The Pittsburgh Penguins and Winnipeg Jets recently swapped top prospects, with Rutger McGroarty relocating to Steel City and Brayden Yager moving to Canada.
The Penguins joined the NHL in 1967, and this version of the Jets (2011-present) was once the Atlanta Thrashers, an expansion team that was formed in 1999.
Although most Winnipeg fans dislike discussing the team’s time in the Georgia capital, their record consists of milestones set in both cities.
Therefore, these two have an extensive history of dealing with one another. Since 2011, the Penguins and Jets have made three transactions, including the recent one involving McGroarty and Yager.
When the Thrashers existed, these two Eastern Conference teams made three deals, bringing the total to six. Here’s a look at those transactions.
Aug. 22, 2024
As mentioned, the Penguins acquired the Jets’ top prospect, McGroarty, who requested a trade in June. Last season in the NCAA, he was a Hobey Baker Award nominee and is looking for a chance to crack an NHL lineup.
Meanwhile, Pittsburgh traded away their best prospect, Yager, who had 95 points in the WHL last year and was on a path to play in the AHL in 2024-25, possibly making his NHL debut too.
Mar. 21, 2022
The Penguins acquired Nathan Beaulieu in exchange for a seventh-round pick in the 2022 Draft. Initially drafted by the Montreal Canadiens in 2011, he spent the early part of his career with the organization before moving on to Buffalo and Winnipeg.
Beaulieu never played a game in Pittsburgh or Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, instead signing with the Anaheim Ducks as a free agent. He will play in the KHL with Barys Astana heading into the 2024-25 season.
Feb. 13, 2013
The first trade between the Jets and Penguins occurred in February 2013, when Winnipeg acquired Eric Tangradi for a sixth-round draft pick. Initially drafted by the Ducks, he came to Pittsburgh with Chris Kunitz for Ryan Whitney in 2009.
After making his NHL debut and skating 45 games, the Penguins flipped him to the Jets for a sixth-round pick. Tangradi played 91 games in Winnipeg before moving on to Montreal, Detroit, and New Jersey, retiring from pro hockey in 2020.
Feb. 26, 2008
Arguably, the most significant trade between the franchises occurred in February 2008. In a five-player deal, the Penguins acquired Marian Hossa and Pascal Dupuis, two key players who would help them to the 2008 Stanley Cup Final.
The Thrashers acquired Colby Armstrong, Erik Christensen, Angelo Esposito, and a first-round pick in 2008, who turned out to be Daulton Leveille.
Hossa would play 32 games (regular season and playoffs) in Pittsburgh before departing as a free agent in the summer. Meanwhile, Dupuis would finish his career with the Penguins, skating for nine years (452 games) and winning the Stanley Cup in 2009.
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In Atlanta, Armstrong would skate in 179 games over three seasons before leaving for Toronto and Montreal. Christensen didn’t stay as long, dressing for 57 games before bouncing around the league to finish his NHL career in 2012, moving to Europe to continue playing.
Unfortunately, Esposito and Leveille never played in the NHL, making the Penguins the unanimous winner of this blockbuster.
June 22, 2007
Leading up to the 2007 Draft, the Thrashers acquired defenseman Chris Thorburn for a third-round pick that became Robert Bortuzzo. After four seasons in Atlanta, Thorburn relocated to Winnipeg with the team and finished his tenure with the club after 10 years and 709 games in 2017.
Bortuzzo skated in just 113 games with the Penguins before another trade sent him to the St. Louis Blues in 2015. He would go on to win the Stanley Cup in 2019 and is now an unrestricted free agent in late 2024.
Jan. 14, 2001
The first trade between the Thrashers and Penguins occurred in January 2001 and involved defenseman Jiri Slegr, who left Pittsburgh after four seasons in exchange for a third-round pick in the 2001 Draft.
Slegr played 71 games in Atlanta before a deal sent him to Detroit in 2002, where he would win the Stanley Cup in June. Meanwhile, Pittsburgh traded their new draft pick away to the Columbus Blue Jackets on the same day for Krzysztof Oliwa.
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