Kings, Penguins look to make something happen with Pearson-Hagelin swap
Two desperate teams have made what will in all likelihood wind up a largely inconsequential deal, with the Los Angeles Kings sending Tanner Pearson to the Pittsburgh Penguins for Carl Hagelin.
Pearson and Hagelin are similar in that each earn beyond what they brought to their previous organizations, but they do each bring something different to the table.
The laughably slow Kings now have a legitimate burner in Hagelin, who can kill penalties and create scoring chances with his legs but typically fails to convert on those opportunities due to his obvious lack of puck skills. Pearson, meanwhile, earned his first-round distinction for being a volume scorer in junior in the absence of obvious top-end attributes, but has struggled to produce at a top-six standard with a career-best 44 points two seasons ago.
The two have had absolutely brutal starts to their seasons. Hagelin had three points in 16 games, while Pearson was limited to just a single assist in his 17 starts. Woof.
If there is a team rolling the dice here, it is the Penguins. Pearson is slightly cheaper (though the Penguins have reportedly taken on some salary to even the exchange), but has three seasons remaining on his current deal at $3.75 million a pop. Hagelin is significantly overpaid at $4 million, but will have that deal expire without hurting the Kings in any fashion in what’s obviously a lost season.
Hagelin had a major impact when he was acquired by Penguins general manager Jim Rutherford in a trade that came about under similar circumstances three years ago. He completed the often-dominant “HBK” line with Nick Bonino and Phil Kessel — a group that helped change the dynamic when the Penguins struggled early ahead of their 2016 Stanley Cup championship run.
Pearson is a Cup winner himself, scoring four goals and 12 points in the Kings’ 2014 triumph over the New York Rangers, who happened to have Hagelin at the time.
Hagelin has a chance to revitalize his career with a Penguins team that remains loaded with talent.
More NHL coverage on Yahoo Sports:
