Hurricanes trade Hainsey to Penguins for Kristo and draft pick

Chris Baird - TSN via Baird Photography
Chris Baird – TSN via Baird Photography

RALEIGH, N.C. – The Carolina Hurricanes announced on Thursday that defenseman Ron Hainsey had been traded to the Pittsburgh Penguins in exchange for a second-round pick in the 2017 NHL Entry Draft and forward Danny Kristo.

The 35-year old Hainsey had just played his 300th game with Carolina against Pittsburgh on Tuesday, ranking him 10th on the team’s list of defenseman to earn that level of tenure, before being dealt to the Pens.

Playing in his 14th NHL season and having totaled 250 points (49g, 201a) in 891 career NHL games, becoming a part of the defending Stanley Cup champions’ organization will provide him the opportunity to play in the NHL postseason for the first time in his career.

A first-round pick of the Montreal Canadiens (13th overall) in the 2000 NHL Entry Draft, Hainsey had previous stints in Montreal, Columbus, Atlanta/Winnipeg before coming to Carolina in September of 2013.

The 26-year old Kristo comes to Carolina with 13 points (6g, 7a) and 12 penalty minutes in 40 games played with the Chicago Wolves and Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins in the American Hockey League (AHL) this season.

Interestingly enough, also originally drafted by Montreal – a second-round (56th overall)  selection in  the 2008 NHL Entry Draft – he has tallied 153 points (78g, 75a) in 267 career AHL games with Hamilton, Hartford, Chicago and Wilkes-Barre/Scranton.

Prior to turning pro, Kristo spent four seasons at the University of North Dakota where he was a 2012-13 AHCA West First-Team All-American.

His international playing experience also includes time with the U.S. National Team Development Program (USNTDP) representing the United States in a number of international tournaments including the 2008 U-18 World Junior Championship, the 2009 and 2010 World Junior Championships, and the 2013 IIHF World Championship.