Peter Diana/Post-Gazette
	Martin Straka and his $4 million salary are headed to Los Angeles.

Martin Straka had no doubt the Penguins were going to trade him.

He just wasn't sure when it would happen, or where he would end up. Last night, he found out: Straka was sent to Los Angeles for Martin Strbak, 28, a defenseman, and left winger Sergei Anshakov, 19.

Strbak, who has been playing with the Kings' American Hockey League affiliate in Manchester, N.H., is expected to join the Penguins, although probably not in time for their game against Atlanta tonight. Anshakov plays for CSKA Moscow in Russia and is not expected in North America in the near future.

Straka, who plans to fly to St. Louis today and make his Kings debut when they face the Blues tomorrow, had four goals and eight assists in 22 games, tying him with Rico Fata for the Penguins' scoring lead. He had, however, failed to get a goal in 13 consecutive games and compiled a team-worst plus-minus rating of minus-16.

Those numbers might have played a minor role in the decision to deal him now, but his salary -- $4.35 million this season, $4.7 million in the next -- was much more of an issue.

"Certainly, economics is always a factor," Penguins general manager Craig Patrick said. "And long term, Marty wasn't going to be with us. We had an opportunity to get a young kid [Anshakov] who's going to be able to play for us in a couple of years, and a guy who can give us a little more depth on defense."

The Penguins figure to save about $3 million by trading Straka, but Patrick said his departure won't necessarily have an impact on whether they keep rookie goalie Marc-Andre Fleury or return him to his junior team before he qualifies for $3 million in bonus money.

The Kings were willing to take on Straka's salary partly because he can be a valuable offensive contributor and partly because injuries have stripped so many key forwards from their lineup this season. The list includes Zigmund Palffy, Jason Allison, Jozef Stumpel and Adam Deadmarsh, all of whom could help the Kings to be a force in the playoffs next spring if they can get healthy.

While Straka has a limited knowledge of the Kings -- "Obviously, I didn't see them play that much" -- he knew all too well what the handwriting on the wall meant. The writing that said a 31-year-old with a seven-figure salary didn't have a place in the Penguins' rebuilding program.

"After last year, with [Robert Lang leaving via free agency] and [Alex Kovalev being traded to New York], I was the last guy standing," Straka said.

But while Straka had heard his name mentioned prominently in trade speculation for months, Patrick said the Penguins didn't shop him as actively as some observers believed.

Patrick said Mark Kelley, the Penguins' European scout, speaks highly of both of the Penguins' newcomers.

Anshakov, who played for Russia's gold-medal team at the world junior tournament last winter, is particularly intriguing. He is 6 feet 3, 179 pounds -- "Wiry," Patrick said -- and has exceptional speed.

He was Los Angeles' second-round choice in 2002 and has played extensively with Nikolai Zherdev, whom Columbus chose with the fourth pick in the 2003 entry draft.

Strbak, whose NHL salary is $425,000, has worked primarily in Europe and plays what Patrick described as "a real steady game. He moves the puck well, plays the position well." He is 6 feet 3, 210 pounds and recorded a tournament-best plus-13 while playing for Slovakia at the world championships last spring.

No one, except perhaps the team accountants, was on Patrick to get Straka out of town. He was a positive, popular force in the locker room, and a valuable member on some of the most productive lines in recent franchise history.

"Marty was great for us," Patrick said. "A great team guy who gave us good energy and speed, and was very productive offensively. And we'll certainly miss his personality. He's a great guy."