Blue Jackets Recall Walser, Popperle; Assign LaCosta

[Thrillhouse]

COLUMBUS, OHIO - The Columbus Blue Jackets have added defenseman Derrick Walser and goaltender Tomas Popperle to the roster on emergency recall from the Syracuse Crunch, Columbus' American Hockey League affiliate, club President and General Manager Doug MacLean announced today. Columbus also assigned goaltender Dan LaCosta to the Crunch.

Walser, 28, has appeared in six games with Columbus in 2006-07, scoring two goals with a +1 plus/minus rating, raising his career totals to 8-21-29 and 56 penalty minutes in 88 NHL games. He has also tallied 9-28-37 with 61 penalty minutes and a +2 plus/minus rating in 52 AHL games with the Crunch and Albany River Rats this season, including 9-27-36, 57 penalty minutes with a +9 plus/minus rating in 46 games with Syracuse. He was acquired from Carolina on November 29 in a trade that sent defenseman Mark Flood to the Hurricanes.

Popperle, 22, made his NHL debut on February 2 at Calgary. He stopped seven-of-eight shots faced against the Flames in 25:42 of action in relief of Ty Conklin. In 46 games with the Crunch, he has posted a 24-17-4 record with a 2.85 goals-against average, .903 save percentage and four shutouts.