A pair of division rivals have begun their off-seasons with a trade.
The Florida Panthers dealt forward Oliver Okuliar to the Pittsburgh Penguins for defenceman Emil Pieniniemi, the teams announced on Saturday.
Okuliar, 26, has yet to play in the NHL after joining the Panthers organization as an undrafted free agent.
He competed for Slovakia at the Milano-Cortina Olympics, notching one goal and one assist in six games. The centre spent one season with the Panthers' AHL affiliate, the Charlotte Checkers, in 2024-25, recording 19 goals and 22 assists.
Okuliar then moved to the Swedish Hockey League this season, winning a title with Skelleftea AIK and posting 13 points (six goals, seven assists) in 15 post-season games.
Pieniniemi, 21, was selected in the third round of the 2023 draft by the Penguins.
The six-foot-three Finnish blue-liner made his AHL debut this season, putting up one goal and two assists in nine games while also appearing in two post-season contests.
He is also yet to play in the NHL.
