The San Jose Sharks acquired Tyler Kennedy on Sunday from the Pittsburgh Penguins. The draft-day deal gave the Penguins the Sharks second-round pick at No. 50.
Before the trade, Pittsburgh’s first pick was at No. 77. The deal seems to work out for both teams, as the Sharks are bringing in Kennedy to boost their attack while the Penguins get an earlier pick and don’t have to deal with re-signing the 26-year-old.
The Sharks general manager, Doug Wilson, spoke about the trade and what Kennedy brings to table.
“Tyler is a highly competitive forward who plays with speed and has a history of scoring big goals,” Wilson said, according to The Associated Press . “He has played in a lot of playoff games over the last past five seasons, won a Stanley Cup and we think he fits in perfectly with our group and how we want to play the game.”
After the deal, the Sharks traded up to No. 18 by sending the Detroit Red Wings their 20th pick and a Penguins’ second-round pick from a trade earlier last year.
With the 18th pick the Sharks took Marco Mueller, who was ranked as the third best defenseman going into the draft by NHL Central Scouting.
Tyler Kennedy is a nice piece to add to the puzzle for San Jose, but he didn’t fare too well in Pittsburgh last season. He posted 11 points in 46 games with a plus-minus in the negatives for the first time in his career.
He wasn’t used by coach Dan Bylsma at multiple points throughout the playoffs in 2013 and he’s now leaving the team after six years to start his career.
Sunday’s NHL Draft was full of movement and the biggest surprise came when the Canucks sent goaltender Cory Schneider to the New Jersey Devils. It looks like the Sharks weren’t the only team to stir up conversation as fans in Vancouver haven’t shown much support for the deal.
Nevertheless, the Penguins added an extra prospect while the Sharks get the chance to rejuvenate Tyler Kennedy’s career and bring him back to playing better hockey.
Do you think the Penguins and Sharks deal benefited both teams?
[Image via Michael Miller ]
