TRADE: Penguins, Canucks Complete Swap

The Pittsburgh Penguins—Vancouver Canucks pipeline has struck again, as the teams have completed a trade on Tuesday, with defenceman Jack Rathbone and forward Karel Plasek heading to Pittsburgh from Vancouver in exchange for blueliner Mark Friedman and centre Ty Glover.

Here is full deal https://t.co/lqEquE5XpG

— Elliotte Friedman (@FriedgeHNIC) October 17, 2023

The Canucks are giving up on Rathbone, who was once a top prospect out of the NCAA and was their 4th round pick in 2017. But he hasn't been able to catch on at the NHL level, notching just two goals and three assists in 28 NHL games. He's also been the victim of a couple of brutal hits in the AHL that have landed him in hospital. 

According to Canucks Insider Rick Dhaliwal, right-shot D-man Friedman, 27, a former 3rd-round pick, will be called up from the AHL to join the Canucks' blueline at some point on the current road trip. He's played 65 games in the NHL, with the Pittsburgh Penguins and the Philadelphia Flyers. He has 12 total points, in just over 13 minutes of ice time per night.

Friedman joins four other former Penguin players on the roster, including Sam Lafferty, Casey DeSmith, Teddy Blueger and Ian Cole. Not to mention the entire front office. 

With trade for Mark Friedman today, #pens ties now with #Canucks:

Pres/Hockey Ops Jim Rutherford
GM Patrik Allvin
HC Rick Tocchet
AC Sergei Gonchar
Dir/Performance Alex Trinca
F Teddy Blueger
F Sam Lafferty
D Ian Cole
D Mark Friedman
G Casey DeSmith

Strong @puckdoku fodder.

— Frank Seravalli (@frank_seravalli) October 17, 2023

Glover, 23, is a big centre who will report to the Canucks' AHL club. 

For the Pens, Rathbone will report to the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins of the AHL, while Plasek heads to the ECHL. Friedman had lost his spot on GM Kyle Dubas's depth chart after a number of acquisitions over the summer. 

Photo: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports