Ducks Acquire Karl Stewart, Picks from Thrashers

[Thrillhouse]

ANAHEIM, Calif. – The Anaheim Ducks announced today that the National Hockey League (NHL) club has acquired a 2007 second round draft pick, the rights to center Karl Stewart and a conditional draft pick from the Atlanta Thrashers in exchange for defenseman Vitaly Vishnevski.

Stewart, 23 (6/30/83), spent the 2005-06 season with the Chicago Wolves of the American Hockey League (AHL), collecting 22-18=40 points with 184 penalty minutes (PIM) in 71 games. The Aurora, Ontario, native spent all of the 2004-05 season and the majority of the 2003-04 season with the Wolves, recording 26-40=66 points with 412 PIM. In addition, Stewart has played in 22 career AHL playoff games, collecting 6-5=11 points.

In 2003-04, the 5-10, 180-pound center made his NHL debut with Atlanta, recording one assist and four penalty minutes in five games. He signed as a free agent with Atlanta on Sept. 28, 2001.

Vishnevski played 416 games with the Ducks over six seasons and recorded 11-37=48 points with 403 PIM. He was drafted by Anaheim in the first round (5th overall) of the 1998 NHL Entry Draft.

[bengino]

so they accepted the arbitration only to trade hom.. guess they figured they have way too much invested on their blueline.

[McDonald19]

wow that is a very good return for a guy 1 year from Unrestricted free agency who was only a number 5 d-man in Anaheim.

I've heard Stewart is a bit of an agitator. Anyone care to share their thoughts on Karl Stewart?

[O-Gnimh]

It was inevitable, but it is still sad to see the big hitter gone.

[Humpzilla]

I'll miss watching Vitaly Vishnevski cause Todd Fedoruk to fight someone on his behalf.

Damn....

[O-Gnimh]

Originally Posted by Humpzilla

I'll miss watching Vitaly Vishnevski cause Todd Fedoruk to fight someone on his behalf.

Damn....

You're right, it's better to not have the big, open ice hit, nor the fight afterwards.

I agree it would have been nice if Vish could back himself up, though.

[OLLBLUEEYZ]

Originally Posted by Humpzilla

I'll miss watching Vitaly Vishnevski cause Todd Fedoruk to fight someone on his behalf.

Damn....

Trust me when I say Stewie will provide more than enough of the agitation. Stewart might be the best pest at least at the AHL level. I expect him to be more of the same at the NHL>

[McDonald19]

This opens up a spot for Shane O'Brien to make the team.

I'm expecting him to have a very active rookie season in terms of fighting.

[Orr=God]

IMO the ducks could have gotten a lot more for vishnevski

[Jensen]

Originally Posted by Orr=God

IMO the ducks could have gotten a lot more for vishnevski

A lot more? I thought they got more than enough with what they got for him.

[Orr=God]

Originally Posted by Jensen

A lot more? I thought they got more than enough with what they got for him.

u think a borderline nhl player, a second round pick, and a late round pick is good value for a solid hard hitting dman? karl stewart is no nhl star. i think the ducks shouldve acquired someone who can score and help them with the loss of lupul

[Jensen]

Originally Posted by Orr=God

u think a borderline nhl player, a second round pick, and a late round pick is good value for a solid hard hitting dman? karl stewart is no nhl star. i think the ducks shouldve acquired someone who can score and help them with the loss of lupul

It was a conditional draft pick, not a late round draft pick. Sure he's a hard hitting defenseman, but the guy only had ONE goal last year. You're not going to get a scorer like Lupul for him.

[McDonald19]

Originally Posted by Orr=God

u think a borderline nhl player, a second round pick, and a late round pick is good value for a solid hard hitting dman? karl stewart is no nhl star. i think the ducks shouldve acquired someone who can score and help them with the loss of lupul

no one is going to offer scoring help for a one dimensional third pairing d-man who is one year from unrestricted free agency.

Vishnevski is a great open ice hitter and okay defensive d-man, but he brings no offense to the table and is a year from unrestricted free agency...so the return the Ducks got for him was a very good one.

[O-Gnimh]

Originally Posted by OLLBLUEEYZ

Trust me when I say Stewie will provide more than enough of the agitation. Stewart might be the best pest at least at the AHL level. I expect him to be more of the same at the NHL>

That's great news, OBE! I would love for the Ducks to bring him up for the Kings' games so that we can watch a pest-fest with him and Avery

Also, in Portland, I imagine he could step in for Konopka in Portland (Konopka in Russia next season).

[Jensen]

Originally Posted by OLLBLUEEYZ

Trust me when I say Stewie will provide more than enough of the agitation. Stewart might be the best pest at least at the AHL level. I expect him to be more of the same at the NHL>

He didn't come close to the biggest pest in the AHL, that would belong to Louis Robitaille.