The Pittsburgh Penguins traded defenceman Zbynek Michalek to the Phoenix Coyotes on Friday in exchange for defenceman Harrison Ruopp, goalie Marc Cheverie, and a third-round pick (81st overall) in the 2012 Draft.
The 29-year-old Michalek returns to Phoenix, where he spent five NHL seasons before signing as an unrestricted free agent with Pittsburgh in the summer of 2010. Michalek scored two goals and 11 assists in 62 games for the Penguins last season. He lost 10 games to a broken finger and another 10 to a concussion.
Michalek was originally signed as an undrafted free agent by the Minnesota Wild, and played 22 games for them in 2003-04 before eventually being traded to the Coyotes.
Ruopp was a third-round pick of the Coyotes at last year's draft. The 19-year-old played for the Prince Albert Raiders of the Western Hockey League last season.
Cheverie, 25, split his time last season between Gwinnett of the ECHL and the Portland Pirates of the AHL. He was traded from the Florida Panthers organization to Phoenix at the beginning of last season.
