According to a report from Kevin Weekes the Pittsburgh Penguins are trading forward Patric Hornqvist to the Florida Panthers for Colton Sceviour and Mike Matheson.
TRADE ALERT! 🚨
The Penguins have acquired defenseman Mike Matheson and forward Colton Sceviour from the Florida Panthers in exchange for Patric Hornqvist.
Details: https://t.co/MBzKdqUm2L pic.twitter.com/ViCD8ZGq6X
— Pittsburgh Penguins (@penguins) September 24, 2020
Penguins Trade Patric Hornqvist for Mike Matheson
It took an additional day to get everything done, but the deal is complete. The shakeup is continuing in Pittsburgh. Long-time forward Patric Hornqvist is going to Florida for defenceman Mike Matheson. Since coming over to the Penguins from the Nashville Predators in 2014, he has been a solid player for the Penguins. During his time with the Penguins, he helped them win two Stanley Cup Championships in 2016 and 2017. Including getting the game-winning goal against his former team in Game 6 of the 2017 Stanley Cup Final. Hornqvist’s greatest success came playing alongside Sidney Crosby on the top line for the Penguins. The Penguins saw this player as one they could use going forward signing him to a five-year contract extension worth $26.5 million in February 2018. However, now he is a member of the Florida Panthers.
Hornqvist was originally drafted by the Predators in the seventh round, 230th in the 2005 NHL Draft. For his career, Hornqvist has played in 770 regular season recording 480 points (238 goals and 242 assists). Of those 770 games, he played 407 games with the Penguins recording 264 points (132 goals and 132 assists). This season in 52 games, Hornqvist recorded 32 points (17 goals and 15 assists). He has played in 90 career playoff games a majority with the Penguins recording 46 points (25 goals and 21 assists). His best post-season outputs came in 2016, 2017, and 2018 recording 13, nine, and 11 points respectively.
Mike Matheson
Matheson is leaving the only team he has known in his five-year NHL career. Originally drafted in the first round, 23rd overall, by the Panthers in the 2012 NHL Draft, the defenceman is going to Pittsburgh. The left-shot defenceman has recorded 91 points (33 goals and 58 assists) in 299 regular-season games. He has one assist in seven career postseason games.
Going Forward
General manager Jim Rutherford said a shakeup was coming. He is continuing to reshape the Penguins in his vision. He still believes the Penguins are a contender in this league. Adding Matheson strengths their defence. While the Panthers get a solid forward who can score 20-25 goals a season. Interestingly the Penguins are adding a defenceman that has six more years left at $4.875 million. Considering they have Jack Johnson on the books at $4 million they might be looking to move another piece or two out before the season starts. You do not know what else Rutherford has up his sleeve considering he was not happy that his team lost in the qualifying round to the Montreal Canadiens.
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