With the April 3rd trade deadline just 10 days away, the Pittsburgh Penguins have made the first major move, but it wasn’t the one I expected. While I thought they would go hard after Jarome Iginla, they have opted for Dallas Stars captain Brenden Morrow. They have acquired Morrow from the Stars for 2011 first rounder Joe Morrow, a defenseman playing with the Penguins’ AHL affiliate in Wilkes Barre/Scranton.
Brendan Morrow waives his NTC to go to Pitt #TSN
— Aaron Ward (@NHL_AaronWard) March 24, 2013
TSN’s Daren Dreger broke the news, and then it was also discovered that Boston had a trade offer on the table as well. The twitter world sat by eagerly while Morrow considered which of the two Eastern Conference powerhouses (with all due respect to the Habs) he wanted to join for the stretch run.
Mar 18, 2013; Dallas, TX, USA; Dallas Stars left wing
Brenden Morrow(10) reacts after having his shot stopped by Calgary Flames goalie
Joey MacDonald(not pictured) during the second period at the American Airlines Center. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports
Morrow took some time after the trade was in place to waive his no-trade clause, but as difficult as it was to leave the team that drafted him and he has been a part of since 1997, he joins a legitimate Stanley Cup contender if not the odds on favorite to win the second Stanley Cup in the Sidney Crosby era.
The move by the Pens is a little surprising since he has been injury prone over the last couple of seasons and the fact he is a left winger when the Pens are really in need of a player on the right side. Although Morrow is veteran enough to handle a switch, especially if it means playing alongside Crosby or Evgeni Malkin. But he is a winner, an Olympic gold medalist and will be a great benefit to the Penguins in whatever role they assign him.
That is the first shot in the NHL arms race especially in the Eastern Conference. Boston, its your turn.