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Reid McNeill began his day preparing to join his teammates for a road trip to Hershey on Saturday, and then his phone rang.
It was the Pittsburgh front office, and they informed McNeill that he had just been traded to the St. Louis organization for winger Danny Kristo.
McNeill said he was surprised, and even a little sad to be leaving the place he called home since 2013.
“I didn’t expect it, but it’s part of the business,” said McNeill, who will report to St. Louis’ AHL affiliate in Chicago. “I’m extremely grateful for everything the Pittsburgh organization has done for me, including (Wilkes-Barre/Scranton CEO) Jeff Barrett, and the city and fans have made Wilkes-Barre a home for me.”
The 24 year old was Pittsburgh’s sixth-round pick in 2010 and he joined the organization in 2012 when he played 44 games with Wheeling. McNeill spent three games with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton that season, and after that he has been a member of the AHL squad ever since. A physical presence on the blueline, McNeill played in a career-high 64 games last season, notching 11 assists, 58 penalty minutes and a plus-10.
He appeared in 190 games with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton in parts of five seasons, recording 29 points (4G-21A) and 319 penalty minutes. McNeill was also the longest-tenured Penguin as far as consecutive seasons with the team.
“I’ve come a long way. I was talking to (head coach) Clark Donatelli later in the day about how we were in Wheeling together almost five years ago and now we’re standing together in his office at Wilkes-Barre/Scranton,” McNeill said.
“Wilkes-Barre raised me. The leadership and coaches I’ve played for speaks for itself, but the community molded me into the person I am today. I’ll cherish my time here for the rest of my life.”
McNeill spent most of the day on Saturday packing and bidding farewell to teammates and friends. He said things have been too hectic to think about hockey right away, but added Chicago is a good situation and will be a positive step in his career.
But McNeill admitted a change in scenery will be an adjustment.
“Wilkes-Barre has really been the only place I’ve played in my pro career, but I haven’t really thought about much beyond that yet,” he said. “I’ve just been busy packing up my life and hitting the road.”