Kyle Dubas Makes Shocking Move, Acquires Leafs Trade Target Luke Schenn
The Pittsburgh Penguins made a drastic move on Wednesday and acquired a top Maple Leafs trade target in Luke Schenn in a bizarre deal.
The Toronto Maple Leafs were looking to add Luke Schenn to their defense potentially at the deadline, however it looks like they will have to look elsewhere.
It was announced that Pittsburgh had acquired the veteran shutdown defender along with Tommy Novak from the Nashville Predators for forward Michael Bunting.
It's a weird deal given the two teams' placement in the NHL this season. Pittsburgh is more than likely going to be a few years away from contending, and adding Schenn isn't going to move the needle in any way, but it gives Dubas a reliable defender at a time when Pittsburgh has minimal.
Schenn has one goal and five assists in 61 games for the Predators, and has one year left on his deal and makes $2.75M.
Novak is a no-nonsense type of player who can add some secondary scoring, face-off help and plays both special teams units.
He has 13 goals and nine assists in 52 games for the Predators.
Bunting heads the other way and joins a star-studded lineup in Nashville that hasn't lived up to the expectations at the beginning of the year, and are one of the worst teams in the league.
Currently injured, the veteran has 14 goals and 15 assists in 58 games for the Penguins this season.
There's no news as to what or if there are any other pieces being exchanged but it looks like this was not made as a spur of the moment, but has the future in mind as well.
The move might be seen as a bit of a slight to Dubas' old team the Toronto Maple Leafs. Schenn has been linked to the team for weeks, and had a high probability to be acquired by the team by Friday.
He still could as Dubas might flip him again if he doesn't see anything happening with Schenn past this season, so there's always potential.
But for now, it seems like the team has struck out again. Brad Treliving is under immense pressure to get a deal done and if he doesn't do something worthwhile, the fanbase is not going to let him off the hook.
It's also interesting to note than two-thirds of the trade are former Maple Leafs; as the connection to Dubas still feels as strong as ever.
