Pittsburgh, PA – The Pittsburgh Penguins made a splash at the draft on Friday night, shipping forward Jordan Staal to the Carolina Hurricanes in exhange for Carolina's eighth-overall pick this year, forward Brandon Sutter and defensive prospect Brian Dumoulin.
The deal comes on the heels of Staal turning down a reported 10-year contract extension.
"We'd like to thank Jordan for six great years in Pittsburgh," said Penguins general manager Ray Shero.
Staal posted 25 goals and 50 points in 62 regular season games, then struck for six goals and nine points in a six-game first-round loss to rival Philadelphia.
Since breaking into the NHL with Pittsburgh in 2006, the Ontario native has compiled 120 goals and 248 points in 431 regular season games, adding 23 goals and 36 points in 73 postseason appearances.
Staal, 23, who was dealt on his wedding day, will join his older brother Eric, who has starred for the Hurricanes since 2003.
"Jordan is an elite two-way player who possesses a rare combination of speed, size, scoring ability and defensive responsibility," said Carolina general manager Jim Rutherford in a statement. "For his young age, he has a wealth of NHL experience, including winning the Stanley Cup with Pittsburgh in 2009."
Sutter notched 17 goals and 32 points in 82 games for the 'Canes last season. The former first-round pick by Carolina in 2007 leaves the franchise after 53 goals and 107 points in 286 contests.
Dumoulin, taken by the Hurricanes in the second round three years ago, won a pair of national championships with Boston College (2010, 2012). He departed Chestnut Hill with 11 goals and 83 points in 123 games.
Pittsburgh selected defenseman Derrick Pouliot from Portland of the Western Hockey League with the acquired pick.
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