Ducks Deal Pahlsson, Stephenson, Pick to Chicago

[Thrillhouse]

ANAHEIM, Calif. - The Anaheim Ducks announced today that the National Hockey League (NHL) club has acquired defenseman James Wisniewski and center Petri Kontiola from the Chicago Blackhawks in exchange for center Samuel Pahlsson, defenseman Logan Stephenson and a conditional fourth-round selection in the 2009 NHL Entry Draft.

Wisniewski, 25 (2/21/84), appeared in 31 games for Chicago this season, scoring 2-11=13 points with a +6 rating and 14 penalty minutes (PIM). The 6-0, 207-pound blue liner established a single-game career high with three assists (0-3=3) in his 2008-09 season debut on Dec. 16 at Edmonton. Wisniewski missed the first 28 games of the season with a knee injury. He logged a career-high 28:23 time on ice (TOI) on Jan. 16 vs. the NY Rangers. Currently appearing in his fourth NHL season, the Canton, MI native scored a career-best 7-19=26 points with a +12 rating and 103 PIM in 68 contests with the Blackhawks in 2007-08. He registered a career-high 1-2=3 points on Oct. 31, 2007 at Dallas. In addition, Wisniewski established a career high with a +4 rating in a two-point night (1-1=2) on Mar. 23, 2008 vs. St. Louis.

Selected by Chicago in the fifth round (156th overall) of the 2002 NHL Entry Draft, Wisniewski has collected 13-43=56 points with a +21 rating and 199 PIM in 168 career NHL games. He has recorded a plus-or-even rating in each of his four seasons with the Blackhawks. Playing his junior hockey with Plymouth of the Ontario Hockey League (OHL), he ranked third among defensemen in OHL scoring for the 2003-04 season, earning 17-53=70 points in 50 contests. Wisniewski has appeared for Team USA on multiple occasions, winning the Gold Medal at three different levels (World Under-17 Challenge in 2001, Under-18 World Junior Championship in 2002 and Under-20 World Junior Championship in 2002).

Kontiola, 24 (10/4/84), appeared in 61 games with Rockford of the American Hockey League (AHL) this season, earning a team-leading 15-38=53 points with 22 PIM. A 6-0, 204-pound center, Kontiola made his NHL debut on Nov. 25, 2007 at Vancouver. He earned his first NHL point (assist) on Dec. 19, 2007 vs. Nashville. In total, the Seinajoki, Finland native has appeared in 12 NHL games with Chicago, scoring 0-5=5 points with six PIM and a +5 rating. Kontiola also appeared in 66 contests with Rockford in 2007-08, finishing second on the club both in assists (50) and points (68). Prior to making his North American professional debut in 2007-08, Kontiola played in 200 games over four seasons (2003-07) with Tappara of the SM-Liiga (Finnish League), scoring 33-96=129 points.

Pahlsson, 31 (12/17/77), appeared in 52 contests with Anaheim this season, collecting 5-10=15 points with 32 PIM. The 6-0, 204-pound center has missed the last 13 games with mononucleosis. He led the club in faceoff wins in each of the last four seasons. In 544 career NHL games with Boston and Anaheim, the Ange, Sweden native has earned 52-91=143 points with 258 PIM. A member of both Anaheim's 2007 Stanley Cup champion and 2003 Western Conference champions squads, Pahlsson has appeared in 64 career postseason contests, earning 7-16=23 points. Originally drafted by Colorado in the seventh round (176th overall) of the 1996 NHL Entry Draft, Pahlsson was acquired by Anaheim from Boston on Nov. 18, 2000 in exchange for Patrick Traverse and Andrei Nazarov.

Stephenson, 23 (2/19/86), appeared in 44 contests with Iowa (AHL) and San Antonio (AHL) this season, collecting 1-3=4 points with 61 PIM. In his rookie year with San Antonio in 2006-07, the 6-3, 205-pound blueliner collected 3-5=8 points with 90 PIM. In 191 career AHL contests, the Saskatoon, Saskatchewan native has earned 5-15=20 points with 245 PIM. Stephenson also played in seven Calder Cup Playoff contests with San Antonio in 2007-08, registering one assist (0-1=1) with six PIM. Stephenson was originally selected by Phoenix in the second round (35th overall) of the 2004 NHL Entry Draft. He was acquired by Anaheim from Phoenix in exchange for left wing Joakim Lindstrom on Dec. 3, 2008.

[chilly666]

not what we needed for the 2nd line center spot, but good enough for me for late game faceoff situations that our guys dont win at all.

[gauros]

James Wisniewski goes to ducks

[chilly666]

Originally Posted by gauros

James Wisniewski goes to ducks

****in tallon!! get rid of sopel's old useless ass not wizzer.

[canuckfan]

Pahlsson's a good fit for the Hawks - when it comes to shut-down guys, they don't get much better. And Chicago has plenty of solid young d-men to spare. Good deal.

[gauros]

Ducks are getting younger with these small trades

[Elvis Freshly]

I think this is a solid deal for the hawks

[bengino]

it seems like a decent enough trade. Hawks needed someone that can bring them some form of playoff experience and Sami has won it all before.

[Podollan]

I am a huge fan from Wisniewski- he is a good guy-

do the ducks have room for him?

[flyersrule]

hopefully wiz starts fighting again. he hasn't done much of it this year.

[LyleOdelein]

Noooooo! Not Wiz. He will fit in well with the Ducks tough.

[chilly666]

Originally Posted by Podollan

I am a huge fan from Wisniewski- he is a good guy-

do the ducks have room for him?

yep cause huskins is gone to san jose.

[OLLBLUEEYZ]

Man...
The Wizzer gone. Not sure how I feel about that.

[Snipes19]

IMO this isn't an awesome trade for either team. It's just not really necessary.

Hear me out though... they're both good players, but Anaheim had a great shutdown line of Moen-Pahlsson-Niedermayer going, and they traded Moen and Pahlsson today. WHY?

And the 'Hawks need Wisniewski more than the Ducks do. The 'Hawks need more toughness while the Ducks are okay as it is.

It's not a terrible trade, but all I'm saying is both teams would have been fine if they didn't make this deal.

Overall though I really like James Wisniewski because he's a good d-man who plays real gritty, so I'd have to give the edge to the Ducks in this deal.

[chilly666]

Originally Posted by Wes McSnipes

IMO this isn't an awesome trade for either team. It's just not really necessary.

Hear me out though... they're both good players, but Anaheim had a great shutdown line of Moen-Pahlsson-Niedermayer going, and they traded Moen and Pahlsson today. WHY?

And the 'Hawks need Wisniewski more than the Ducks do. The 'Hawks need more toughness while the Ducks are okay as it is.

It's not a terrible trade, but all I'm saying is both teams would have been fine if they didn't make this deal.

Overall though I really like James Wisniewski because he's a good d-man who plays real gritty, so I'd have to give the edge to the Ducks in this deal.

i disagree. it was needed for the hawks cause they cant win an important faceoff for their lives at the end of a game. and pahlsson can fill that spot for us.