Feb. 7, 2007
Thrashers Acquire Forward Eric
Belanger from Nashville for Defenseman Vitaly Vishnevski;
Claim Forward Denis Hamel on Waivers from Ottawa
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The Atlanta Thrashers have acquired forward
Eric Belanger from the Nashville Predators in exchange for
defenseman Vitaly Vishnevski, according to Executive Vice
President and General Manager Don Waddell.
Belanger, 29, earned 20 points (eight goals, 12 assists)
in 56 games with Carolina this season before being traded
to Nashville in exchange for Josef Vasicek on Feb. 9,
2007. The 6-0, 190-pound center won 53.6% of his face-offs
(362-for-676) with the Hurricanes.
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The native of Sherbrooke, Quebec, has collected 170 points
(71 goals, 99 assists) and 183 penalty minutes in 379 NHL
games with Los Angeles and Carolina. Belanger was acquired
by the Hurricanes along with Tim Gleason from the Kings in
exchange for Oleg Tverdovsky and Jack Johnson on Sept. 29,
2006, after setting career bests with 17 goals, five
power-play tallies and 37 points with Los Angeles in
2005-06.
Belanger, who recorded at least 30 points for three
consecutive NHL seasons from 2002-04 and 2005-06, set a
career high with 20 assists in 2003-04 and matched it in
2005-06. He was originally selected by Los Angeles in the
fourth round, 96th overall, in the 1996 NHL Entry Draft.
Hamel, 29, has registered seven points (four goals, three
assists) in 43 games with the Senators this season. The
6-1, 200-pound right wing has posted a plus or even rating
in 40 out of 43 games, and is plus four for the season.
The native of Lachute, Quebec, has earned 30 points (18
goals, 12 assists) and 77 penalty minutes in 182 NHL games
with Buffalo and Ottawa. Hamel, who was selected by St.
Louis in the sixth round, 153rd overall, in the 1995 NHL
Entry Draft, set career highs with eight goals and 11
assists with Buffalo in 2000-01.
Vishnevski, 26, registered 12 points (three goals, nine
assists) and 31 penalty minutes in 52 games with the
Thrashers this season. The 6-2, 200-pound defenseman has
recorded 60 points (14 goals, 46 assists) and 434 penalty
minutes in 468 NHL games with Anaheim and Atlanta. He was
acquired by the Thrashers in exchange for forward Karl
Stewart, a second-round selection in the 2007 NHL Entry
Draft and a conditional fourth-round pick in the 2008 NHL
Entry Draft on Aug. 17, 2007. |
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Related Stories:
Thrashers Acquire Forward Eric Belanger from
Nashville for Defenseman Vitaly Vishnevski
Predators Acquire Center Eric Belanger From Carolina
Predators Acquire Peter
Forsberg From Philadelphia |
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