
The Pittsburgh Penguins appear to go be in "go for it" mode. Makes sense. Between the 12-game win streak and the fact that Sidney Crosby is finally healthy and once again the best player in the world, they have a lot to be optimistic about. That in mind, GM Ray Shero has decided it's time to load up for a lengthy playoff run.
Or beef up, at the very least. On Sunday, he acquired Brenden Morrow from the Dallas Stars. On Monday, the Penguins announced that they had acquired former Elin Nordegren love interest Douglas Murray from the San Jose Sharks in exchange for a 2nd round pick in 2013 and a conditional 2nd in 2014.
[Also: Penguins paid dearly for run-down version of Brenden Morrow – and it's the right move]
Good on Shero to get his guys early, even if it means he's singlehandedly ruining trade deadline day.
Like Morrow, Murray's best days are clearly behind him, but while his footspeed appears to be on the decline, he remains a steady 6'3", 240 lbs. With mass like that, it's not surprising that Murray leads the Sharks' blueline in running into guys and the entire club in getting hit by pucks.
He won't be a shutdown defenceman, and the Penguins would do well to pair him with someone who can motor, but he'll add size and toughness to the Penguins' backend. As a bottom-pairing defender, you could do worse.
I'm more interested in what this move means for the Sharks, however, who did well to get two 2nd rounders for a guy they didn't appear all that interested in retaining. But was this a move made in isolation, or does it signal a shift in San Jose?
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