Jets complete depth swap, sending David Gustafsson to Penguins for Jack St. Ivany

The Winnipeg Jets finalized a minor trade on Monday, sending forward David Gustafsson to the Pittsburgh Penguins in exchange for defenseman Jack St. Ivany. The move is framed as a straight positional exchange, with Winnipeg trading away a reliable depth option up front while Pittsburgh parts with a defensive piece they believe can provide value in the Jets’ lineup mix.

According to Yahoo Sports’ reporting, the deal specifically matches strengths and needs. Winnipeg is acquiring St. Ivany, described as a physical, right-shot blueliner, while the Penguins receive Gustafsson, characterized as a dependable depth forward. The trade reflects a common offseason approach in the NHL, where teams adjust roster balance by targeting the style and handedness that better fits their defensive plans and matchups.

For the Jets, the swap is an attempt to bolster their defensive corps with a player who can add both size and physicality. In practical roster terms, the addition of a right-handed defenseman can matter for how a team structures its pairs, manages puck-support matchups, and fills minutes in bottom-six defensive situations, even if the player’s role remains a depth responsibility at first.

For Pittsburgh, moving Gustafsson provides the Penguins with another forward option that can stabilize the bottom half of their forward group. Depth forwards are often valued for their ability to handle responsibility roles, contribute in penalty-killing and late-game matchups, and provide coaching staff with consistent minutes when the lineup changes.

The trade’s timing also matters. It comes as teams sort through priorities for the coming season, weighing whether to emphasize defense-first roster construction or to keep flexibility through depth players who can shift between forward roles. While this is described as a minor deal, the cumulative effect of multiple small roster moves is frequently what shapes a team’s depth and resilience across a long NHL schedule.

St. Ivany’s perceived upside, as described in the report, centers on offense combined with physical traits, a combination teams can use to diversify their blue line. Gustafsson, by contrast, is positioned by the reporting as a reliable depth contributor, the kind of player who can provide a steady floor when injuries or tactical adjustments demand lineup changes.

What to watch next is how quickly each player is incorporated into the new team’s depth planning. For Winnipeg, the key question is whether St. Ivany’s physical game and right-handed shot translate into a defined defensive role. For Pittsburgh, the focus will be on how Gustafsson fits into their forward rotation and whether he can secure meaningful minutes as the Penguins refine their offseason roster picture.