Penguins trade Ryan Whitney to Ducks for Chris Kunitz and Eric Tangradi

by FrankD on Feb 26, 2009 12:44 PM EST in News Comment 38 comments

Perhaps all of those rumors were true after all. The Penguins shipped out Ryan Whitney today to the Anaheim Ducks in exchange for Chris Kunitz and minor league forward Eric Tangradi.

	G	A	P	+/-	PIM
2008 - Chris Kunitz	16	19	35	9	55

Chris Kunitz is a proven forward who may mesh well with Crosby/Malkin. He was on board for the Cup in 2007 and tends to be a consistent 50-60 point guy. If anything it adds another Sykora-like forward into the mix.

One things the Pens are missing this year is consistency - might as well trade for it.

And what do you know? This year the Pens didn't trade for a rental player. Kunitz is wrapped up in a contract that takes him up to the end of 2011/12 season. Three years at $15 mil beats the $18.5 mil the Pens would've coughed up to Whitney over the next four years. An under-achieving Whitney at that.

I fail to see how this is a bad move. If anything it now confirms that Kris Letang and perhaps even Alex Goligoski will find more time on the blue line this season. When you consider Phillippe Boucher, Rob Scuderi and Hal Gill are UFAs after this season, it isnt far fetched to think this is the blue line of the future.

Additional coverage available on TSN .

[Update - 12:53] - JP from Japer's Rink sent me a link to Tangradi's facebook profile. He's clearly a playa - but is he a team player?

[Update - 1:05] - Tangradi is a Philly native (we'll make an exception in this case). He's 20 years old and currently playing for the OHL Belleville Bulls. Best of all he's rocking 87 points over 52 games, incluing 38 goals. Put this kid in the Penguins' system and Pitt may have a big-time forward in the making.

[Update - 2:05] - I apparently missed this before, but Chris Minard was sent down to waivers as part of this move as well. So much for drop passes on breakaways...

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Now all they need to do is trade Staal for Chris Neil and a bag of pucks and Crosby’s line will be set.

by PensFan024 on Feb 26, 2009 12:56 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Now what did the GM in Anaheim see in Whitney that nobody else saw in him to give up a consistent goal scorer like Kunitz, and what seems to be a very good prospect in Tangradi? I’m not complaining, glad to see Whitney go, but i’m shaking my head in a good way.

by paps35 on Feb 26, 2009 1:20 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Maybe this means they are making way to potentially move Niedameyer/Pronger. Hmm…

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by FrankD on Feb 26, 2009 1:22 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

If the Sens could afford $4M a year, I’d take that deal in a second. As a Sens fan…

As for the Whitney deal, good balance of selling and buying. And Tangradi should be a good addition, even if they might need to make a bit of a splash in the free-agent defence market this off-season.

by PeterR on Feb 26, 2009 1:21 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Well they do have some young guys that are NHL tested. The Pens were using Alex Goligoski a lot earlier this season and more prominently Kris Letang. I, along with many others, questioned why Goligoski was sent down last month. Perhaps this is the move that will open it back up for him.

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by FrankD on Feb 26, 2009 1:24 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I’m pleased with this move. As far as offense and salary cap, I think the Pens did good.

Let's go Pens!

by JDunman on Feb 26, 2009 1:25 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Agreed. I really don’t think they lost out on anything in this.

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by FrankD on Feb 26, 2009 1:28 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Would you have rather seen Whitney or Letang go out, though?

Let's go Pens!

by JDunman on Feb 26, 2009 1:31 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Letang’s much younger and the prized right-hand shot.

Of the two (Letang and Whitney) I’d keep Letang 9 times out of 10.

by Hooks Orpik on Feb 26, 2009 1:42 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Ditto. Letang has a lot of room to grow and is dramatically cheaper in terms of finances (1/8 the cost in fact). I’m with Hooks – Letang > Whitney

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by FrankD on Feb 26, 2009 1:58 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I most definitely agree.

