The Pittsburgh Penguins have acquired left-winger David Perron from the Edmonton Oilers for forward Rob Klinkhammer and their first-round draft pick in the 2015 NHL entry draft.
“It’s always hard leaving a place when you’re emotionally involved, no matter how tough the situation was [in Edmonton],” said Perron. “Once you look past that, there’s not many better opportunities to go to, and I’m really, really excited about that.”
It will be a move from the proverbial outhouse to the penthouse for Perron, who will depart a struggling Oilers team (8-22-8). The Oilers will use the Penguins first-round pick as part of yet another rebuilding effort. Edmonton hasn’t made the playoffs since 2006.
“Now it’s a new chapter for me, and hopefully go deep in the playoffs,” said Perron.
“After a few years [in the NHL], you just want to win, and obviously, it’s not going to happen this year in Edmonton. It’s nice to get that kind of opportunity in Pittsburgh”
In Pittsburgh, Perron not only has an opportunity to play on a winning squad (the Penguins lead the Metropolitan Division with a 23-9-5 record), he will be slotted alongside one of the league’s best centers in Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin.
“It’s going to be great,” said Perron. “I’m just looking to go and fit in and however I can.”
Perron is expected to make his Penguins debut on Saturday against the Montreal Canadiens.
Perron, 26, has been with Edmonton since the beginning of the 2013-14 season. In 116 games with the Oilers, he has 33 goals, 43 assists, and 110 penalty minutes. In 2013-14, he was first amongst Oilers with 28 goals.
He is signed through the end of the 2015-16 season on a contract with a cap hit of $3.813 million per season.
The Saint Louis Blues had traded Perron to the Oilers in July of 2013. He was originally the Blues first-round draft choice in the 2007 NHL entry draft. In 456 career games, he has 117 goals and 157 assists. While he was with the Blues, he was coached by current Penguins assistant Gary Agnew.
Klinkhammer had just been acquired by the Penguins from the Arizona Coyotes for defenseman Philip Samuelsson in early December. He had one goal and two assists in ten games with the Penguins.
Penguins general manager Jim Rutherford will speak to the media about the trade at 6:00 p.m.
Photo credit: Edmonton Oilers
Update 2:19 p.m. with quotes from Perron, courtesy Edmonton Oilers
