VANCOUVER

Vancouver Canucks acquire Brandon Sutter in trade with Pittsburgh Penguins

The Canadian Press Published Tuesday, July 28, 2015 11:09AM PDT Last Updated Tuesday, July 28, 2015 11:16AM PDT

Pittsburgh Penguins center Brandon Sutter (16) skates with the puck past Dallas Stars center Shawn Horcoff (10) during the first period of an NHL hockey game Thursday, March 19, 2015, in Dallas. (THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP Photo/LM Otero)

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VANCOUVER - The Vancouver Canucks have acquired forward Brandon Sutter and a third-round draft pick from the Pittsburgh Penguins.

In exchange, the Canucks have sent forward Nick Bonino, defenceman Adam Clendening and a second-round pick in 2016 to Pittsburgh.

The third-round selection acquired by Vancouver will be the earlier pick of two held by Pittsburgh.

“Brandon Sutter is a good two-way player. He's a matchup guy,” Canucks general manager Jim Benning said on a conference call. “He brings us speed to the middle of the ice and I think it solidifies our centre ice (position).”

Sutter, 26, recorded 21 goals and 12 assists in 80 games with Pittsburgh during the 2014-15 season. In 495 career NHL games with Pittsburgh and Carolina, Sutter has 98 goals and 87 assists.

Bonino was acquired by the Canucks last off-season in the deal that sent forward Ryan Kesler to the Anaheim Ducks. The 27-year-old had 15 goals and 24 assists in 75 games with Vancouver last season.

“We looked at all the teams in our division and they all improved from the end of the season to now,” said Benning. “I think doing this move, it makes our team deeper and it gives us a better chance to compete with the teams in our division and our conference.”