Hurricanes Acquire Scott Walker from Nashville

[BGDDYKWL]

RALEIGH, NC – Jim Rutherford, President and General Manager for the 2006 Stanley Cup champion Carolina Hurricanes, today announced that the team has acquired right wing Scott Walker from the Nashville Predators in exchange for center Josef Vasicek.

“Scott has been a top leader and scorer for Nashville for the entire history of their franchise,” said Rutherford. “He will fit in well with our team on and off the ice.”

Walker, 33, is entering his 12th NHL season, having totaled 106 goals and 185 assists for 291 points in 607 career games with Vancouver and Nashville. An original member of the Nashville Predators, selected in the 1998 NHL Expansion Draft, Walker is the Predators’ all-time leader in goals (96), points (247) and penalty minutes (465).

Walker (5’10’’, 196 lbs.) notched five goals and 11 assists (16 points) in 33 games during the 2005-06 regular season with Nashville. The Cambridge, Ont., native missed 33 games from Oct. 25-Jan. 6 with a sports hernia and 16 games from Feb. 8-March 25 with a sprained wrist. He skated in his 600th career NHL game on April 3 vs. Columbus, and recorded a pair of multi-goal games during the season.

Walker played in all five postseason contests for the Predators. Walker’s best season came in 2003-04, when he established then-single-season franchise records for Nashville in points (67) and multi-point games (15). He also established career-highs in games played (75), assists (42), plus-minus rating (+4) and average ice time (20:03). Walker was originally drafted by the Canucks in the fifth round (124th overall) of the 1993 NHL Entry Draft, and was recognized by The Sporting News as one of the “Good Guys for 2004” based on his community involvement.

[canuck2]

I like Walker. tough as nails.

[Humpzilla]

Can't say I like this deal very much. The Predators just got softer...

[intricateproces]

bad deal if im a preds fan

[BGDDYKWL]

Sounds funny in that they just won the Stanley Cup, but the Canes desperately needed someone like this. Obviously an enforcer would've been ideal, but in that it probably wasn't gonna happen, at least you bring in a gritty guy with Walker.

[BENNETTWOLF]

Goodd deal for Carolina. Always liked Walker's grit and tenacity. Hurricanes just got a guy to upgrade their 'functional' toughness insofar as he can take a regular shift.

[DaleHunter32]

Why?

the only thing i can think of is that the Preds Mgt. didn't think Walker would come back to form after his recent injuries/surgery. But they get a Sasquash in Vasicek who is also coming off surgery. How you trade a 2nd line winger for a 4th line winger is beyond me.

Wasn't Vasicek a healthy scratch in some on the playoff games anyways?

even if this was a salary dump, if i were the Preds i would have rolled the dice and shiped him on Draft day for a mid-rounder instead of taking it up the ass and getting nothing in return, IMO

[Isles4life]

If Vasicek comes back healthy, it's not a terrible deal for the Preds despite the fact they get softer. I think it's a good pick up by Carolina, though.

[jkidd]

Scott Walker is one of my favorite players. Great player and as tough as they come. Great pickup for the 'Canes.

[jreverblade9]

This guy can go along with their 4th line!

[Fletch]

Well the Predators just lost some toughness and leadership. But Walker isn't really a in the line-up every game type of player due to his injuries the last few years.

The Preds did get some size in Vasicek thought. He can throw the body around a little bit, and will be a well rounded 3rd or 4th line center.

[Adambruinsfan]

good trade for Carolina, horrible trade for Nashville. i'm a Scott Walker fan and he's a player that every team wants.

[Blouin]

mini Brindamour. Good trade for Carolina. Nashville better hope their player is not still injured

[dp]

A quality guy.

Didn't he wail on the much bigger Arnott once?

[Jensen]

Good trade for the Hurricanes. They pick up some toughness while getting rid of a soft big player. Not sure how well Vasicek will perform in Nashville though.