The busiest man at the 2012 NHL Draft? Pittsburgh Penguins GM Ray Shero.
After orchestrating the Jordan Staal trade and making two first-round selections in Derrick Pouliot and Olli Maatta, Shero went back to the trading game by flipping defensman Zbynek Michalek to Phoenix in exchange for prospect Harrison Ruopp plus a 3rd-round pick this year (81st) and goalie Marc Cheverie.
(Oh yeah, Shero’s also angling for Zach Parise.)
The move represents a homecoming for Michalek, who spent four years in Phoenix following the lockout. The 29-year-old is in the midst of a deal that pays $4 million annually and expires in 2015.
Of note, Michalek had an eight-team no-trade list.
For Phoenix, the move could be seen as a precursor to dealing Keith Yandle, one of the hotter rumors leading up to Friday’s draft. Several team have expressed interest in the 25-year-old All Star defenseman, who has a deal that runs through 2015-16 with a $5.25 million cap hit (the Coyotes inked him last July.)