Pittsburgh Penguins General Manager Ray Shero came up big for Penguins fans this year at the trading deadline. He acquired All Star forward Marian Hossa from the Atlanta Thrashers in exchange for Colby Armstrong, Erik Christensen and a first round draft pick. This season Hossa’s scored 26 goals,  dealt 30 assists and has scored 56 points.

“There’s a risk any time you acquire players,” said Shero. “There’s also a risk in standing pat. … This gives us a better chance to win (the Stanley Cup). I wanted to give this team every opportunity to win.”

This is a fantastic move for the Penguins, one which drastically improves their chances to win a Stanley Cup. A first line of Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkov and Marian Hossa could be the best in the NHL. even if Pittsburgh doesn’t have the money to extend Hossa to a long term contract, goalies in the 2008 playoffs will have another reason to be on their best game.

“We’ve always had a hard time finding that fit for Sid, and I believe Marian is a guy who can think at that level, skate at that level and, obviously, he can score goals and kill penalties and raise everybody else’s game,” General Manager Ray Shero added.

Also today the Penguins acquired defenseman Hal Gill from the Toronto Maple Leafs in exchange for a pair of 2008 draft picks. The 6-7 250 pound Gill’s had 18 assists and scored 20 points this season.