Trade: Penguins Add Ducks Defenseman

The Pittsburgh Penguins have made another trade as general manager Ron Hextall adds for a playoff push. Hextall has circled back to the Anaheim Ducks and acquired veteran defenseman Dmitry Kulikov in exchange for recently waived Brock McGinn along with a third-round pick.

#Pens are sending Brock McGinn and a 3rd Rd Pick to #NHLDucks for D Dmitry Kulikov.@DailyFaceoff

— Frank Seravalli (@frank_seravalli) March 3, 2023

I know Kulikov's card is ugly, but Anaheim is so bad. I don't think he's forgotten how to play defense. I think he's probably more in line with the data from last year, slightly worse, if he's on a competent team. He is still very sound defensively on tape. Sound, not great. pic.twitter.com/x1yUfo6WQO

— Jesse Marshall (@jmarshfof) March 3, 2023

Kulikov joins a crowded Penguins defense core and brings a little bit of everything in his game. He's appeared in 61 games this season for the Ducks, recording 15 points. His contract is up at the end of this season, being owed $2.25 million.

As for McGinn, he'll look to get his game on track in Anaheim. He hasn't done much offensively this season, chipping in with 16 points in 60 games. The 29-year-old winger is signed through the 2024-25 season at $2.7 million. Hextall will be very happy to get out of this contract as Pittsburgh is set up to have some serious cap flexibility this upcoming summer. For now, the focus is on a Stanley Cup and the Penguins hope Kulikov can help their chances.

Photo credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports