ATLANTA -- The Atlanta Thrashers dealt five-time All-Star Marian Hossa to the Pittsburgh Penguins today in a trade that sends forwards Colby Armstrong and Eric Christensen to Atlanta.
With Toronto's Mats Sundin off the market after refusing to waive his no-trade clause, Hossa was the biggest name available at the trading deadline. Hossa has 26 goals and 30 assists in 60 games this season.
The Penguins paid a big price to get a player who will become a free agent this summer, dealing two of their top forwards, plus 2007 first-round draft pick Angelo Esposito and a future first-round draft pick. Pittsburgh also gets forward Pascal Dupuis from Atlanta.
Hossa is making six million a year in a contract that expires after this season.
He is expected to go onto Sidney Crosby's line once the 2007 NHL scoring champion and MVP returns from a high ankle sprain that has sidelined him since January 18th. Crosby is not on the Penguins' three-game road trip that began today at the Islanders and probably won't return until next week at the earliest.