Spencer Stastney's day took a completely unexpected turn after his Oilers trade to Penguins
Photo credit: IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
Spencer Stastney was traded by the Oilers to the Penguins, then spent his free day at Disneyland in Anaheim before heading east.
Spencer Stastney woke up on Wednesday as an Edmonton Oiler and went to bed as a Pittsburgh Penguin, and somewhere in the middle he found time for a theme park.
The Oilers sent the 26-year-old defenseman to Pittsburgh for forward Filip Hallander, and the deal was announced hours before Edmonton faced the Ducks in Anaheim.
Stastney was on the road trip when GM Stan Bowman gave him the news.
He couldn't leave right away, which handed him a rare gift in the middle of an NHL season: an open day in Southern California.
So he did what any kid at heart would do and headed straight to Disneyland.
It's hard not to smile at the picture of a guy who just got traded spending his afternoon with the mouse.
A fresh start in Pittsburgh
Stastney hadn't played a game for Edmonton this season, even though he made the opening night roster.
The Oilers were crowded on the back end, and Pittsburgh needed a left shot.
He carries a $1.525 million cap hit and is signed through this season.
Hallander heads to an Oilers lineup dealing with a pile of forward injuries.
What comes next for Stastney
Stastney joined his new team in Columbus on Friday, but he was a scratch against the Blue Jackets.
Coach Dan Muse usually gives new players time to settle in before throwing them into the lineup.
Stastney is listed as a possible scratch again Saturday against Dallas, though Muse has said he could still draw in.
Assistant GM Jason Spezza said the Penguins see him as a guy who will compete for ice time.
One day he's in a trade, the next he's at Disneyland. Not a bad way to start a new chapter.
Also read on House Of Hockey :
Sports doctor raises alarming Igor Shesterkin injury update - and the NHL may be at fault
Sports doctor raises alarming Igor Shesterkin injury update - and the NHL may be at fault