Penguins general manager Ron Hextall traded forward Jared McCann to Toronto today for 21-year-old forward Filip Hallander and a 2023 seventh-round pick.
Had he gone unprotected in the expansion draft, McCann no doubt would have made a tempting target for the Seattle Kraken due to his shot, speed, age, defensive acumen and versatility.
The trade also opens up some cap space for the locals. McCann earned $2.94 million. Hallander will earn $764 K at the big-league level.
A former first-round pick, McCann, 25, is coming off an excellent season for the black-and-gold. Skating at both center and left wing, he tallied 14 goals and 32 points in 43 games to go with a plus-17, tops among the team’s forwards. He paced the Pens with seven power-play goals.
The Stratford, Ontario, native was particularly effective skating next to late-season acquisition Jeff Carter. Ironically, it was Carter’s presence that may have encouraged Hextall to move McCann. That, and Jared’s paucity of postseason production (three assists in 12 career playoff games).
A second-round pick of the Pens in 2018 who was shipped to Toronto in the Kasperi Kapanen deal last fall, Hallander is reputed to play a power game and has some promise. This past season the 6’1” 190-pounder tied for third in goal scoring with Lulea of the Swedish Hockey League with 13, one behind the club leaders.
“We are excited to add Filip back to the organization,” said Hextall when announcing the deal. “He is a well-rounded player with good size who plays the game the right way. We are grateful to Jared for his contributions to the team and wish him the best.”
Hey Rick,
Thanks for the update Rick.
I did see that and was thinking about it but I don’t know what I think yet.
I did want to see McCann traded to prevent losing him without getting anything in return. However, I am not sure we did get anything in return.
Don’t get me wrong, I did really like when JR drafted Filip Hållander. I was hopeful that he would turn out. The early scouting reports looked promising to me but he hasn’t lived up to anything yet. In fact he has been injured a lot.
And there is the other thing, Sully has shown a reticence to use younger, bigger players like Hållander, Angello, Zohorna, Bjorkqvist, Légaré, and Poulin.
Chances are the 7th round pick in 2023 will lead to nothing and if Hållander doesn’t make it, then the Brassard trade does turn into a complete zero.
I was really hoping Zucker would be traded as well as Pettersson.