Penguins Acquire Petry, Poehling From Montreal for Matheson and 2023 Pick

The Pittsburgh Penguins have acquired defenseman Jeff Petry and forward Ryan Poehling from the Montreal Canadiens in exchange for defenseman Mike Matheson and a 2023 fourth round draft pick, it was announced today by general manager Ron Hextall.

Petry, 34, is signed through the end of the 2024-25 season and carries an average annual value of $6.25 million. Poehling, 23, is signed through the end of the 2022-23 season and carries an average annual value of $750,000. 

Petry is a veteran of 12 NHL seasons and 803 career games, split between Montreal and Edmonton. The defenseman has spent the last seven-plus seasons with the Canadiens and has served as an alternate captain over the past three years. In 2021-22, the 6-foot-3, 209-pound Petry led all Canadiens defensemen with six goals and 27 points in 68 games.

The Ann Arbor, Michigan native’s best NHL season came in 2018-19 with the Canadiens when he set career highs across the board in goals (13), assists (33) and points (46) in 82 games.

In 803 career games, Petry has tallied 87 goals, 235 assists and 322 points. He was originally drafted in the second round (45th overall) by the Oilers in the 2006 NHL Draft.

The defenseman has represented the United States at three World Championships (2012-14), helping Team USA to a bronze medal in 2013.

Prior to his professional debut, Petry played three seasons at Michigan State University, where he recorded 67 points (9G-58A) in 118 career collegiate games and captained the team during his junior season. He also played two seasons in the United States Hockey League with the Des Moines Buccaneers from 2005-07, tallying 60 points (19G-41A) in 103 career USHL games.

Poehling has played parts of three NHL seasons, all with Montreal, from 2018-22. Last season, the 6-foot-2, 196-pound forward recorded nine goals, eight assists and 17 points in 57 NHL games. He also spent time with the Laval Rocket of the American Hockey League last season, recording six points (3G-3A) in seven games. 

In 85 career NHL games since his NHL debut in 2019, Poehling has registered 13 goals, nine assists and 22 points. With the Rocket, the forward has tallied 44 points (19G-25A) in 71 career AHL games.

Prior to turning professional, Poehling played three seasons at St. Cloud State University from 2016-19. In 107 career collegiate games, he tallied 29 goals, 46 assists and 75 points.

The Lakeville, Minnesota native represented the United States at the 2018 and ’19 World Junior Championship, as well as the 2017 World Under-18 Championship. He helped Team USA to bronze and silver medals in 2018 and ’19, respectively, and was named the tournament’s Most Valuable Player and Best Forward in 2019. 

Poehling was originally drafted by Montreal in the first round (25th overall) in the 2017 NHL Draft