Dustin Penner is heading back to Southern California to join the playoff race.
The Edmonton Oilers on Monday traded Penner to the Los Angeles Kings for defense prospect Colten Teubert, a first-round pick in 2011 and a conditional second-round pick in 2012.
Penner, who is signed for one more season, had 21 goals and 39 points in 61 games for the Oilers this season. He had a career-high 32 goals and 63 points last season. Penner won the Stanley Cup with the Anaheim Ducks in 2007 before moving to Edmonton.
Teubert was taken with the 13th pick of the 2008 Entry Draft. He turned pro this season and had been playing for the Manchester Monarchs in the American Hockey League.
The Kings have been looking to upgrade their 18th-ranked offense and Penner gives them another goal-scoring threat to join Anze Kopitar, the newly re-signed Justin Williams, Dustin Brown and Ryan Smyth. Penner could slide into a top-line left wing role for the Kings, who have been using Brad Richardson there with Kopitar and Wayne Simmonds.
Penner also could be seen as a replacement for Marco Sturm, who was plucked off waivers by the Washington Capitals over the weekend.
Edmonton has been on a mission to rebuild with young, talented players, and with Taylor Hall, Jordan Eberle, Magnus Paajarvi and Sam Gagner the focus had to be on acquiring a young, potential stud defenseman.
Teubert fits the billing. He had 10 points and a plus-7 rating in 39 AHL games this season.
The Oilers also were able to grab Los Angeles' first-round pick this season and a conditional second-round pick in 2012 that reportedly will turn into a third-rounder based on the language of the deal.
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