The Sabres acquired Conor Sheary in June 2018. ©2020, Micheline Veluvolu

Sabres trade Evan Rodrigues, Conor Sheary to Penguins

BUFFALO – The Sabres have traded forwards Evan Rodrigues and Conor Sheary to the Pittsburgh Penguins in exchange for center Dominik Kahun.

Rodrigues, 26, reportedly quested a trade earlier this season after his playing time dwindled. The Sabres scratched him in both games before this afternoon’s trade deadline.

Meanwhile, Sheary, 27, has returned to Pittsburgh, where he won the Stanley Cup twice. The Penguins traded Sheary to the Sabres in June 2018.

Sheary struggled throughout his tenure with the Sabres, compiling 23 goals, 53 points and a minus-22 rating in 133 games.

The Sabres sorely need help down the middle, and Kahun, 24, should help. The Czech has compiled 23 goals and 64 points in 132 career NHL games with the Chicago Blackhawks and Pittsburgh.

The 5-foot-11, 175-pound Kahun has scored 10 goals and 27 points in 50 games this season. He played four seasons in the German DEL, winning three championships with Munich EHC. He came to North America last season.

Kahun and Rodrigues will be restricted free agents following the season. Sheary, meanwhile, will be an unrestricted free agent.

The Sabres also acquired winger Wayne Simmonds from the New Jersey Devils in exchange for a conditional fifth-round pick earlier today.

When Rodrigues sat out Saturday afternoon’s 5-2 road win against the Penguins, it appeared he could be moved.

After being awarded a one-year, $2 million contract in arbitration in July, Rodrigues struggled this season, often sitting out as a healthy scratch before earning some regular in recent weeks.

Rodrigues has scored five goals and four points in 38 games.

Sheary never generated much consistency with the Sabres, often going weeks between scoring goals.

He has endured goal droughts of 19 and 13 games this season and even became a healthy scratch. He has scored nine goals and 19 points in 55 games.

Kahun and Rodrigues will be restricted free agents following the season. Sheary, meanwhile, will be an unrestricted free agent.

Stay tuned for updates. Sabres general manager Jason Botterill is scheduled for address the media around 4 p.m.

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