Nashville, Tenn. - Nashville Predators Executive Vice President/General Manager David Poile announced today that the club has acquired center Eric Belanger from the Carolina Hurricanes for center Josef Vasicek.

Belanger, 29, has posted 20 points (8g-12a) in 56 games this season for Carolina. The 6-0, 195-pound Sherbrooke, Que. native ranks second on the Hurricanes in face-off winning percentage (368-321, 53.4%). He was acquired by the 'Canes in a training-camp deal on Sept. 29, 2006 (along with Tim Gleason) from Los Angeles for Oleg Tverdovsky and Jack Johnson.

Originally a fourth-round selection (96th overall) of the Los Angeles Kings in the 1996 NHL Entry Draft, Belanger played his first five NHL seasons (2000-2006) with Los Angeles. He netted career-highs in goals (17), assists (20) and points (37) last season with the Kings, and led L.A. in face-off winning percentage in each of his first four NHL campaigns. In 379 career NHL games, he has recorded 71 goals and 99 assists (71g-99a-170pts).

Vasicek, 26 (9/12/80), netted 13 points (4g-9a) in 38 games with the Predators this season. After being acquired from the Hurricanes by Nashville for forward Scott Walker on July 18, 2006, he returns to Carolina, where he played 316 NHL games from 2001-2006.