Sullivan said he would decide where Hainsey would fit in the lineup after he arrives in Pittsburgh. Hainsey could make his debut with the Penguins in the 2017 Coors Light NHL Stadium Series game against the Philadelphia Flyers at Heinz Field on Saturday (8 p.m. ET; NBC, SN, TVA Sports 2, NHL.TV)
Hainsey, 35, has 14 points (four goals, 10 assists) in 56 games with the Hurricanes this season. In 14 NHL seasons with the Montreal Canadiens, Columbus Blue Jackets, Winnipeg Jets/Atlanta Thrashers and Hurricanes, he has 250 points (49 goals, 201 assists) and averaged 21:08 in 891 games.
"I've played against him for a long time," Penguins center Sidney Crosby said. "He's a pretty steady, stay-at-home defenseman. He's a good skater. … I think that's been his game."
General manager Jim Rutherford said the Penguins are considering a trade for another defenseman but are tight against the NHL salary cap and would have to get creative to make it happen.
"I'd say in the next 24 hours, we'll make that decision," Rutherford said of a possible trade. "You can look at that two ways. You add another NHL defenseman and then you're totally healthy and then you have a situation you have to deal with where you have one or two guys who aren't happy to be sitting in the stands.
"Then you look at it the other way where you never have enough and you're hurt all the time, so you may need one. We're thinking about that right now."
Rutherford said his past experience with Hainsey was a factor in the decision to bring him to Pittsburgh. Rutherford signed Hainsey while GM of the Hurricanes.
"He's a real character guy," Rutherford said. "He'll fit into our room well. We were looking to add an experienced defenseman. He has lots of experience. He probably doesn't have to play in the same situation here as he did in Carolina, and he's a good penalty killer. That's an area where we'd like to improve a little bit.
"He can skate, move the puck and should be able to fit into our system."