The Edmonton Oilers acquired three new defencemen on Sunday while swapping out two blueliners and a forward in a pair of trades.
Edmonton first picked up Alexander Petrovic from the Florida Panthers, then added Brandon Manning and Robin Norell from the Chicago Blackhawks hours later.
Florida received blueliner Chris Wideman and a conditional third-round pick in the 2019 NHL draft while the Blackhawks took forward Drake Caggiula and defenceman Jason Garrison in their trade.
Petrovic, 26, had one assist in 26 games with Florida this season. He has appeared in 255 NHL games over his five-year career, posting 49 points (five goals, 44 assists).
The Edmonton native was originally selected by Florida in the second round, 36th overall, at the 2010 NHL draft.
Manning, from Prince George, had a goal and two assists in 27 games this season prior to the trade. The 28-year-old began his NHL career in Philadelphia and has played in 235 total games with 12 goals and 34 assists. He and Petrovic were in the Edmonton lineup on Monday when the Oilers hosted the Winnipeg Jets and lost 4-3.
Manning is now a teammate of Connor McDavid, the superstar forward he crashed with into the end boards during a game in Edmonton in McDavid's rookie season. McDavid suffered a broken collarbone on the play and missed the next 37 games due to the injury. The incident eventually led to a war of words between McDavid and Manning, but Manning said both players have put it behind them.
"Connor actually reached out (to me)," Manning said on the Oilers website after being acquired. "He said he's happy to have me and thinks I can help the team. Obviously, with our history and when a guy of that calibre reaches out to you, it's pretty special."
Norell plays in the Swedish Hockey League, where the 23-year-old has three assists in 27 games. He was drafted by Chicago in the fourth round in 2013.
Wideman is leaving Edmonton after a brief stint. The 28-year-old had two assists through five games since he was dealt to the Oilers by the Ottawa Senators last month.
Wideman has 16 goals and 27 assists in 175 career NHL games, mostly with Ottawa. He was drafted by the Senators in the fourth round in 2009.
Caggiula, 24, had seven goals and four assists in 29 games with the Oilers this season. He set career highs in points (20), goals (13) and games played (67) last year with Edmonton.
