Ducks Acquire Defenseman Whitney from Penguins

The Anaheim Ducks announced on Thursday that they have acquired defenseman Ryan Whitney from the Pittsburgh Penguins in exchange for left wing Chris Kunitz and prospect forward Eric Tangradi. The move comes after weeks of speculation that the Penguins were prepared to move Whitney, who has struggled since returning recently from a foot injury, and that they were seeking a scoring winger to play with Sidney Crosby. In 28 games so far this season, Whitney has two goals and 11 assists for 13 points. Kunitz, who has played the last four seasons in Anaheim, has 16 goals and 19 assists for 35 points in 62 games so far this season. Tangradi signed a three-year entry-level contract with the Ducks in December and has played all season with Belleville of the OHL, where he has 38 goals and 87 points in 52 games. This move is good for both teams. Whitney will bring plenty of speed and offensive skill to the Ducks' blueline, especially on the power play. The Ducks have been sliding through the standings in the Western Conference and are currently out of the playoffs. Rumors have been running rampant that the Ducks might trade Chris Pronger or Scott Niedermayer by the trade deadline to bring in some young talent to rebuild with. With Pronger and Whitney the only two defensemen signed through next season, excluding prospects Brendan Mikkelson and Brian Salcido, it would make little sense for the Ducks to trade Pronger. With the prospect that Niedermayer could retire and no certainty that Francois Beauchemin, and impending free agent, will be back, it would be a death blow at this point for the Ducks to move Pronger, unless they got a really sweet deal. Their best course of action is to wait until summer and see what happens with Niedermayer and Beauchemin before moving Pronger. As for the Penguins, Kunitz should provide plenty of offensive skill on their first line with Crosby and Malkin. In fact, Kunitz could see his numbers increase playing with those two. Tangradi gives the Penguins another skillful prospect forward from which they can use to retool their team in the future.