PENS, 'HAWKS SWAP VETERAN DEFENSEMEN
The Pittsburgh Penguins acquired defenseman Trevor Daley from the Chicago Blackhawks for defenseman Rob Scuderi.
What does it give the Pittsburgh Penguins
In Daley, the Penguins acquire more of an offensive threat from the blueline (which was something GM Jim Rutherford was looking for). Daley should play more minutes than Scuderi and even see time on the power play (with Kris Letang currently injured).
What does it give the Chicago Blackhawks
The Blackhawks save money on the salary cap with this transaction (Pittsburgh is retaining some of Scuderi's cap hit), which was a big motivator here. Daley wasn't a good fit in Chicago and was seeing third-pairing minutes. That role should now belong to Scuderi, who is more of a defender than puck mover.
Fantasy impact
This deal helps Daley's fantasy value significantly, as he is expected to see significantly more ice time in Pittsburgh. Scuderi's fantasy value will remain low for the rest of his NHL career, while David Rundblad may actually see more minutes with the Blackhawks now that Daley is gone.
