Penguins trade defenceman Gudbranson to Ducks

Ailish Forfar
·NHL Editor
Updated
WINNIPEG, MB - OCTOBER 13: Erik Gudbranson #44 of the Pittsburgh Penguins keeps an eye on the play during first period action against the Winnipeg Jets at the Bell MTS Place on October 13, 2019 in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. The Pens defeated the Jets 7-2. (Photo by Darcy Finley/NHLI via Getty Images)
Erik Gudbranson is on the move once again. (Darcy Finley/NHLI via Getty Images)

Erik Gudbranson is on the move, again. The defenseman is off to Anaheim in exchange for Ducks forward Andreas Martinsen and a 2021 seventh-round draft pick.

Gudbranson has laced up for Florida, Vancouver, and Pittsburgh since the spring of 2016.

The move helps the Penguins with cap flexibility as Gudbranson carries a $4-million cap hit through next season, and Martinsen earns only $750,000 as a minor leaguer. The Ducks are in need of blue line support, especially after Josh Manson suffered an upper-body injury Thursday.

In nine NHL seasons, the 27-year-old has scored 16 goals and 64 points in 474 regular-season games. Gudbranson was drafted third overall (yes, third!) in the 2010 NHL Entry Draft by Florida where he spent the first five years of his career.

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