Penguins Trade #2: Kahun for Sheary and Rodrigues

Pittsburgh Penguins GM Jim Rutherford didn’t rest on his laurels after acquiring Patrick Marleau for a third-round pick early Monday morning. About 30 minutes ahead of the NHL trade deadline on Monday afternoon, the Penguins acquired familiar face Conor Sheary and Buffalo winger Evan Rodrigues in exchange for Dominik Kahun.

The Penguins trade winds on Kahun picked up Sunday night, including PHN’s published primer, which listed Kahun as a Penguins trade chip.

Sheary, 27, was a member of the Penguins 2016 and 2017 Stanley Cup teams. In 2016, Sheary scored 53 points in 61 games, mostly playing on Sidney Crosby’s right-wing. This season, Sheary has 19 points, including 10 goals in 55 games.

Sheary is in the final year of a three-year, $9 million contract he signed with the Penguins before Rutherford dealt him and defenseman Matt Hunwick to Buffalo in a salary-cap move in June 2018.

Rodrigues, 26, requested a trade from Buffalo in December, according to TSN reporter Darren Dreger. This season, Rodrigues has played 38 games and missed time with a lower-body injury. The right-handed forward can play either wing and center, though his size is an issue at the NHL level. Rodrigues is 5-foot-10, 176 pounds.

In 192 career games, Rodrigues has 71 points, including 26 goals. In a loose tie to head coach Mike Sullivan, Rodrigues spent four years at Boston University. He signed with Buffalo as a college free agent in 2015.

This season, Rodrigues has nine points (5g, 4a) in 38 games.

Sheary will figure to get a look in the Penguins top-six, and the Penguins added bodies on Monday, but not a bonafide top-six winger.

In his three-year Penguins tenure, Sheary scored 93 points, including 48 goals. He was part of the “AHL” crew with Bryan Rust, who bolstered the 2016 Penguins lineup with speed and tenacity.

Kahun played in 50 games for the Penguins and scored 27 points. Kahun has 10 goals, but recently returned from a concussion and missed the last couple of games after blocking a shot against Toronto. The Penguins acquired Kahun from Chicago for Olli Maatta last summer.