Let's go Pens!

by JDunman on Feb 26, 2009 2:03 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Whitney by far. Letang knows how to check. In the words of my wife. I hope Whitney packed all his purses with him. One of my favorite sayings with Whitney. Hit him with your purse.

by paps35 on Feb 26, 2009 1:55 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

hahaha that’s awesome on so many levels – especially because your wife is a hockey fan.

(Enter obligatory ‘does she have a sister’ comment)

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by FrankD on Feb 26, 2009 2:03 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

paps, one of my favorite hockey jokes I’ve heard in a while goes like this…

Ryan Whitney has a secret weapon, just give him a second to get it out of his purse.

by Hooks Orpik on Feb 26, 2009 2:32 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Good Trade for Both Teams

It solves a short term problem for Pittsburgh at wing (but Kunitz is already 29) and a long term problem for Anaheim which lacks signed defensemen moving forward.

In the long run I’d give a slight edge to Anaheim because Whitney should rebound and be a top 4 defender and PP regular. Kunitz is older than you think and players who arrive late in the NHL tend to have shorter careers. If the prospect plays great then the advantage swings back to Penguins.

by The Falconer on Feb 26, 2009 1:58 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Yeah, I love need-for-need trades like this. Should be fun to see if this helps give the Pens the push they need.

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by Dominik on Feb 26, 2009 2:25 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Tangradi

One thing is obviously that he’s playing as an overager in the OHL and on one of the best teams in Canada so the stats might be skewed a bit.

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by PPP on Feb 26, 2009 2:02 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

This moment of Zen provided by PPP…

Just kiddin. Yeah, I totally see what you’re saying and I was considering that as well. On paper Angelo Esposito looked impressive too, but right now his name is met with a big, “Who?”

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by FrankD on Feb 26, 2009 2:04 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Well...

Not after the World Juniors ;)

But I don’t follow the OHL that much so I could be way off but you tend to wonder about overagers.

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by PPP on Feb 26, 2009 2:05 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Thanks for the heads up, that’s a good point.

While Tangradi’s numbers are impressive, it’ll be interesting to see how he plays against grown men in the professional ranks….Still, I’d rather see an overager dominate juniors than not make that much of an impression.

6’4, 220 winger prospects with some measure of hands don’t grow on trees, especially in this organ-eye-zation, so let us be a little excited alright!

Unless Tangradi blows everyone away in camp, he’s probably in the same boat next year that Luca Caputi is in this season.

by Hooks Orpik on Feb 26, 2009 2:35 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I’ve seen Belleville play a few times this season, but unfortunately I don’t have much recollection of Tangradi in particular. If we meet them in the playoffs I’ll be sure to keep my eyes open.

by Dayna on Feb 26, 2009 4:59 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Not an overager

Tangradi’s in his 19-year-old season. Yes he did turn 20 earlier this month, but for CHL eligibility, he’s considered a 19-year-old. He could still (theoretically) return to the OHL for a fourth season as a 20-year-old overager in 2009-10. That’s also why he was able to play for Team USA at the WJC.

If he was an overager, more than likely he’d already be in the AHL. Right now, he is only able to join the AHL after his junior season has come to an end and with Belleville being one of the top teams in the OHL and primed for an OHL playoff run, it is highly unlikely that he’ll be joining the Baby Pens anytime before the AHL playoffs come around.

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Hockey's Future

by kforbes on Feb 26, 2009 2:47 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I see the Pens taking Tangradi and moving him to the AHL before the Baby Pens hit the playoffs. At least they went for a guy who is tearing it up, not for a guy who a ton of “potential” and not doing anything.

by paps35 on Feb 26, 2009 2:06 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

That move would make sense. At least the AHL will test him a bit more.

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by FrankD on Feb 26, 2009 2:07 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

That is what they did with Cupoti last season and it seemed to help him, bringing him up from juniors just before the Calder Cup playoffs I mean.

