RALEIGH, NC-Jim Rutherford,
President and General Manager for the 2006 Stanley Cup
champion Carolina Hurricanes, today announced that the team
has acquired center Eric Belanger and defenseman Tim Gleason
from Los Angeles in exchange for defensemen Jack Johnson and
Oleg Tverdovsky.
"This deal improves our forward lines and adds a very good,
young defenseman with NHL experience to the Hurricanes,"
said Rutherford. "Eric and Tim strengthen the balance of our
team."
Belanger, 29, had 17 goals and 20 assists in 65 games with
Los Angeles in 2005-06. The Sherbrooke, Que., native has
recorded 63 goals, 87 assists (150 points) and 169 penalty
minutes in 323 regular-season games in five seasons with the
Kings since debuting in the NHL in 2000-01. Belanger (6'0",
185 lbs.) was selected by Los Angeles in the fourth round,
96th overall, in the 1996 NHL Entry Draft.
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Gleason, 23, completed his
second NHL season in 2005-06, and recorded two goals and 19
assists (21 points) in 78 regular-season games with the
Kings. He recorded an even plus/minus rating to rank third
among the club's regular defensemen, averaged 17:41 of ice
time per game and his 77 penalty minutes ranked fifth among
all Kings skaters. The Southfield, Mich., native was drafted
by Ottawa in the first round, 23rd overall, in the 2001 NHL
Entry Draft, and was traded to Los Angeles along with future
considerations for Bryan Smolinski on March 11, 2003.
After four seasons with the Windsor Spitfires of the Ontario
Hockey League, Gleason turned professional in 2003-04 and
split the season between Los Angeles and the Kings' American
Hockey League affiliate, Manchester. In his first two NHL
seasons, Gleason (6'0", 217 lbs.) has played in 125 NHL
regular-season games, scored two goals, earned 26 assists
(28 points) and accumulated 98 penalty minutes. |
