Penguins add to defense line, take over Gudbranson, Wideman

Tied for the final spot in the Eastern Conference playoffs, but within striking distance of first place in the Metropolitan Division, the Pittsburgh Penguins announced Monday they made a pair of trade deadline-beating deals for defensemen. Pittsburgh sent forward Tanner Pearson to the Vancouver Canucks in exchange for Erik Gudbranson, and also sent forward Jean-Sebastien Dea to Florida for Chris Wideman.

The Penguins are Wideman's fourth team in three months, having been traded from Ottawa to Edmonton in late November then from the Oilers to the Panthers on Dec. 30. The 29-year-old has 43 points in 175 career games and sports a career plus-seven. He has not reached double figures in points since the 2016-17 season, his second in the league. He is set to become a free agent this offseason. "He gives us depth on defence," Penguins general manager Jim Rutherford said, according to the team. "He's a smaller guy, a puck-moving guy. He has played some games in the league, he's got some experience."

Gudbranson has 43 points in 309 career games with Florida and Vancouver. With the Canucks this season, the 27-year-old had two goals and six assists in 57 games with a minus-27 -- worst in the NHL entering Monday. He also had 83 penalty minutes, tied for seventh in the NHL. Pearson leaves Pittsburgh after only 44 games with the club. The Penguins acquired him from the Los Angeles Kings in exchange for Carl Hagelin on Nov. 14. Pearson, 26, has nine goals -- all with the Penguins -- and six assists this season. He had only one assist in 17 games with the Kings. He has 144 points in 325 career games and won a Stanley Cup with L.A. in 2014.

Dea, 25, was claimed off waivers from New Jersey on Nov. 29 and he played in only three games with one goal. He had three goals and two assists with the Devils in 20 games. He had just one goal and no assists in six career games prior to this season. The Penguins are 32-22-8 with 72 points this season, ninth in the Eastern Conference heading into NHL play Monday.