Blue Jackets Acquire Raffi Torres

COLUMBUS, OHIO - The Columbus Blue Jackets have acquired left wing Raffi Torres from the Edmonton Oilers in exchange for forward Gilbert Brule, club General Manager Scott Howson announced today.

Torres, 26, has registered 67 goals and 59 assists for 126 points with 255 penalty minutes and a cumulative plus/minus rating of +7 in 307 career NHL games with the Oilers and New York Islanders. He tallied 5-6-11 and 36 penalty minutes in 32 games in 2007-08, missing 49 games due to a knee injury.

"Raffi Torres is an experienced NHL player who combines a physical presence with the ability to score goals," said Howson. "He will also bring to our club the experience of someone who has played deep into the playoffs as he was a significant contributor to Oilers' run to the 2006 Stanley Cup Finals."

The Islanders' second pick, fifth overall, in the 2000 Entry Draft, Torres played parts of two seasons with the club before joining the Oilers prior to the 2003-04 campaign. He notched 20-14-34 and 65 penalty minutes during his rookie season in 2003-04 and represented the Oilers at the NHL YoungStars Game during All-Star Weekend. After spending the lockout-cancelled 2004-05 season with the American Hockey League's Edmonton Road Runners, he registered a career-high 27-14-41 with 50 penalty minutes with the Oilers in 2005-06. He ranked second on the club in goals and sixth in points and added 4-7-11 and 16 penalty minutes in 22 playoff games to help Edmonton advance to the Stanley Cup Finals. In 2006-07, he collected 15-19-34 and 88 penalty minutes in 82 games, setting career highs in assists and penalty minutes.

The 6-foot, 216-pound native of Toronto, Ontario played three seasons with the Brampton Battalion of the Ontario Hockey League from 1998-01. He registered 111-112-223 and 148 penalty minutes in 185 career OHL games, including a career-high 43-48-91 in 68 games in 1999-00. He earned OHL All-Rookie Team honors in 1998-99 and was a Second Team OHL All-Star in 1999-00 and 2000-01. One of his teammates with the Battalion from 1999-01 was current Blue Jackets defenseman Rostislav Klesla. Torres also scored in overtime of the bronze medal game for Canada at the 2001 World Junior Championships.

Brule was Columbus' first pick, sixth overall, in the 2005 Entry Draft. He appeared in 146 career games with the club over the past three seasons, tallying 12-20-32 and 52 penalty minutes. In 2007-08, he collected 1-8-9 and 24 penalty minutes in 61 games with the Blue Jackets.

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Oilers Acquire Cole for Pitkanen

The Edmonton Oilers have traded defenceman Joni Pitkanen, a restricted free agent, to the Carolina Hurricanes in exchange for forward Erik Cole. Details to follow.

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Devils Sign Clarkson, Pandolfo, Tallackson, Halischuk and Zharkov

The New Jersey Devils re-signed forwards Jay Pandolfo, David Clarkson and Barry Tallackson and signed prospects Matt Halischuk and Vladimir Zharkov. The announcement was made by Devils' President, CEO, and General Manager Lou Lamoriello.

Pandolfo scored 12 goals and 12 assists over 54 games in 2007-08 and will enter his 12th season with New Jersey.

The native of Winchester, Mass., has collected 90 goals and 114 assists for 204 points in 706 career games, all with the Devils.

Pandolfo, 33, was a member of New Jersey's Stanley Cup titles in 2000 and 2003.

Clarkson, 24, scored nine goals and 13 assists while playing in 81 games of 2007-08, his first full season in the NHL. He posted a club-high 183 PIMs.

The Toronto-born right wing was first acquired by the Devils as an undrafted free agent in 2005.

Tallackson, 25, completed his third pro season with the Devils in 2007-08.

The 6-5, 215-lb. native of Grafton, N.D., collected 22 goals and 23 assists last season with the Devils' AHL affiliate in Lowell, also appearing in three games for the NHL Devils.

Tallackson was New Jersey's second choice, 53rd overall, 2002 Entry Draft.

Halischuk, 20, netted 13 goals and 46 assists over 40 games in 2007-08, his second season with Kitchener (OHL). A native of Toronto, Halischuk was selected with New Jersey's fourth choice, 117th overall, in the 2007 Draft.

He scored the gold medal-clinching overtime goal for Team Canada in the 2008 World Junior Championship.

Zharkov, 20, completed his second full season with CSKA Moscow in 2007-08, potting five goals and two assists in 30 appearances. The Elektrostal, Russia, native was chosen with the Devils' fourth choice, 77th overall, in the 2006 Draft.

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Corey Perry Re-Signs With Anaheim

The Anaheim Ducks announced today that they have signed right wing Corey Perry to a five-year contract, which runs through the 2012-13 NHL season.

“Corey is one of the top young players in the NHL today,” said Executive Vice President/General Manager Brian Burke. “He’s a true Duck, a hard-nosed goal-scorer who’s difficult to play against.”

