Former Penguins Defenseman Signs With Shanghai Dragons of the KHL

Another former member of the Pittsburgh Peguins is taking his professional career overseas, as Adam Clendening has signed in the KHL with the Shanghai Dragons.

The Dragons, who currently play in St. Petersburg, Russia, have also signed former Winnipeg Jets forward Alex Burmistrov while hiring former Vegas Golden Knights and New York Rangers coach Gerard Gallant.

Taken with the 36th overall pick in the 2011 NHL Entry Draft by the Chicago Blackhawks, Clendening was traded to the Vancouver Canucks for Gustav Forsling in 2015.

But he would soon be traded as part of an impactful package that also included Nick Bonino to the Penguins in 2015 for Brandon Sutter. While Bonino would go on to win back to back Stanley Cups with Pittsburgh, Clendening didn't get to experience it, as he was traded along with David Perron to the Anaheim Ducks for Carl Hagelin, who would also be part of Pittsburgh's Stanley Cup wins.

On the move again to the Edmonton Oilers through waivers, he later spent time with the Arizona Coyotes, a 2nd stint with Chicago, the Columbus Blue Jackets, and the Philadelphia Flyers.

He had 24 points (4G, 20A) in 90 games.

The Penguins have missed the postseason in each of the last 3 years, marking the longest droughts in the NHL careers of both Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin as well as Kris Letang.

The careers of all 3 longtime Penguins mainstays are winding down, with the prevailing thought among most analysts being that Malkin is about to play his last year in the NHL.