The Pittsburgh Penguins traded right wing Patric Hornqvist to the Florida Panthers on Thursday for defensemen Mike Matheson and center Colton Sceviour.

Hornqvist was part of two Stanley Cup championships during his six seasons with the Penguins.

The 33-year-old Hornqvist has 480 career points (238 goals, 242 assists) in 770 regular-season games with the Nashville Predators (2008-14) and Penguins.

"A proven winner and champion, Patric brings a level of competition to our club," Florida general manager Bill Zito said. "He is a talented veteran presence who plays with an edge and we look forward to what he can add to our group."

Hornqvist had 32 points (17 goals, 15 assists) in 52 games last season. The goal tally was his lowest since the 2012-13 campaign and that partially led to the Penguins to move him as he still is owed for three seasons on a five-year, $26.5 million extension he signed in February 2018.

Still, it wasn't easy for Pittsburgh general manager Jim Rutherford to pull the trigger.

"This is a hard one," Rutherford said. "He was the first guy I acquired when I came to Pittsburgh, and he's played a big role in the success of the team over the years he was here, especially the two Stanley Cup years. He changed the culture."

Matheson, 26, has eight goals and 12 assists (20 points) in 59 games last season. Overall, he has 91 points (33 goals, 58 assists) in 299 NHL games with the Panthers since first reaching the parent club in February 2016.

"He can really skate," Rutherford said. "He plays the way that we like to play. He's got a good shot. He can skate. I feel that he'll fit into our system very nicely."

The 31-year-old Sceviour had six goals and 10 assists (16 points) in 69 games last season. Overall, he has 141 career points (59 goals, 82 assists) in 454 games with the Dallas Stars (2011-16) and Panthers.

--Field Level Media