Pittsburgh Penguins acquire Brenden Morrow from Stars
By Matt Shetler
Pittsburgh Penguins general manager Ray Shero’s yearly search for a top six winger appears to be over a little over a week before the NHL trade deadline arrives.
According to multiple sources, including TSN’s Darren Dreger, Shero has pulled the trigger on a deal that brings left winger Brenden Morrow to Pittsburgh.
Dregar also reported that the deal is thought to include young defenseman and former first-round pick Joe Morrow, which wouldn’t be the first time the Stars and Penguins were involved in a deal for a young Pens defenseman. Two years ago Shero shipped Alex Goligoski to Dallas in exchange for James Neal and Matt Niskanen.
"@Real_ESPNLeBrun: Pitt gets B. Morrow and a 3rd-round pick 2013 in exchange Dallas gets prospects Joe Morrow and a 5th-round pick 2013"
— Darren Dreger (@DarrenDreger) March 24, 2013
Feb 28, 2013; Dallas, TX, USA; Dallas Stars left wing Brenden Morrow (10) looks for the puck in the Edmonton Oilers zone during the game at the American Airlines Center. The Oilers defeated the Stars 5-1. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports
For the deal to go down, Morrow had to waive his no-trade clause and agree to join the Penguins, which it is being reported that he did as the Boston Bruins also had interest and possible deal in place.
Morrow, 34, will be an unrestricted free agency in July and prior to today’s deal has played his entire NHL career with the Stars since breaking into the league in 1999-2000.
He had a stretch where he was one of the NHL’s premier power forwards, putting up a career-high 33 goals just two years ago in 2010-11. However over the past two years he’s been slowed down by injuries.
Currently Morrow has only six goals and five assists in 23 games this season. He’s not the same player he was before but Shero has added a character player to the locker room who brings experience, skill and toughness to the Penguins’ lineup.
As far as his numbers, playing alongside Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin should see a rise in production for the veteran, who will definitely be an asset come playoff time.