NHL Trade: Pittsburgh Penguins Acquire Jarome Iginla From Calgary Flames

Another big name is on the move in the NHL. The trade deadline looms next week but the Pittsburgh Penguins and Calgary Flames are wasting no time in making a deal. The Penguins have added another veteran weapon to their roster as they’ve acquired longtime Calgary Flames captain Jarome Iginla for the rights to two players and a 2013 first-round draft pick.

Iginla landing with the Pens comes as a bit of a shock to some, as the Boston Bruins appeared ready to go in for the captain. But instead, Pittsburgh put together the more attractive package and pulled off the trade some are deeming a “late night shocker”. Boston was so close to acquiring Iginla that Yahoo! Sports ran with a story reporting Iginla had been traded the Bruins for forward Joe Nieuwendyk.

Both Ben Hanowski and Kenny Agostino have yet to play in the NHL but both are highly regarded prospects within the Penguins organization. Coupled with the first-round pick this year, the move signals a changing of the guard for the Flames as they’re clearly ready to build for the future. The Pens are not at all interested in waiting on their success and add a veteran leader in Iginla, a guy that can come in and not only show Sidney Crosby a few things but can also make the Pens even better when he’s on the ice.

Hanowski currently plays hockey for Yale while Agostino skates for St. Cloud State in Minnesota and both are still considered raw prospects. But they could very well be hitting the ice at the same time as Calgary’s now two first-round draft picks in 2013, which means the future is bright and young for the Flames.

But all eyes are now on the Pens, who are loaded on all fronts and are clearly not going to b taking any prisoners in the Eastern Conference.