The Penguins acquired 26-year-old forward David Gustafsson from the Jets in exchange for Jack St. Ivany. Gustafsson is a pending restricted free agent and will need to be re-signed this summer.
Gustafsson, listed at 6 foot 2 and 196 pounds, was originally a second-round pick of the Jets in 2018 and has played in the Jets' organization for the last seven seasons. He spent all of last season in the AHL with the Jets' Manitoba Moose, wher ehe recorded 32 points (10 goals, 22 assists) in 48 games. He spent al of 2024-25 in the NHL with Winnipeg, scoring six points (two goals, four assists) in 36 games.
Worst-case scenario, Gustafsson is a Joona Koppanen replacement with more offensive upside. What's more interesting is what this means for the right side of the defense. With Connor Clifton hitting unrestricted free agency, St. Ivany was Harrison Brunicke's biggest competition among right-handed defensemen for the third pairing. The Penguins could still add to the right side over the offseason, or shift Ilya Solovyov over to the right and add to the left side.
THE ASYLUM
Gustafsson acquired from Jets
The Penguins acquired 26-year-old forward David Gustafsson from the Jets in exchange for Jack St. Ivany. Gustafsson is a pending restricted free agent and will need to be re-signed this summer.
Gustafsson, listed at 6 foot 2 and 196 pounds, was originally a second-round pick of the Jets in 2018 and has played in the Jets' organization for the last seven seasons. He spent all of last season in the AHL with the Jets' Manitoba Moose, wher ehe recorded 32 points (10 goals, 22 assists) in 48 games. He spent al of 2024-25 in the NHL with Winnipeg, scoring six points (two goals, four assists) in 36 games.
Worst-case scenario, Gustafsson is a Joona Koppanen replacement with more offensive upside. What's more interesting is what this means for the right side of the defense. With Connor Clifton hitting unrestricted free agency, St. Ivany was Harrison Brunicke's biggest competition among right-handed defensemen for the third pairing. The Penguins could still add to the right side over the offseason, or shift Ilya Solovyov over to the right and add to the left side.
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