Rare post-deadline trade in the NHL involving the Penguins

The Pittsburgh Penguins aren’t busy battling for a playoff spot this season, however, it did not stop general manager Ron Hextall from making a trade on Friday. The Penguins have acquired defenseman Thimo Nickl (TEE-mo NIHK-uhl) from the Anaheim Ducks in exchange for Judd Caulfield.

According to the press release, the Penguins are getting Nickl, a 21-year-old blue liner, who has spent the 2022-23 season with AIK of HockeyAllsvenskan, the second-highest professional league in Sweden. He has recorded eight assists and 69 penalty minutes in 47 games. In parts of three seasons in HockeyAllsvenskan, the defenseman has tallied two goals, 16 assists and 18 points in 88 games.

Nickl played one season of junior hockey in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League with the Drummondville Voltigeurs, recording 10 goals, 29 assists and 39 points in 58 games.

Nickl was originally selected in the fourth round, 104th overall, of the 2020 NHL Draft by the Anaheim Ducks.

As for Caufield, he is a 22-year-old right winger that was drafted in the fifth round, 145th overall by Pittsburgh in 2019.

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