Pittsburgh Penguins makes non-draft pick trade with Canucks, with two in, and two out….

The Vancouver Canucks have made a trade announcement on Tuesday, revealing their acquisition of defenseman Mark Friedman and forward Ty Glover from the Pittsburgh Penguins.

In exchange for Friedman and Glover, the Canucks are sending defenseman Jack Rathbone and forward Karel Plasek to Pittsburgh. Notably, there were no draft picks involved in this trade.

Mark Friedman is anticipated to provide a significant boost to the Canucks’ defensive depth, a need they’ve been addressing since the beginning of the 2023-24 NHL season. At 27 years old, Friedman has played 65 NHL games and has accumulated 12 career points. In contrast, Ty Glover is seen as more of a developmental project, as he has yet to make his debut in the NHL.

The Penguins, on the other hand, are acquiring a promising prospect in Jack Rathbone. Selected as the 95th overall pick in 2017, Rathbone performed exceptionally well during his time at Harvard University. However, his transition to professional hockey was challenging due to struggles with consistency and injuries, resulting in five points in 28 NHL games with the Canucks.

General Manager Patrik Allvin announces that the #Canucks have acquired defenceman Mark Friedman and forward Ty Glover from the Pittsburgh Penguins in exchange for Jack Rathbone and Karel Plasek.

DETAILS | https://t.co/ZK9rZmL5lF pic.twitter.com/vJe2WNBRyK

— Vancouver Canucks (@Canucks) October 17, 2023

Additionally, Karel Plasek is set to play in the United States for the first time in the upcoming season after previously playing in his native Czech Republic. During his last season with HC Olomouc, he contributed six goals and nine assists for a total of 15 points in 31 games.

Canucks’ general manager, Patrik Allvin, expressed his gratitude to Jack Rathbone for his dedication to the organization and his relentless efforts to secure a spot on the team.

Allvin acknowledged the challenges Rathbone faced in recent years and believes this trade provides him with a fresh start. The arrival of Friedman and Glover is expected to enhance the Canucks’ overall depth as they continue to seek ways to improve their organization.