The Penguins have taken a major step to bolster their blue line today.
In a trade with the Arizona Coyotes, the Penguins sent defensive prospect Pierre-Olivier Joseph, a second-round pick in 2021 and the New Jersey Devils' third-round 2020 pick in exchange for defenseman Niklas Hjalmarsson.
The 32-year-old defenseman has spent the past two seasons in Scottsdale, keeping opposing offenses at bay. He's blocked shots at the pace of 162 per 82 games, ensuring the Pens' goaltenders face fewer challenges each time they step into the crease.
Hjalmarsson also has an offensive side to him, scoring 162 points in his 753 NHL games, including 24 goals.
The Coyotes' return for him is hefty. Joseph was drafted — oddly enough by the Coyotes — in the first round in 2017. Though he hasn't played a single NHL minute, he hold the promise of developing into a top-four, if not top pairing, defenseman.
In eight games the netminder has started, Sawchuk has let in an average 3.84 goals per 60 minutes and has held a save percentage of just .855.
Matt Murray — who has had to replace Sawchuk in the crease on numerous occasions — has gained his job back.
In his seven appearances, of which only two were starts, the 25-year-old goaltender has held up significantly better against opponents, holding down a save percentage of .928 and allowing just 2.25 goals against per 60.
Not all is doom and gloom for the Penguins' reanimated players, however.
Mario Lemieux, who is now in his third career with the Pens, has cemented himself on the first line again, scoring 14 points in his 13 games. A low average, to be sure, for the superstar who averaged 1.88 points per game in his previous two NHL stints, but in today's NHL a respectable number.
Sidney Crosby leads the team in points and goals, aided in part by his phenomenal powerplay abilities. Of his 18 points, 11 of them have come with the man advantage.
And, of course, Alex Galchenyuk has shown himself to be a good asset for Pittsburgh. Acquired over the summer for Phil Kessel, Galchenyuk has netted four goals and four assists on the second line.
Across the league, scoring numbers are up and down. For the New York Rangers, today's NHL is reminiscent of the early 1990s, as they've been scoring nearly six goals per game.
The defending Stanley Cup champions, the Blues, are stuck in the middle of their division, while the 2017–18 winners, Washington's Capitals, are at the very bottom of the Metropolitan Division.
And, of course, a returning NHL legend finds himself atop the league's scoresheets.