Penguins acquire Bjugstad, McCann from Panthers

The Pittsburgh Penguins have acquired forwards Nick Bjugstad and Jared McCann from the Florida Panthers for forward Derick Brassard, Riley Sheahan and three 2019 draft picks.

The Penguins announced the trade Friday, a move that will give them an influx of youth in the 26-year-old Bjugstad and the 22-year-old McCann as they make another playoff push.

Bjustad has five goals and seven assists in 32 games for the Panthers this season while McCann has eight goals and 10 assists in 46 contests with Florida. Bjustad is signed through 2021 and carries a contract with an average value of $4.1 million US. McCann's deal is through 2020 and pays him an average of $1.25 million per season.

The deal ends Pittsburgh's experiment in attempting to make 31-year-old Brassard the team's third-line centre. Acquired in a deal with Ottawa last season, Brassard struggled to generate much offence during his brief time with the Penguins, collecting just 12 goals in 64 games with Pittsburgh.

Sheahan, 27, brought over in a trade with Detroit early in the 2017-18 season, had 18 goals and 23 assists in 122 games with the Penguins.

Pittsburgh also sent a second-round pick and two fourth-round picks in the 2019 draft to Panthers to complete the deal.