The Pittsburgh Penguins have traded defenceman Robert Bortuzzo and a 2016 seventh round draft pick to the St. Louis Blues for defenceman Ian Cole.
Penguins acquire Ian Cole from the Blues for Robert Bortuzzo and seventh round draft pick.
— James Mirtle (@mirtle) March 2, 2015
Ian Cole has played in 54 games for the Blues this season, notching 4 goals and 9 points. Drafted by the Blues 18th overall in 2007, Cole is also in the final year of this contact, making $825K this year. Both he and Bortuzzo will be RFA’s at the end of this season.
Bortuzzo has 2 goals and 6 points in 38 games for the Penguins this season. The 25 year old native of Thunder Bay, ON had spent his whole career with Pittsburgh since being drafted in the third round of the 2007 entry draft. The defenseman is in the last year of his current contract, making $600K this season.
Cole is a puck moving defenceman, whereas Bertuzzo is more of a stay at home defender with poor possession numbers. This trade helps to improve the Penguins defense for the rest of this season as they make a push for the Metropolitan Division title and possibly a long run in the Stanley Cup playoffs.
The St.Louis Blues acquired D Zbyněk Michálek from the Arizona Coyotes earlier today, making Ian Cole expendable.
Stay tuned to Last Word on Sports for all the latest news and analysis leading up to the NHL trade deadline at 3:00 pm.
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