Kings Acquire Justin Williams From Carolina

[Thrillhouse]

LOS ANGELES - The Los Angeles Kings have acquired right wing Justin Williams from the Carolina Hurricanes as part of a three-team trade involving Carolina and Edmonton, Kings President/General Manager Dean Lombardi announced today.

In acquiring Williams, the Kings have traded forward Patrick O'Sullivan to Edmonton and one of the club's two second-round draft selections in the upcoming 2009 NHL Entry Draft to Carolina (the Kings had two selections in the 2009 NHL Entry Draft - the selection going to Carolina was originally Calgary's selection which the Kings acquired in 2007 as part of a trade that sent Craig Conroy to the Flames). As part of the trade, Carolina has acquired forward Erik Cole and a fifth-round selection in the 2009 NHL Entry Draft from Edmonton, and the Oilers are receiving a second-round pick in the 2009 NHL Entry Draft from the Hurricanes.

Williams, 27, has played in 32 games with the Hurricanes this season and has 10 points (3-7=10) and nine penalty minutes. The 6-1, 195-pounder from Cobourg, Ontario, is currently on the injured reserve list due to a hand injury. He suffered a broken hand during the Carolina-Buffalo game on February 15.

Williams, a member of Carolina's Stanley Cup winning team in 2006 and an All-Star in 2007 when he scored a career-high 33 goals, has played in 491 career NHL games with the Hurricanes and the Philadelphia Flyers, the team that selected him in the first-round (28th overall) of the 2000 NHL Entry Draft. In those 491 career NHL regular season games, he has recorded 316 points (124-192=316) and 325 penalty minutes, while in 42 playoff games he has 24 points (8-16=24) and 46 penalty minutes. He has also represented Canada at three World Championship tournaments.

Williams' two finest NHL seasons came in 2005-06 and 2006-07. In '05-06, he played in all 82 games and had a career-best 76 points (31-45=76). The next season, he also played in all 82 games and had 67 points (33-34=67). He signed a five-year contract with the Hurricanes prior to the 2006-07 season.

O'Sullivan, 24, played in 62 games with the Kings this season and had 37 points (14-23=37) and 16 penalty minutes. Acquired by the Kings from Minnesota in 2006, O'Sullivan recorded 109 points (41-68=109) and 66 career penalty minutes with the team in 188 games.

[TheJoker]

I though that LA would be hanging onto this guy for a long time.

[Snipes19]

3-way trade?

I'll bet money that Edmonton is trading Erik Cole to Carolina.

That'd make a lot of sense because he's been doing terrible for the Oilers and the 'Canes want him back.

[NickDoh]

i think maybe sully has been on the managements bad side since the holdout to start the season? but im still surprised by this one.

[bengino]

considering you are getting a brittle Williams... they are getting pretty much hosed on this one.

[LAKINGSNUT]

i was thinking the exact same thing. i think him holding out left Dean with a bad taste. even so, i still feel like we got bent over on this one. is Williams gonna be with the Kings for a while? is he worth Sully and a pick? hasn't he been injured the past two years? looking at his numbers from this year and last, it feels like we're taking it up the "a"! maybe someone else can tell me otherwise, but it just seems bad right now.

[lakingsfan19]

I already commented in the other thread about the three way deal. Having 6 threads about is as confusing as the trade it's self.

[filippp3]

im so happy sully isnt part of la kings team..hes the most selfish players ive ever seen playing in nhl