Hurricanes Acquire Belanger and Gleason from Los Angeles

[Fighting Wombats]

RALEIGH, NC—Jim Rutherford, President and General Manager for the 2006 Stanley Cup champion Carolina Hurricanes, today announced that the team has acquired center Eric Belanger and defenseman Tim Gleason from Los Angeles in exchange for defensemen Jack Johnson and Oleg Tverdovsky.

“This deal improves our forward lines and adds a very good, young defenseman with NHL experience to the Hurricanes,” said Rutherford. “Eric and Tim strengthen the balance of our team.”

Belanger, 29, had 17 goals and 20 assists in 65 games with Los Angeles in 2005-06. The Sherbrooke, Que., native has recorded 63 goals, 87 assists (150 points) and 169 penalty minutes in 323 regular-season games in five seasons with the Kings since debuting in the NHL in 2000-01. Belanger (6’0”, 185 lbs.) was selected by Los Angeles in the fourth round, 96th overall, in the 1996 NHL Entry Draft.

Gleason, 23, completed his second NHL season in 2005-06, and recorded two goals and 19 assists (21 points) in 78 regular-season games with the Kings. He recorded an even plus/minus rating to rank third among the club’s regular defensemen, averaged 17:41 of ice time per game and his 77 penalty minutes ranked fifth among all Kings skaters. The Southfield, Mich., native was drafted by Ottawa in the first round, 23rd overall, in the 2001 NHL Entry Draft, and was traded to Los Angeles along with future considerations for Bryan Smolinski on March 11, 2003. After four seasons with the Windsor Spitfires of the Ontario Hockey League, Gleason turned professional in 2003-04 and split the season between Los Angeles and the Kings’ American Hockey League affiliate, Manchester. In his first two NHL seasons, Gleason (6’0”, 217 lbs.) has played in 125 NHL regular-season games, scored two goals, earned 26 assists (28 points) and accumulated 98 penalty minutes.

[Thrillhouse]

Holy sh*t...terrible deal for Carolina

[PuckHogs29]

Is this Carolina's idea of bringing in toughness, or is this just a silly little joke?? LA should be sending money and hookers to Carolina as a thank you.

[DaleHunter32]

Deal doesn't make any sense at all, they need D and they trade 2 d-men. 1 of them being a top 5 overall pick and a highly touted prospect. LA robbed them blind on this one

[BGDDYKWL]

I had heard that Carolina had several decent offers and were mulling them over and or waiting for a real good deal. Somehow this isn't what I had in mind.

[forsberg21]

What in the **** is that GM thinking!?

[Unforgiven]

When was the last time a team won the Stanley Cup and then didn't make the playoffs the following year?

[HellOnIce]

This is a big steal by the Kings. Johnson will be a great NHL D-man in a couple of years. And for what? Tim Gleason?

[HellOnIce]

Originally Posted by BGDDYKWL

I had heard that Carolina had several decent offers and were mulling them over and or waiting for a real good deal. Somehow this isn't what I had in mind.

Might have something to do with the cap, don't you think?

[jayc948]

Originally Posted by Skorka85

Is this Carolina's idea of bringing in toughness, or is this just a silly little joke?? LA should be sending money and hookers to Carolina as a thank you.

No, I believe this is a deal to get Jack Johnson out of the Hurricanes organization. Carolina had been trying to get him to come and play for them ever since he was drafted but he continously avoided the team, choosing to stay with the USA Hockey program for the time being. I think the last straw was when he decided to play for Michigan rather then go pro...

[Ciccarelli]

Originally Posted by Unforgiven

When was the last time a team won the Stanley Cup and then didn't make the playoffs the following year?

The New Jersey Devils won the cup and missed the playoffs the following season, I think after their first cup, but I don't remember.

I think Carolina simply gave up on Johnson cause he didn't want to play in the playoffs for them and now he opted again to play another season in college instead of signing with the Hurricanes. Tverdovsky wasn't the d-man they expected him to be after he came back from Russia so it isn't a big loss either.

LA looses a center and that could mean both O'Sullivan and Kopitar could stick with the Kings.

[Fighting Wombats]

What is Carolina thinking..considering they got ride of Cale Hulse too.

[OilersHockey]

raped is the word boys...

Worst deal in a long time IMO

[HellOnIce]

Originally Posted by Fighting Wombats

What is Carolina thinking..considering they got ride of Cale Hulse too.

Well, they got Woolley on a tryout now.

It feels like the Kings have secured the future. They have O'Sullivan, Kopitar and Johnson. And Frolov keeps getting better. Maybe a Stanley Cup contender in a few years?

[LAKINGSNUT]

well damn. i am sad to see Gleason go, but if Johnson lives up to the expectations, good deal! Belanger will be missed on the PK, but he's taken more penalties than anyone else on the team in the preseaon. that kinda defeats the purpose of being a PK specialist.

Kopitar looked real good on Monday boys! O'sullivan hasn't been as impressive, but i think they'll both be with the team. O'sullivan for sure, just because he has nothing more to prove after a 40+ goal season in the AHL. Kopitar will be here because of his talent.