Penguins Acquire Brandon Saad 2018-12-17 PITTSBURGH, PA - Pittsburgh Penguins General Manager Ian Gurtowski announced early this morning that the club has acquired Pittsburgh native and forward Brandon Saad, defenseman Ludwig Bystrom, and a 2020 fifth-round draft pick from the Calgary Flames. In exchange, Pittsburgh has traded forward Anthony Duclair and defenseman Shea Theodore to the Calgary Flames. Saad has one year after this year on his current deal at an average-annual value of $3.5M. "When looking at our team we felt this was a deal that we not only needed to make, but felt comfortable making," said Gurtowski. "To be able to bring in a player of Brandon's caliber, a true proven goal scorer in this league, is something I have been aiming to do since I took over the role as GM." "Obviously when acquiring a player like Brandon, you have to give up something from your team, even if it may hurt, it's something that we feel is good for our present and our future. To Anthony and Shea, we of course want to say thank you to them for everything they did for the black and yellow in their time here. Both players leaving our organization have a very bright future in this league and we wish them the best." Saad has scored 20 or more goals in the last three seasons, including a career high of 32 in 2016-17, all with the Carolina Hurricanes. He was traded to Calgary prior to this season and scored 5 goals in 10 games before coming to Pittsburgh. Selected 80th overall by Carolina in the Inaugural EHE Draft, Saad made the Hurricanes in his first season. In 35 Stanley Cup Playoff games with Carolina, Saad has posted 20 points (10 goals, 10 assists) "I just want to come in and score goals and make an impact right away," says Saad. "It will be nice to get to be home more often with all my family and friends, and I just want to get going as soon as possible." Bystrom, selected by the Dallas Stars 971st overall in the Inaugural EHE Draft, has spent the last three seasons with Calgary's American Hockey League affiliate, the Stockton Heat. Duclair, acquired from Tampa Bay by Pittsburgh in January 2018, posted 56 points (25 goals, 31 assists) in 99 career NHL games games, as well as 121 points (58 goals, 63 assists) in 145 career AHL games with Syracuse and Wilkes-Barre/Scranton. Theodore, selected by Pittsburgh 277th overall in the Inaugural EHE Draft, recorded 2 points (1 goal, 1 assist) in 10 career NHL games played, as well as 98 points (26 goals, 72 assists) in 144 career AHL games with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton.