Dallas trades veteran and captain Brenden Morrow to Pittsburgh

Brenden Morrow opted to waive a no-trade clause in his contract with the Dallas Stars and agreed to a trade that sent the captain to the Pittsburgh Penguins.

Pittsburgh gets Morrow as well as a third round pick for the 2013 draft, while Dallas gets Joe Morrow a defensive prospect and a 2013 fifth round pick. Joe Morrow, in 2011, was selected as the 23rd overall pick and is not related to Brenden Morrow.

Veteran Brenden Morrow, who is 34, will be an unrestricted free agent this summer. Prior to the trade, he played his entire career in the NHL with Dallas. He broke into the NHL back in 1999.

Joe Nieuwendyk, the General Manager of Dallas said Brenden Morrow was everything the team could have asked for over the past 14 years. He gave his heart for the Dallas franchise and on behalf of the team and our organization; we wish him only the best as he moves forward in his career and say thanks for all of his service to our organization.

The Stars were anxious to pick up the young Morrow from Pittsburgh. He has been described as a great prospect and there were other teams looking at acquiring his services as well.

Brenden Morrow for a number of years was one of the premier forwards in the NHL. He had his career high in goals of 33 just only two seasons ago, when he was also a member of the Canada gold medal team during the Vancouver Olympic Games.

Nevertheless, over the past two seasons, Morrow has been slowed by injuries. This season he had only six goals with five assists in the 23 games he played. Even though he may not be the player he was a few years ago, he is still an important player who will bring loads of experience, toughness and skill to the Penguins.

Pittsburgh hopes to pair Evgeni Malkin the reigning MVP of the league and James Neal with Morrow on the second line. Malkin is currently sidelined with an injury but is expected back late this week.

Morrow will be in Pittsburgh Monday afternoon and might be ready to play on Tuesday when the Pens host the Montreal Canadians. Ray Shero the General Manager of Pittsburgh said the physical presence and veteran savvy of Morrow around the goal will be a much needed addition to the team.

Morrow has also played with Sidney Crosby and Marc-Andre Fleury on Team Canada when they won the gold. The Pens parted with Joe Morrow and Shero said it was tough to let him go as the will be around for a long time in the NHL.

The trade comes as teams head to into the last third of the abbreviated season thanks to the lockout and they start thinking about the tough seven games series’ during the postseason.