Penguins Trade Carl Hagelin To Kings For Tanner Pearson
PITTSBURGH (KDKA) -- The Pittsburgh Penguins have traded forward Carl Hagelin for winger Tanner Pearson according to the team.
"The Penguins have acquired forward Tanner Pearson from the LA Kings in exchange for Carl Hagelin."
Pearson's contract carries an average annual value of $3.75 million and he is signed through the 2020.21 season.
Penguins General Manager Jim Rutherford spoke to the media following the trade Wednesday afternoon and says he thinks Pearson will be a valuable player for the team.
"He's able to play with their top guys, he's done it in LA," Rutherford said. "I believe a change will be good for him and it will be a good fit for us."
Rutherford also mentioned that this might not be the only move in the near future.
"This could be the start of more changes. We'll see how it goes. The way things have gone, it's obvious that we had make a change. I feel bad - Hagelin is a popular guy. I like him a lot personally. He was part of winning a Cup... but changes are necessary."
Pearson has tallied 40+ points each of the last two seasons, including 24 goals in the 2016-17 campaign.
In 17 games this season, Pearson has 1 point and is a -9 with 24 shots.
In his rookie campaign, Pearson won the Stanley Cup with the Kings in 2014. He scored 12 points in 24 playoff games that year.
Hagelin, 30, is an unrestricted free agent at the end of this year.
