Ducks Acquire Lupul, Sbisa and Three Picks for Pronger and Dingle

[paint huffer]

ANAHEIM, Calif. – The Anaheim Ducks announced today that the National Hockey League (NHL) club has acquired right wing Joffrey Lupul, defenseman Luca Sbisa (Flyers’ first-round pick in 2008), a first-round selection in the 2009 NHL Entry Draft, a first-round selection in the 2010 NHL Entry Draft and a conditional third-round selection in the 2010 or 2011 NHL Entry Draft from the Philadelphia Flyers in exchange for defenseman Chris Pronger and left wing Ryan Dingle. The Ducks now hold the 15th (own) and 21st (Philadelphia’s) selections in the first round of tonight's NHL Entry Draft in Montreal.

“On behalf of the entire Anaheim Ducks organization, we would like to thank Chris Pronger for his valuable contributions to the team over the last three seasons, including a Stanley Cup championship in 2007,” said Executive Vice President/General Manager Bob Murray. “We felt this was a deal we had to make. We've addressed a present need with the addition of a top-six forward while adding some youth for the future as well.”

Lupul, 25 (9/23/83), appeared in 79 games for the Flyers in 2008-09, scoring 25-25=50 points with 58 penalty minutes (PIM). The 6-1, 205-pound winger put up career numbers in 2005-06, scoring a personal-high 28 goals and 53 points. In five NHL seasons, Lupul has collected 102-109=211 points with 214 PIM in 372 career NHL games. The Fort Saskatchewan, Alberta native has also played in the Stanley Cup Playoffs on three separate occasions, earning 14-9=23 points with 35 PIM in 39 career contests. Lupul helped the Flyers advance to the Conference Semifinals in 2008 when he scored the game-winning overtime goal in Game 7 of the Conference Quarterfinals vs. Washington on Apr. 22.

Selected by Anaheim in the first round (seventh overall) of the 2002 NHL Entry Draft, Lupul returns to the Ducks after playing three seasons with Edmonton and Philadelphia. In 156 regular season games with Anaheim, Lupul scored 41-46=87 points with 76 PIM. In the 2006 postseason, he became the first Duck to score four goals in a playoff or regular season game in Anaheim’s 4-3 OT win over the Colorado Avalanche in Game 3 of the Conference Semifinals on May 9. He was traded by Anaheim to Edmonton on July 3, 2006 with defenseman Ladislav Smid, a 2007 first-round draft pick and 2008 first and second-round draft picks in exchange for Pronger. Lupul was then acquired by Philadelphia with Jason Smith in exchange for Joni Pitkanen, Geoff Sanderson and Philadelphia’s third-round selection in the 2009 NHL Entry Draft on July 1, 2007.

Sbisa, 19 (1/30/90), made his NHL debut with Philadelphia in 2008-09, earning 0-7=7 points with 36 PIM in 39 games. A first-round selection (19th overall) in the 2008 NHL Entry Draft, Sbisa collected his first NHL point (assist) on Oct. 22 vs. San Jose. The 6-2, 195-pound blue-liner also played in two contests for the Philadelphia Phantoms, the Flyers’ primary affiliate in the American Hockey League (AHL). Sbisa completed the 2008-09 regular season with the Lethbridge Hurricanes of the Western Hockey League (WHL), scoring 4-11=15 points in 18 contests. In addition, he played in 11 WHL Playoff contests, while also making his Stanley Cup Playoffs debut with Philadelphia, appearing in Game 2 of the Conference Quarterfinals vs. Pittsburgh (scoreless) on April 17. In 80 career WHL games, Sbisa earned 10-38=48 points with 82 PIM. He won the Carl Trentini Memorial Award in 2008 as the Hurricanes Rookie of the Year, while leading all WHL defensemen in playoff scoring (3-12=15 points) in 19 games that included a WHL Finals appearance.

A native of Ozleri, Italy, Sbisa was raised in Switzerland and represented the country as a member of their 2008 World Junior Championship squad. He also played the 2006-07 season with Zug of the Swiss Jr. Elite League prior to his North American debut with Lethbridge in 2007-08.

Pronger, 34 (10/10/74), appeared in 82 games for the Ducks in 2008-09, scoring 11-37=48 points with 88 PIM. In 13 Stanley Cup Playoff games, Pronger added 2-8=10 points with a +4 rating and 12 PIM. Acquired from Edmonton on July 3, 2006, Pronger helped lead the Ducks to the 2007 Stanley Cup championship along with two additional trips to the postseason in 2008 and 2009. In 200 career games with the Ducks, Pronger scored 36-114=150 points with a +26 rating and 285 PIM.

Dingle, 25 (4/4/84), appeared in 70 games for the Iowa Chops (Anaheim’s then-primary developmental affiliate in the American Hockey League) in 2008-09, scoring 11-7=18 goals with 21 PIM. Signed as a free agent on Mar. 28, 2007, Dingle has played in 93 career games for Anaheim’s AHL affiliate, earning 12-13=25 points with 35 PIM.

[The Woodsman]

Per TSN, Dreger just mentioned it. This is a perfect fit. Details of the deal have not yet been revealed.

[PuckHogs29]

My jaw just dropped and hit the floor when I heard Darren Dreger say that. Holy crap I can't wait to see what that deal is.

[Creevjam]

Fuken yesssssssssssss

[Cat Smasher]

That is just where he belongs.

Bruce Garrioch has learned that the Sharks have traded RFA Ryan Clowe.

[BGDDYKWL]

Awesome! Word is Lupul is involved.

[JKidd]

Wow... ****ing wow...

GREAT move by the Flyers, pending the price.

[The Woodsman]

Originally Posted by Cat Smasher

That is just where he belongs.

Bruce Garrioch has learned that the Sharks have traded RFA Ryan Clowe.

I agree, he is going to look great in Orange and Black, without a doubt.

[R.Middleton]

The Flyers team now is officially badass.

[Gage55]

Thank the lord.

Lupul and our first would be my geuss.

[Cat Smasher]

Originally Posted by WildyCoyote34

The Flyers team now is officially badass.

Pronger can beat up Cote, so not quite yet. :P

[The Woodsman]

Wouldn't it be ironic if he was traded for Lupul AGAIN? Haha.

[The Crow]

That scumbag fits in well with Phily. I hope he breaks his leg.

[NickDoh]

glad to see pronger going east, dont have to see him as much. now ana needs to send perry away to the east

but yeah,

pronger = suspensions
philly = suspensions

pronger in philly = missing at least 10games next season

[Corpse]

Fukk I'm pumped, one of my favourite players playing on my team just made my year.