Perry, 23 (5/16/85), scored 29-25=54 points with a +12 rating and 108 penalty minutes (PIM) in 70 games with Anaheim last season. A 2008 NHL All-Star, Perry established career highs in most offensive categories, including goals, points, plus/minus, power play goals (11), game-winning goals (4) and shots (200). Among team leaders, Perry ranked first in goals, second in points and tied for second in game-winning goals. During the 2008 NHL Playoffs, he recorded 2-1=3 points with eight PIM in three games.

A native of Peterborough, Ontario, Perry won his first Stanley Cup with the Ducks in 2007, playing in all of Anaheim’s 21 postseason games. He concluded the 2007 playoffs tied for second in club history for most points in a single postseason (6-9=15) behind teammate Ryan Getzlaf, while finishing tied for seventh in the NHL in scoring. Among all active NHL players aged 23 or younger, only Perry (21 points), Evgeni Malkin (26), Getzlaf (29) and Sidney Crosby (32) have at least 20 career playoff points.

Originally selected in the first round (28th overall) of the 2003 NHL Entry Draft, Perry has collected 59-64=123 points with a +25 mark and 213 PIM in 208 career NHL games with the Ducks. He has also appeared in 35 career playoffs games with Anaheim, scoring 8-13=21 points with 61 PIM.

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Red Wings Sign Brad Stuart

Sources tell TSN the Detroit Red Wings and veteran defenceman Brad Stuart have agreed to terms on a 4 year contract that averages $3.75 million per year. Details to follow.

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Penguins Re-Sign Pascal Dupuis

The Pittsburgh Penguins have re-signed forward Pascal Dupuis to a three-year contract, it was announced Tuesday by Executive Vice President and General Manager Ray Shero.

Dupuis, 29, was acquired by the Penguins along with Marian Hossa on Feb. 27 in a trade with the Atlanta Thrashers. He posted 12 points (two goals, 10 assists) in 16 regular season games with the Penguins. In his first game with the team on Feb. 28, Dupuis scored his first goal in a Penguins uniform. He has scored a goal in the first game for each of the four NHL clubs in which he has played (Minnesota, New York Rangers, Atlanta, Pittsburgh).

Dupuis match a career-high by registering a five-game point streak (one goal, eight assists) from March 12th to March 22nd. He also posted seven points (two goals, five assists) playing all 20 playoff games for the Penguins as they advanced to the Stanley Cup Final.

Dupuis has played seven seasons in the NHL after making his debut on April 2, 2001, as an undrafted free agent for the Minnesota Wild. He has played 435 career games and has scored 174 points (83 goals, 91 assists).

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Colorado Re-Signs Liles and Foote

The Colorado Avalanche Hockey Club announced today that it has re-signed defensemen John-Michael Liles to a four-year contract and Adam Foote to a two-year contract through the 2009-10 season.

Liles, 27, led all Avalanche defensemen in scoring last season with 32 points (6g/26a) in 81 games. He recorded 20 of his 32 points on the power play, ranking behind only Paul Stastny (21) for the team lead. Liles was +2 and finished third on the club with 121 blocked shots. He appeared in all 10 postseason games for the Avs, tallying five points (2g/3a).

“John is entering the prime years of his career,” said Avalanche Executive Vice President & General Manager Francois Giguere. “His puck movement and skating abilities will allow him to support our offense and compliment the rest of our defense corps.”

Colorado’s eighth selection (fifth round, 159th overall) in the 2000 Entry Draft, Liles has recorded 159 points (44g/115a) over four seasons and 313 career games in the National Hockey League. He scored 10 or more goals in each of his first three seasons, the first NHL defenseman to accomplish the feat since Steve Duchesne from 1986-87 to 1988-89.

A native of Indianapolis, Ind., Liles has represented the United States at the 2004 World Cup of Hockey, the 2005 World Championship and the 2006 Winter Olympics.

“Adam was a big part of our stretch run last season,” said Avalanche Executive Vice President & General Manager Francois Giguere. “He has been an important leader for this franchise for many years and we’re counting on him to play the same role over the next two seasons.”

Foote began last season with Columbus before being acquired by the Avalanche at the trade deadline. He appeared in 12 regular-season games with Colorado (0g/1a), with the Avs posting a 9-2-1 record in those games. He also skated in all 10 playoff contests. Foote played in a combined 75 games between the Avalanche and Blue Jackets last season, notching 16 points (1g/15a) and 107 penalty minutes.

Foote, who turns 37 on July 10, will embark on his 17th season in the NHL this year, including his 15th campaign with the Avalanche/Nordiques franchise. Originally selected by Quebec in the second round (22nd overall) of the 1989 Entry Draft, Foote has appeared in 811 games with the franchise, third most in club history behind Joe Sakic (1363) and Michel Goulet (813). The Toronto, Ontario, native has also skated in 164 postseason games during his career, helping the Avalanche capture the Stanley Cup in both 1996 and 2001. Foote ranks as the second-highest scoring defenseman in franchise history with 235 points (55g/180a).

Foote enters the 2008-09 season having played in 998 career NHL games, two shy of the 1,000 mark. He has amassed 284 points (65g/219a) and 1,407 penalty minutes in his 16 NHL seasons. The veteran blueliner is a combined +112 throughout his career.

A three-time Olympian, Foote was a member of Canada’s gold medal-winning team at the 2002 Winter Games in Salt Lake City.

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More to Come....