Eric Tangradi traded, Kris Letang and Matt Niskanen activated

The Penguins made three personnel moves prior to their Wednesday home faceoff with the Ottawa Senators, all of which immediately effect their NHL roster.

Firstly, GM Ray Shero announced that forward Eric Tangradi was traded to the Winnipeg Jets for a seventh-round pick in the 2013 NHL Draft. Tangradi, a 6-foot-4 winger who just turned 24, played five games for the Penguins this season and 45 total over a four-year span.

January 16, 2013; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Pittsburgh Penguins left wing Eric Tangradi (25) warms up before the Penguins intrasquad scrimmage at the CONSOL Energy Center. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports

Tangradi recorded only five points in those 45 games and has always seemed a step behind most players at the NHL level. He had been in the press box for the past several games with waiver-wire pickup Zach Boychuk taking his place in the lineup recently.

Acquired in the March 2009 trade that sent defenseman Ryan Whitney to Anaheim in exchange for forward Chris Kunitz, Tangradi was selected by the Ducks in the second round (42nd overall) of the 2007 draft.

Also before the game against the Senators, the Penguins activated defensemen Kris Letang and Matt Niskanen, both of whom were on injured reserve with lower-body injuries. Niskanen injured his ankle in late January while Letang sustained his undisclosed ailment 10 days ago in Washington.

Both Niskanen and Letang dressed Wednesday night, bumping rookie blueliner Robert Bortuzzo out of the lineup.