Thrashers Acquire Joel Stepp from Anaheim for Jani Hurme

[Thrillhouse]

ATLANTA -- The Atlanta Thrashers have acquired forward Joel Stepp from the Anaheim Mighty Ducks in exchange for goaltender Jani Hurme, according to Executive Vice President and General Manager Don Waddell. Stepp will join the Gwinnett Gladiators of the ECHL.

Stepp, 23, shares second on the Augusta Lynx (ECHL) with 39 points (13 goals, 26 assists) in 38 games this season. The 6-0, 210-pound left wing has also registered three points (two goals, one assist) in 17 games with the Portland Pirates (AHL). The native of Estevan, Saskatchewan, has collected 29 points (12 goals, 17 assists) in 145 career AHL games with Cincinnati and Portland, and 46 points (20 goals, 26 assists) in 50 career ECHL games with San Diego and Augusta. As a rookie, Stepp set AHL career bests with seven goals, seven assists, 14 points and 65 games with Cincinnati in 2003-04.

During his junior career, Stepp played over four seasons in the Western Hockey League with Red Deer, notching 129 points (66 goals, 63 assists) and 225 penalty minutes in 231 games. He was selected by Anaheim in the third round, 66th overall, in the 2001 NHL Entry Draft.

Hurme, 31, has registered a 6-7-2 record and 3.39 goals-against average in 15 games with Columbia (ECHL), and was 2-4-0 with a 3.64 GAA in six games with Chicago (AHL) this season. He has posted a 29-25-11 record along with a 2.61 goals-against average and six shutouts in 76 career NHL games with Ottawa and Florida from 1999-2002.

[dp]

is this so they can move Giguere?

from www.tsn.ca

"Reports have goaltender Jean-Sebastien Giguere on the block, as the 2003 Conn Smythe Trophy winner has struggled this season with Ilya Bryzgalov getting more playing time."

[McDonald19]

the Ducks AHL team needed a veteran goalie (one of their goalies is out for the season). I doubt this has any NHL implications, such as a Giguere trade. Though I wouldn't mind if the Ducks got rid of Giguere.

[bengino]

Hurme seems to have ran out his NHL welcome.. didn't play with the Panthers and didn't seem to do anything with the Thrashers either, so it seems unlikely that he will play with the Ducks.