Penguins Trade for Defensemen Ian Cole, Ben Lovejoy

Earlier today the Penguins acquired defenseman Ian Cole from the St. Louis Blues for Robert Bortuzzo and a 2016 7th round draft pick.  Cole was the 18th pick of the 2007 NHL Draft and has four goals and five assists so far this season.  Additionally, he has a plus-16 rating in 54 games this season.  Over his 5 years and 167 games in the NHL, he has compiled a plus-40 while recording 31 points.  Bortuzzo, a third round pick in 2007, has 20 points in 113 games played over the last four years.  Bortuzzo has compiled 171 penalty minutes in that time.

The Penguins were able to reacquire defenseman Ben Lovejoy from the Anaheim Ducks in a surprising trade in exchange for Simon Despres.  Lovejoy, 30, was traded by the penguins for a 2014 5th round pick two years ago. Lovejoy is a plus-3 in 40 games this season and has recorded 1 goal  and 10 assists. Over his 7 year career Lovejoy is a plus-50 in 248 games. Simon Despres, 23, was drafted with the 30 overall pick in 2009 and appeared in 59 games this season, recording 2 goals and 15 assists.  He was a plus-9 on the season, and a plus-27 in the 144 games he has played in his career.