Penguins Acquire Carl Hagelin from the Anaheim Ducks

While everyone was sleeping, Jim Rutherford was wheeling and dealing. Struggling Penguins forward David Perron, who was acquired last season for Rob Klinkhammer and a 1st-round pick is no longer in Pittsburgh. Carl Hagelin is a Penguin.

The #Pens have acquired Carl Hagelin in exchange for Adam Clendening and David Perron. https://t.co/BUrEk0btqF pic.twitter.com/kshiqhyG7t

— Pittsburgh Penguins (@penguins) January 16, 2016

Hagelin himself having a down year, with only 4 goals, but the upside here is clear.

David Perron is going to be an unrestricted free agent and the writing was on the wall that his time in Pittsburgh hadn't worked out. Adam Clendening, who was a throw-in piece in the Nick Bonino and Brandon Sutter trade, is going to be a restricted free agent who was going to need a new contract.

Carl Hagelin is under contract for this season, as well as next three, with a cap hit of $4.0M per year. He will have a limited no-trade clause in the next three years as well, which is believed to be a list of eight teams he will not accept a trade to.

Hagelin (PIT) wasn't eligible for a NTC this year, has modified NTC (8 teams cannot be traded to) for next 3 years. https://t.co/4yCptAhD80

— General Fanager (@generalfanager) January 16, 2016

The core of the trade is one struggling player for another, but it comes down to asset management.

The Penguins were dealing from a position of weakness, and dealt one of their players struggling the most who was going to be leaving anyway, as well as a player who wasn't going to get a chance here and needed a new contract for a cost-controlled player who can produce and add to the team speed.

One of the biggest keys to this trade being good for Pittsburgh is that they made the deal without giving up any futures or draft picks.

I know we don't need to rule trade winners and losers immediately, but I see tons of upside in this deal for the Penguins.