Reported trade sending Patric Hornqvist to Florida still not done

PITTSBURGH — Numerous reports suggest that Jim Rutherford’s effort to remake the Penguins' roster accelerated Wednesday, when he explored the possibility of trading right winger Patric Hornqvist to the Panthers for defenseman Mike Matheson.

Neither Rutherford nor Florida GM Bill Zito has publicly commented on the reports, which began to circulate long before all the details of any transaction had been worked out.

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Indeed, the deal still has not been finalized, with several possible hangups in play.

Hornqvist’s contract includes a full no-trade clause that gives him the right to approve (or veto) any move, and Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet, a Canadian network, reported that Florida had concerns about being able to insure Hornqvist’s contract in the event he was injured.

Matheson, a left-handed shot, is 6 foot 2, 188 pounds and had eight goals and 12 assists in 59 games with the Panthers last season. He is 26 and posted a career-high 27 points in 2017-18, then matched that total the following season.

Matheson has six years remaining on a contract that carries a salary-cap hit of $4,875,000. Hornqvist has three years left on a contact with a cap hit of $5.3 million. It was not immediately known whether either side would retain any salary in the proposed deal.

Matheson was a first-round draft choice in 2012; Florida took him 23rd overall, one spot after the Penguins claimed Olli Maatta.

Read this full article at our partners, DKPittsburghSports.com.

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