The Penguins have moved Filip Hållander to Edmonton in a one-for-one deal that brings back defenseman Spencer Stastney, giving Kyle Dubas another swap with one of his preferred trade partners.
Hållander, 26, heads to the Oilers after spending five seasons developing in the Swedish Hockey League before returning to North America last summer. The former second-round pick is listed at 6-foot-2 and 207 pounds, and he’s been viewed as part of the Penguins’ next wave.
Stastney is also 26 and comes back the other way as a left-shot defenseman. He’s listed at 5-foot-11 and 196 pounds and posted a career-high 13 hits in 66 games last season.
He has not been a major shot-blocker or offensive producer, though he has shown stretches where he has driven play. He was unable to push past Shakir Mukhamadullin in Edmonton, and his profile drew a comparison to current Baby Pen Jake Livanavage.
The move comes with Bryan Rust coming off injured reserve, and it follows a summer that included the addition of Andrei Kuzmenko. The trade sends Hållander out after what was described as a limited opportunity in Pittsburgh, and the expectation is that he may get a better chance to establish himself with the Oilers.
From the Penguins’ side, the deal has drawn a harsh reaction because Hållander is seen as one of the best players in the organization’s next group. He was projected as a solid all-around player who skates well, thinks the game well, handles his defensive responsibilities, and can win puck battles. Offensively, he was viewed as a possible 10- to 15-goal player rather than a pure scorer, with the overall package considered the bigger draw.
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