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Pittsburgh Penguins land Jamie Oleksiak from Dallas Stars, Michael Leighton from Arizona Coyotes

By The Sports Xchange
Jamie Oleksiak, right, formerly of the Dallas Stars, has been traded to the Pittsburgh Penguins. Photo by Bill Greenblatt/UPI
Jamie Oleksiak, right, formerly of the Dallas Stars, has been traded to the Pittsburgh Penguins. Photo by Bill Greenblatt/UPI | License Photo

The Pittsburgh Penguins were not scheduled to play a game on Tuesday, but they were quite busy nonetheless.

The Penguins acquired defenseman Jamie Oleksiak from the Dallas Stars in exchange for a conditional fourth-round pick in the 2019 NHL draft.

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In a separate deal, Pittsburgh acquired goaltender Michael Leighton and a fourth-round pick in the 2019 NHL draft from the Arizona Coyotes in exchange for forward Josh Archibald, goaltender Sean Maguire and a sixth-round pick in that draft.

The Coyotes, in turn, sent former first-round pick Dylan Strome to Tucson of the American Hockey League. The 20-year-old Strome, who was the third overall pick of the 2015 NHL draft, has just one goal in 11 games this season.

Oleksiak has recorded one goal and two assists in 21 games this season with the Stars and accumulated 22 points (seven goals, 15 assists) in 140 career contests with the club. The 24-year-old Toronto native, who was the 14th overall pick of the 2011 NHL draft, will be a restricted free agent at the end of the season.

To make room on the roster for the 6-foot-7, 255-pound Oleksiak, the Penguins sent fellow defenseman Kevin Czuczman to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton of the AHL.

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Leighton, who is signed to a two-way contract worth $650,000 at the NHL level, will report to the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton. He will be an unrestricted free agent at the conclusion of the season.

The 36-year-old journeyman has split this season between the Coyotes and Tampa Bay Lightning organizations, spending time with AHL clubs Syracuse and Chicago. He has posted a combined 4-4-4 mark with one shutout in 14 games with the Crunch and Wolves.

Leighton, who helped Philadelphia to the Stanley Cup Final in 2010, has played in 110 career NHL games with the Chicago Blackhawks, Nashville Predators, Carolina Hurricanes and Flyers. He also played parts of three seasons with the Hurricanes from 2007-10 when Penguins general manager Jim Rutherford held the same post with the Hurricanes.

Archibald, 25, did not record a point in three games with the NHL's Penguins this season and collected one goal, two assists and four penalty minutes in six games with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton.

"Josh is a player who is committed to winning," Coyotes general manager John Chayka said. "We're happy to have him in our organization."

Maguire, 24, posted an 8-3-0 mark with a .910 save percentage and 3.28 goals-against average with Wheeling of the ECHL this season.

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