Done Deal: Blackhawks and Penguins Complete 1-for-1 Trade

The Pittsburgh Penguins and Chicago Blackhawks have completed a deal that sends forward Sam Lafferty to the Blackhawks and forward Alex Nylander to the Penguins.

TRADE ALERT 🚨: The Penguins have acquired forward Alex Nylander from the Chicago Blackhawks in exchange for forward Sam Lafferty.

Nylander, 23, is signed through the 2021.22 season and is valued at $874,125.

Details: https://t.co/CZuUyDxRxD pic.twitter.com/PW7zsYnObZ
— Pittsburgh Penguins (@penguins) January 5, 2022

This trade is our first deal of 2022 and sees two teams trying to find the right situation for each player. Lafferty has appeared in 10 games so far this season in Pittsburgh and spent most of his time on their fourth-line in a grinder type of role. With the incoming return of Evgeni Malkin from surgery and Jeff Carter from the COVID protocol list, it was likely Lafferty was going to be waived. The Penguins capitalized nicely and end up acquiring a one-time top prospect.

Nylander has battled injury troubles and lack of NHL ice-time early on in his career as the 23-year-old was a former eighth overall pick of the Buffalo Sabres. He didn't play last season thanks to major knee surgery and so far this season has spent it with the Rockford IceHogs of the American Hockey League, posting 12 points in 23 games.

The Penguins have a need for some high-end skill in their prospect cupboards so this is a nice move for their organization. There's a chance Nylander gets an early look with the big club in 2022 and could find himself getting a sniff on the team's second power play unit as well.

As for Lafferty, he's likely to play a fourth-line role for the Blackhawks and will look to impress his new organization. He's three years older and is a pending unrestricted free agent. There's no doubt he will be trying to secure a job in Chicago for next season, meanwhile Nylander is hoping his latest team is finally home.