Penguins Acquire Conditional Pick, Multiple Players From Canucks

The Canucks were busy in the trade market Friday, and the Penguins were involved in the action, too.

Pittsburgh acquired the Rangers’ 2025 first-round draft pick, forward Danton Heinen, defenseman Vincent Desharnais and 2024 third-round draft pick Melvin Fernstrom from Vancouver in exchange for defenseman Marcus Pettersson and forward Drew O’Connor. The deal came after the Canucks traded J.T. Miller to New York.

“Moving two long-time Penguins is never an easy decision,” president of hockey operations and general manger Kyle Dubas said in a press release. “Marcus and Drew have competed day-in and day-out for the organization since the day they arrived. Both players are high-quality people, highly competitive players and zero maintenance for their fellow teammates and the staff of the Penguins.”

The 2025 first-round pick is a conditional selection from the Miller trade. The Rangers’ draft selection is top-13 protected and becomes an unprotected 2026 first-round pick should the choice be that high. The conditional 2025 first-round pick gave the Penguins 29 selections over the next three NHL drafts, which includes four first-round selections and 15 picks in the first three rounds. No team has more draft picks, or selections in the first three rounds, over the next three NHL Drafts than Pittsburgh.

“(Friday’s) trade continues to move us in the direction set one year ago which is to continue to add young prospects, young players, and draft capital to the Penguins as we chart our course to return the club back into contention as urgently as possible,” Dubas said “We are pleased to add Danton Heinen back to the Penguins and Vincent Desharnais to the club and look forward to seeing both in uniform in the coming days. The addition of Melvin Fernstrom also gives us a prospect that was highly regarded at the 2024 NHL Draft, and the Rangers’ first-round draft pick provides us with another strong asset that we can use to acquire an elite young player in the draft or via trade.”

Heinen returns for his second stint with the Penguins. The 29-year-old scored six goals and recorded 12 assists for 18 points in 51 games with the Canucks this season.

Desharnais is playing in his third NHL season and recorded three assists in 34 games with Vancouver this season.

Fernstrom is playing overseas with Orebro HK of the SHL, Sweden’s top professional league. The 18-year-old notched three goals, five assists and eight points in 35 games.