By Rob Rossi

Published: Wednesday, February 6, 2013, 10:50 p.m.
Updated: Thursday, February 7, 2013

The Penguins on Wednesday traded defenseman Ben Lovejoy to the Anaheim Ducks for a fifth-round pick in the 2014 NHL Entry Draft.

Lovejoy, 28, appeared in three games this season and had not scored. He has four goals and 21 assists in 98 career games.

He was one of eight defensemen the Penguins brought into training camp and kept on the roster when the regular season began. However, Lovejoy seemed to fall out of favor with the coaching staff because of a few mistakes that cost the team a couple of games late last season.

Also, the emergence of rookie Simon Despres, previously the organization's top overall prospect, and recently Robert Bortuzzo made Lovejoy expendable.

General manager Ray Shero was not available for comment but did not favor carrying eight defensemen through the duration of the truncated season.

Of the current defensemen on the roster, only Despres would not have to clear waivers to be assigned to the AHL.

The Penguins recalled defenseman Dylan Reese, formerly of Upper St. Clair, from Wilkes-Barre/Scranton. Reese has three goals and 12 assists in 39 AHL games this season.

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