PENGUINS DEAL SUTTER
Rutherford adds free-agent C Fehr
Penguins general manager Jim Rutherford swears he doesn't have anything personal against Brandon Sutter. Honest.
“He’s actually, believe it or not, one of my favorite guys,” Rutherford said. “And I’ve ended up trading him twice.”
The Penguins dealt Sutter and a third-round pick in 2016 to the Vancouver Canucks Tuesday for center Nick Bonino, defenseman Adam Clendening and a second-round pick in 2016.
That move cleared enough salary-cap space for the Penguins to sign former Washington Capitals center Eric Fehr, a free agent, to a threeyear deal worth a total of $6 million.
With Sutter scheduled to become an unrestricted free agent next offseason, the moves were designed and made to improve the team’s bottom-six forwards.
“He was one year away from being an unrestricted free agent, and I felt with this opportunity, it was a chance to get somebody for him in Nick Bonino and Adam Clendening,” Rutherford said. “We really like Nick as a center iceman. Adam is an up and coming young defenseman who is a skilled offen-
offensive player.”
The Penguins had discussed a potential trade with the Canucks about a month before the NHL’s draft in late June, according to Rutherford.
Bonino, 27, has two years remaining on a contract with a salary-cap hit of $1.9 million. In 75 games last season, he scored 39 points (15 goals, 24 assists).
“Nick is a really smart player,” Rutherford said. “He really has good hockey sense. He can play in all situations. He can play on the half wall of the power play. He also kills penalties. He’s a guy who almost got 40 points last year and 15 goals.”
For Bonino, who was was traded by the Anaheim Ducks to the Canucks last offseason, this trade caught him off guard.
“When I saw [Canucks president] Trevor Linden’s name [on the caller ID], I joked to my wife, ‘Oh, maybe I got traded again.’ Then I answered the phone thinking it was a ‘keep-in-touch’ call over the summer. This was a complete shock.”
Fehr, 29, had elbow surgery June 3 and is expected to be sidelined four to six months.
In 75 games last season, he scored 33 points (19 goals, 14 assists).
“My elbow is healing exactly like it’s supposed to,” Fehr said.
“I’m excited with the progress I’ve made. I’m feeling a lot more like myself. I’m out of my sling and my cast and I’m starting to do my everyday activities a lot better. I’m excited with the progress.”
Fehr offers versatility as he can play either right wing or center, Rutherford said.
Clendening, 22, is signed to a one-year, two-way contract worth $761,250 at the NHL level. He appeared in 21 NHL games last season with the Canucks and Chicago Blackhawks and scored four points (two goals, two assists).
A second-round pick in 2011 by Chicago, Clendening made his NHL debut this past season. Vancouver acquired him in late January via trade.
Sutter, 26, has one year remaining on a contract with a salary-cap hit of $3.3 million. He played in 80 games last season and scored 33 points (21 goals, 12 assists).
The Penguins acquired Sutter at the 2012 draft as part of a trade that sent center Jordan Staal to the Carolina Hurricanes. Rutherford orchestrated that deal as Carolina’s general manager.
Canucks general manager Jim Benning said he’s already working on a contract extension with Sutter’s agent.