Leave it up to Penguins General Manager Ray Shero to get the trade talks heating up as the deadline approaches. Many thought that Shero would make a run at Jerome Iginla of the Calgary Flames, but in a deal that no one saw coming, Shero was able to make a deal with the Dallas Stars for Brenden Morrow. Along with Morrow, the Stars will send a 3rd round pick in the 2013 draft to the Penguins for No. 1 prospect Joe Morrow and a 5th round pick.
The 34-year-old Morrow had to waive his no-trade clause with the Stars and was reportedly between choosing the Bruins or the Penguins. This is the second trade in three years between the Stars and the Penguins. Two years ago, the Pens dealt their top young defensive player in Alex Goligoski to the Stars for James Neal and Matt Niskanen.
How did that one work out? Well, let’s just say that Martin Brodeur has more goals this season than Goligoski does while Neal and Niskanen have taken off in Pittsburgh.
There will be some that don’t like the deal, but the fact is that the Penguins have a plethora of defensemen throughout the system. While Morrow is their top one with a wicked slap shot, it’s an example of going for it now. With the top record in the Eastern Conference and riding their current winning streak, why not go for now and give up a little bit of the future?
Morrow has been a gritty player for the Stars and has six goals and five assists on the season. Similar to the big presence that Chris Kunitz plays with Pascal Dupuis and Sidney Crosby on the top line, one would imagine Morrow playing a similar role on the line with James Neal and Evgeni Malkin. With the acquisition, Beau Bennett will move to the third line which could lead to Tyler Kennedy moving to the fourth line.
In year’s past, Shero has acquired veteran’s Bill Guerin and Gary Roberts to help provide veteran leadership in the locker room. Morrow, who played his whole career in Dallas, will bring much of the same. Morrow has topped 30 goals in his career twice with the most recent one coming in 2010-2011.
Whether you agree in the trade or not, Shero’s track record speaks for itself. Similar to his deals in the past, “In Shero We Trust.”
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