NHL's first post trade deadline deal is done, With the Tampa Bay Lightning and Blues swapping prospects
Photo credit: Eric Bolte-Imagn Images
Matthew Peca is reportedly heading to the Syracuse Crunch for Wyatt Newpower, and it screams «right now» roster math.
The deal was first flagged Tuesday by NHL Rosters on X, and it's the kind of AHL swap that can quietly swing a playoff race.
Peca, 32, is a veteran center and a faceoff, matchup type who can keep a line on schedule.
He was drafted in 2011, seventh round, by the Tampa Bay Lightning, and he has lived in the hard minutes ever since.
Newpower, 28, is a 6-foot-4 defenseman who has bounced around the AHL and knows how to survive tough shifts.
He's undrafted, signed an NHL entry-level deal with the Detroit Red Wings in 2021, and has been on AHL contracts the last two seasons.
On the ice this season, Newpower played 23 games for Iowa and posted three assists before moving to Syracuse in late December.
Peca has been producing recently, with 1-4-5 in his last five and 1-5-6 in his last 10 for Springfield.
Matthew Peca gives Syracuse Crunch a safer middle
Crunch fans have been begging for more stability down the middle, especially when games tighten up and every bad change turns into a grade-A look.
Syracuse already showed it can win close ones, like the 4-3 edge over Springfield on February 4 that pushed the Crunch to 24-16-3-1.
Adding Peca fits that identity, because he plays a straight line game and can support the man advantage as a net-front bumper or half-wall connector.
For Springfield, the logic is clear too.
They move a veteran forward and bring in a big-bodied defender who can take penalty kill reps and protect leads when the bench shortens.
If this gets officially logged as expected, it's a classic needs-for-needs swap that tells you both rooms think they're in it.
Now the fun part is seeing where Peca slots in for Syracuse on Wednesday's practice lines.
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| POLL | ||
MARS 10|21 ANSWERS NHL's first post trade deadline deal is done, With the Tampa Bay Lightning and Blues swapping prospects Should the Syracuse Crunch lean on Matthew Peca as a top-nine center right away? | ||
| Yes | 16 | 76.2 % |
| No | 5 | 23.8 % |
| List of polls | ||