Busy day for Penguins results in Whitney wearing Ducks uniform

That's right! Defenseman Ryan Whitney was shipped to Anaheim this afternoon in exchange for Powerforward Chris Kunitz and prospect Eric Tangradi. The move was prompted by Shero by the recent funk the team has been in and it's obvious lack of production from the Wingers.

I LOVE this trade. Absolutely. Chris Kunitz is what the Penguins have been missing. I even said last night that we need a "Matt Cooke with better offensive skills" and BAM! Chris Kunitz. Kunitz is a gritty character who plays the puck and cycles well. He's not afraid of contact either, racking up 148 hits so far this season. His numbers are down from previous season only scoring 16 goals and assisting on 19 others for 35 points, compared to his two seasons before where he scored 21g-29a-50 points in 2007-08 and 25g-35a-60 points during the Ducks' run for the Cup in 2006-07. However, Kunitz has been lacking the support that Malkin, Crosby, and Staal will undoubtably provide him. I think Kunitz will excel as a Penguin and I'm excited to see his debut!

Whitney, on the other hand, has been absent most of this season allowing younger players such as Letang and Goligoski show their talent, which is abundant. Since coming back Whitney has been a little behind and not handling the puck as well as before, especially on the PowerPlay where he had no success on the cross-ice passes that Crosby would feed him from below the slot that worked so many times last season. His passes have been errant and costly, notably in the 5-2 spanking they recieved in Washington. A change of scenary will help Whitney I believe, and he should fit in well in that system, but he will have to adapt to a more defensive style.

Great move again by Shero!

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In other news the Penguins have recalled forward Tim Wallace and have re-assigned Janne Pesonen to Wilkes-Barre Scranton and have placed Chris Minard on waivers. If Minard clears waivers he will be re-assigned to Wilkes-Barre.

Not so sure Minard will clear waivers, but I hope he does. He had a great thing going on in WB Scranton with Bylsma as coach and I think he could get his game going under his regime with the Penguins. Oh well, let's hope Wallace will provide the spark he has before with his fast play and finishing hits.

Also, Sidney Crosby did not practice today, sitting out with a sore groin. He is day-to-day.