The Pittsburgh Penguins made some big moves on Wednesday. They traded forward Michael Bunting to the Nashville Predators and defenseman Vincent Desharnais to the San Jose Sharks.
In the deal with Nashville, the Penguins not only sent Bunting but also a fourth-round pick in the 2026 NHL Draft. In return, they received defenseman Luke Schenn and forward Tommy Novak. For Desharnais, they got a fifth-round pick in the 2028 draft.
Penguins general manager Kyle Dubas explained the thinking behind these trades. He highlighted that Tommy Novak is younger and has one more season under team control compared to Bunting. Novak also has a lower salary cap hit, which adds to his value as the team looks to the future. “We believe he can make a big impact,” Dubas mentioned.
As for Luke Schenn, Dubas praised his leadership and toughness. He believes Schenn will be key in guiding the team and supporting the current core players as the Penguins work through changes in their program.
Bunting has had a decent season, tallying 29 points with 14 goals and 15 assists over 58 games. His career total stands at 210 points from 326 games played with teams like the Arizona Coyotes and the Toronto Maple Leafs. Currently, he’s in the second year of a three-year, $13.5 million contract. However, he’s currently on injured reserve after recent surgery to remove his appendix.
Luke Schenn, on the other hand, has recorded five points this season, including one goal and four assists, across 61 games. Over his long career, he has accumulated 203 points in 1,057 NHL games. Schenn is also in the second year of a three-year, $8.25 million deal signed with Nashville.