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Ray Shero's busy night continued Friday at the NHL Draft. About three hours after shipping Jordan Staal to Carolina, the Pittsburgh Penguins shipped defenseman Zbynek Michalek to the Phoenix Coyotes in exchange for the 81st overall pick on Saturday, goaltender Marc Cheverie and defensive prospect Harrison Ruopp.
It could be seen as a salary dump for the Pens, who seem poised to make another big splash either at the Draft on Saturday or at some point before or on July 1. Michalek earns $4 million against the salary cap each season until 2014-15 and, by not taking any NHL salary back in return, the Pens have plenty of room to work with now.
Ruopp, 19, was drafted in the third round in 2011 by the Coyotes. He was a minus-23 in 62 games with the Prince Albert Raiders in the Western Hockey League. Cheverie, 25, played 22 games with the Gwinnett Gladiators of the ECHL last season. He played nine games with the AHL's Portland Pirates as well.