The Columbus Blue Jackets have acquired right wing Cliff Pu from the Florida Panthers in exchange for defenseman Markus Nutivaara, club General Manager and Alternate Governor Jarmo Kekalainen announced today.
Pu, 22, has recorded two goals and eight assists for 10 points with 14 penalty minutes in 63 career American Hockey League games with the Springfield Thunderbirds and Charlotte Checkers and 3-8-11 in nine career ECHL outings with the Greenville Swamp Rabbits and Florida Everblades since making his professional debut in 2018-19. In 2019-20, he collected 0-2-2 and four penalty minutes in 10 contests with the AHL's Thunderbirds and added 1-5-6 in four outings with the ECHL's Swamp Rabbits.
The Richmond Hill, Ontario native was selected by the Buffalo Sabres in the third round, 69th overall, at the 2016 NHL Draft. He registered 80-130-210, 92 penalty minutes and a cumulative +53 plus/minus rating in 232 career Ontario Hockey League contests with the Kingston Frontenacs, London Knights and Oshawa Generals from 2014-18. The 6-2, 185-pound winger tallied 29-55-84 and 28 penalty minutes in 65 games split between London and Kingston in his final junior campaign in 2017-18. He helped London capture the OHL championship and Memorial Cup Tournament title in 2015-16 and earned OHL Third Team All-Star honors with the Knights in 2016-17 after notching 35-51-86 and 36 PIM with a +25 plus/minus rating in 63 contests.
Nutivaara, 26, has tallied 17-43-60, 30 penalty minutes and a cumulative +25 plus/minus rating in 244 career games since making his NHL debut with the Blue Jackets during the 2016-17 season. Columbus' seventh round pick, 189th overall, at the 2015 NHL Draft, he collected 3-6-9 and four penalty minutes in 37 appearances in 2019-20. He has added 1-1-2 and five penalty minutes in 12 career Stanley Cup Playoff games.
CBJ acquire RW Cliff Pu from Florida in exchange for Markus Nutivaara
Pu has recorded two goals and eight assists for 10 points with 14 penalty minutes in 63 career AHL games