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by Dr Tre on Feb 26, 2009 2:37 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Questions now are do the Pens give up the 1st rounder to get Antripov, when is Gogo coming back, and will Pesonen get a real shot at a top 6 role?

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by Dr Tre on Feb 26, 2009 2:38 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

I don’t see the Penguins trading their first rounder again…Gotta stock up the depth chart with prospects again. Plus there’s a huge difference between where the Pens were in the standings last season and this season…Not to mention the difference between a player like Hossa and a player like Antro.

Not sure about Goligoski either…Eaton has actually played pretty well and there’s no reason to bring Goose back up to the NHL if he wouldn’t be playing every night, that’s why they sent him back in the first place! Surely if there’s an injury though he’s gonna get the callup.

Pesonen I’m still not sold on as having the skill to make enough room for himself at the NHL level….But maybe it says he’s going to get the chance since it was Minard who got sent down and not Janne.

by Hooks Orpik on Feb 26, 2009 2:48 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

The Pens sacrificed a first rounder last year for Hossa. Frankly I’d be a bit peeved if they dished off another one this year. As stocked as we are (or appear to be) right now, I’d rather see them actually draft someone in the first round this year.

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by FrankD on Feb 26, 2009 3:07 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Draft what, though? If you look at the kids likely to be drafted in the first round, there are about 20 centers, 8 defenseman, and 2 wingers, one of whom is Tavares, and we’re not getting him. Giving up a pick we’ll likely just waste anyway doesn’t seem too bad to me.

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by JustinM on Feb 26, 2009 4:01 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Justin the only waste would be trading a first round pick for four months, at most, for a guy like Antropov—who’s not going to put the Pens over the top.

Even if the Pens draft a center, he could be converted to wing (like Esposito was going to do) or be traded later once he pans out a little more.

by Hooks Orpik on Feb 26, 2009 4:03 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Oh, well, yes. I didn’t mean to imply I wanted to see a pick traded for a rent-a-player like they did last year. Of course, half the big trade package they could have had in Whitney + Staal is gone now, so I’m probably just barking up the wrong tree regardless.

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by JustinM on Feb 26, 2009 4:07 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Oh ok, I gotcha.

Staal + Whitney would have been $8 million in salary though, that’s a lot for another team to absorb….I guess I always pictured that if both would get traded, it would be separately.

by Hooks Orpik on Feb 26, 2009 4:14 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Not to mention some teams may be on the defensive right now in terms of taking on that salary because it’s kinda public knowledge at this point that the cap is going to shrink a bit.

I’d still like to see Staal move before the deadline though…

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by FrankD on Feb 26, 2009 5:55 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

So will Letang actually play now?

I thought he was in the doghouse

Okay, just so I understand it... in your wildest fantasy, you are in hell. And you are co-running a bed and breakfast with the devil.

by bren on Feb 26, 2009 2:47 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Well, this gives me a bonus for my first Pens game I’ll get to see in person Friday.

I liked Whitney, but this clears the was for Golo and adds a much needed offensive piece to the puzzle.

Hope he and Sid are on for Friday, I know I am :)

by Lavender on Feb 26, 2009 3:46 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

nice!

I didn’t think of Kunitz when I was pondering trade destinations for Whitney, but I’m pleased. Kunitz should fit in well and I think he’s what we’ve been missing this year: similar player to Ryan Malone, but more talent. A hard worker and strong skater who does lots of things well.

Happy trails, Ryan Whitney. If you thought Therrien was tough to play under, playing for Randy Carlyle is going to be an unpleasant shock.

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by holiday park on Feb 26, 2009 4:17 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Yeah, I think the Pens just added leadership and toughness immediately and in the future with this trade. Seems like a winner.

by PensFan024 on Feb 26, 2009 4:25 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

The connection is still there. Carlyle played for the Pens back in his day. If anything, his history of a defenseman runs a chance of resurrecting Whitney’s game.

Maybe…

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by FrankD on Feb 26, 2009 5:56 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs