surgery. This time it was a procedure on his wrist. However, the team would not say which wrist was in question.

According to the team, the procedure was successfully performed on Monday, August 31. The good news for Penguins fans is that the injury does not appear to be serious because Crosby is expected to be fully recovered in one month at the latest if no complications arise.

Crosby has been in an out of the operating room this year a few times. The 33-year-old franchise star had to repair his core in November, which led to Crosby missing well over two months of the season.

Crosby was also out for a short period of about a week in July, but no official statements were released at the time regarding why he wasn’t participating in practices.

The Penguins were eliminated in the playoffs by the underdog Montreal Canadiens, losing the best-of-five series 3-1. And while Crosby played in all four games, he clearly wasn’t himself, recording only two goals and one assist.

He was particularly quiet in the last two games of the series, during which he was only able to record four shots on goal.

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Toronto Maple Leafs and Pittsburgh Penguins engaged in a massive trade on Tuesday that was highlighted by forward Kasperi Kapanen and included five other players.

Maple Leafs sent Kapanen, journeyman forward Pontus Aberg and prospect defenseman Jesper Lindgren to Pittsburgh while receiving 15th overall pick in 2020 NHL Entry Draft, center Evan Rodrigues, defenseman David Warsofsky, and Swedish forward Filip Hallander in exchange.

The trade between the Maple Leafs and the Penguins sees Kapanen, who has 90 points in 202 NHL games, return to the team that originally drafted him. He was Pittsburgh’s first-round pick in 2014 NHL Entry Draft but ended up being traded to Toronto as part of Phil Kessel trade one year later.

“Super excited about that obviously,” said Kapanen after learning about the trade. “It’s where it all began for me, which is pretty cool.”

The Toronto Maple Leafs received a nice return for Kapanen with the first-round pick, but are also set to receive some salary-cap flexibility. Both Warsofsky and Hallander are on rookie deals, while Rodrigues is set to become a free agent this offseason.

Pittsburgh Penguins, on the other hand, receive a young forward that could help their aging core and possibly propel the team to another Stanley Cup run.

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The New York Rangers have secured the first pick in the 2020 NHL draft by winning the draft lottery on Monday.

That means that they will most likely be welcoming Alexis Lafreniere to the team, who is the consensus No. 1 pick. This bodes very well for a Rangers team that began a rebuild in 2018 and has had a surprising amount of success in speeding up the process by making a string of very smart roster moves.

New York had the second pick in the 2019 draft and selected lauded Finnish winger Kaapo Kakko. After that, they picked up star free agent Artemi Panarin, who had a brilliant season this year and was one of the finalists in the run for league MVP.

Asked about the proposition of playing in New York, Lafreniere seems to be completely on board, stating that the Rangers are “an unreal team” and that he is “really happy” that they have the first pick.

Lafreniere is an 18-year-old winger from Quebec. He’s 6-foot-1 and he led the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League this year with 112 points in 52 games before the season was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Lafreniere and Pittsburg Penguins star captain Sidney Crosby are the only two players in history to win the QMJHL MVP awards in back-to-back seasons.

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