The Pittsburgh Penguins have acquired forward Jason Zucker from the Minnesota Wild in exchange for Alex Galchenyuk, prospect Calen Addison and a conditional 2020 first-round draft pick.
Should the Penguins not make the playoffs this season, there’s an option for the draft pick to be moved from this year’s draft to 2021.
Zucker, 28, has 14 goals and 15 assists in 45 games this season. He’s scored 20 or more goals in four seasons including last year when he had 21.
He also has three more years remaining on his contract with a salary cap hit of $5.5 million, according to CapFriendly.com.
“Jason Zucker is a top-six forward that we think will be a great fit for our group,” Penguins general manager Jim Rutherford said in a statement. “He’s a proven goal scorer, and with three more years on his current contract, he has the potential to make an impact for us moving forward.”
Pittsburgh is currently second in the Metropolitan Division with a 34-15-5 record and four points behind the division-leading Washington Capitals.
The Penguins part ways with Galchenyuk, 25, after a shaky inaugural season with the team.
After being acquired from the Arizona Coyotes last summer, Galchenyuk failed to make an impact in Pittsburgh with five goals and 12 assists in 45 games. He hasn’t scored since mid-January and a stop in Minnesota will be the fourth NHL destination.
Addison, 19, is a top defensive prospect who was drafted in the second round of the 2018 NHL Draft by the Penguins. He currently plays for the WHL’s Lethbridge Hurricanes where he has 10 goals and 33 assists in 39 games. Addison also helped Canada win gold at the recent world junior championship.
The Wild are 26-23-6 and four points out of the second wild-card spot in a tight Western Conference.
