CHARLOTTETOWN, P.E.I. — Former Charlottetown Islanders captain Pierre-Olivier (P.O.) Joseph has been traded.
The defenceman, who turns 20 on Monday, and forward Alex Galchenyuk were sent to the Pittsburgh Penguins by the Arizona Coyotes Saturday night for veteran forward Phil Kessel, 23-year-old defenceman Dane Birks and a fourth-round pick in 2021 to Arizona.
The deal reunites Kessel with Coyotes head coach Rick Tocchet, who was an assistant in Pittsburgh from 2014-17. Kessel had 27 goals and 55 assists for 82 points in 82 games in 2018-19.
Joseph was the 23rd overall pick of the Coyotes in 2017, becoming the Islanders first first-round pick in franchise history. He played 3 ½ seasons in Charlottetown before being dealt to the Drummondville Voltigeurs during the Christmas break in 2018. The six-foot-two, 168-pound Chambly, Que., native had 29 goals and 111 assists for 140 points in 235 games during his major junior career.
Galchenyuk had 19 goals and 22 assists for 41 points in 72 games last season for the Coyotes after being acquired from Montreal for Max Domi.
“…We are excited to welcome a young, skilled player in Alex, and add depth to our defence with first-round draft pick Pierre-Olivier Joseph,” Penguins general manager Jim Rutherford said in a release.
Related links:
• Pittsburgh Penguins news release announcing the trade.
• Arizona Coyotes news release announcing the trade.
• Charlottetown Islanders trade P.O. Joseph to Drummondville.
