Revisiting the Patric Hornqvist-James Neal trade three years later

When Jim Rutherford took over the Pittsburgh Penguins in the summer of 2014 he was inheriting a team that was coming off of one of its more disappointing postseason exits, having blown a 3-1 series lead to the New York Rangers in the second-round of the Eastern Conference playoffs. To begin re-tooling his roster Rutherford’s first major trade was to ship James Neal to the Nashville Predators in exchange for Patric Hornqvist and Nick Spaling. With the Penguins and Predators meeting in the Stanley Cup Final beginning on Monday, and with Hornqvist and Neal still playing prominent roles on their respective teams, we should take a quick look back at that trade to see how it has all shaped out.

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  No-name Penguins defense faces unheralded Predators centers

  Associated Press
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  Predators vs. Penguins Preview: 7 Questions With Pensburgh

  On the Forecheck

End to End: Is it really a 2-player race atop the NHL draft?

As he met with general manager Grant Armstrong, Nolan Patrick had just finished an injury-marred junior season. The 18-year-old missed the WHL playoffs and was limited to 33 games because of two separate injuries. He underwent a sports hernia surgery the offseason prior, a major impediment to his summer training. He never quite "caught up to the year," as Armstrong put it. "I don't think he really ever got himself into a situation where he was 100 percent," the Brandon Wheat Kings GM said in a phone interview last week with CSNPhilly.com. But none of that was about to crack Patrick's confidence. "When we had our exit meetings, he told me he was going to play in the NHL," Armstrong said. "I wished

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  End to End: Who will Flyers protect, lose in expansion draft?

  CSN Philly
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  Top NHL draft prospects Nolan Patrick, Nico Hischier get CHL awards

  CSN Philly

Kevin Shattenkirk wants to play a big role wherever he goes

5/15/17 |While talking about a possible return to the Washington Capitals, pending UFA Kevin Shattenkirk said that if he did return he would want a bigger role. (TSN) Shattenkirk was acquired by the Capitals at the trade deadline and in 19 regular season games played 20:12 and had 14 points, 18 hits, 26 blocked shots, 18 takeaways and 11 giveaways. In the playoffs, Shattenkirk had 1 goal, 5 assists, a minus r rating, 20 hits, 22 blocked shots, 5 takeaways and 12 giveaways in 18:27 per game. In Shattenkirk's career, he averages 21:06 per game in the regular season and 20:57 in the playoffs. Shattenkirk said that he will see what the Capitals can offer as well as see what role they have in mind