EKMAN TRADED TO PENS
The Pittsburgh Penguins acquired left wing Nils Ekman and goaltender Patrick Ehelechner from the San Jose Sharks for a second-round draft pick in 2007.
What does it give the Pittsburgh Penguins
In Ekman, the Penguins get badly needed help on the wing. The Swedish vet performed admirably alongside Joe Thornton and Jonathan Cheechoo last season, and may be asked to carry out similar duties on the Sidney Crosby-Colby Armstrong unit in Pittsburgh. Ehelechner instantly becomes the Pens' top goaltending prospect, and may be brought along more quickly with his new organization.
What does it give the San Jose Sharks
The Sharks decided to clear out a little cap space and relieve some of the logjam they had between the pipes. Ekman's duties on the top line should now fall to Mark Bell, while Ehelechner was behind Evgeni Nabokov, Vesa Toskala, Nolan Schaefer, Dimitri Patzold and Thomas Greiss on the depth chart. Adding a second-round pick merely for roster maintenance is a great coup for GM Doug Wilson.
Fantasy impact
Player focus
San Jose Sharks
a second-round draft pick in 2007