Penguins Deal Friedman, Glover to Vancouver

In a minor swap today, the Penguins traded defenseman Mark Friedman and forward Ty Glover to Vancouver in exchange for forward Karel Plasek and defenseman Jack Rathbone.

When I learned of the deal from Other Rick, I (sarcastically) commented that we probably got smaller and less physical. A quick glance at the newcomers’ particulars confirmed my suspicions.

Plasek, 23, is a 5’11” 154-pound (that’s right, a buck fifty-four) right wing and a former sixth-round pick of Vancouver. Aside from an eight-game cameo with the Abbotsford Canucks of the AHL back in 2020-21 (no points), he’s spent his entire career in his native Czechia, where he’s produced at a middling rate.

A former fourth-round pick of the Canucks, Rathbone is a small (5’10” 177), mobile, puck-moving defenseman of some ability. During the ’21-22 campaign the portsider tallied 10 goals and 40 points in only 39 games for Abbotsford…quite impressive. Production that, thus far, hasn’t translated to the NHL (two goals and five points in 28 games spread over three seasons with the Canucks).

I question why we needed to add another undersized, offensively inclined left-shot rearguard when we’re already well-stocked with players of that ilk (Will Butcher, Ty Smith). But when it comes to our Pens, I learned a long time ago not to ask why.

It does appear to fit Kyle Dubas’ modus operandi of throwing a whole bunch of darts at the dartboard in hopes that a few will stick.

As for the departed, Glover is a big (6’3” 200) albeit raw 23-year-old left wing with wheels. As a rookie pro last season he netted seven goals in 49 games for the Baby Pens, output that failed to earn him an invite to training camp this fall.

Personally, I hate parting with Friedman, the feisty 27-year-old right-shot defenseman who always seemed to do the job when called upon. He was hard to play against, a rarity in these parts, displayed good wheels and decent offensive instincts and could man the left or right side with equal ability, no easy feat.

During the ’21 playoffs he filled in ably for an injured Brian Dumoulin while topping our defensemen with a plus-3. That said, the Toronto native never seemed to gain any real traction with Mike Sullivan, who appears to have trust issues with anyone who displays even a modestly overt edge.

Too, moving Friedman leaves us vulnerable on the right side in the event of an injury. The more mild-mannered Ryan Shea, apparently preferred by Sullivan, did not look good playing his off side during the preseason. Smith might be able to do the job in a pinch, but likely not as well as Friedman.

Still, I’m happy for Mark. Hope he gets the opportunity to shine under Canucks coach and former Pens assistant Rick Tocchet that he never got here.

A final note. Is it me, or does Dubas seem determined to erase any vestige of the Ron Hextall era? Both Friedman and Glover were added to the fold by FGMRH.

Hájek to Baby Pens

Defenseman Libor Hájek, who attended the Pens’ training camp this fall on a PTO, signed a contract with the Baby Pens today. Details were not released.

The 6’2” 209-pounder has played parts of the past five seasons with the Rangers, including a career-high 44 games in ’20-21. In 110 NHL games overall, the 25-year-old Czechia native’s tallied a modest four goals and 12 points.