Thrashers Trade Mike Vernace, Brett Sterling and Draft Pick to San Jose

[Grittzkey]

The Atlanta Thrashers have traded defenseman Mike Vernace, forward Brett Sterling and a seventh-round selection (188th overall) in the 2010 NHL Entry Draft to the San Jose Sharks for future considerations, according to General Manager Rick Dudley.

Vernace, 24, appeared in 62 American Hockey League games last season for the Chicago Wolves and Hamilton Bulldogs, tallying 13 points (two goals, 11 assists).

The 6-2, 200-pound defenseman appeared in 12 NHL games with Colorado during the 2008-09 season and has posted 71 points (nine goals, 62 assists) in 236 career AHL games with the Albany River Rats, Lake Erie Monsters, Chicago Wolves and Hamilton Bulldogs. Prior to his professional career, Vernace recorded 124 points (23 goals, 101 assists) in 138 career games with the Brampton Battalion of the Ontario Hockey League

The Toronto, Ontario, native was originally selected by San Jose in the seventh round, 201st overall, of the 2004 NHL Entry Draft.

Sterling, 26, recorded 56 points (34 goals, 22 assists) in 55 games with the Wolves last season. He led the team in goals and ranked third in overall points.

The 5-7, 175-pound left wing has appeared in 19 career NHL games with the Thrashers, registering four points (two goals, two assists) and has tallied 254 points (134 goals, 120 assists) in 254 career AHL games with the Wolves. Prior to his professional career, Sterling tallied 184 points (108 goals, 76 assists) in 150 games over four seasons with Colorado College of the WCHA.

The Los Angeles, CA, native was originally selected by the Thrashers in the fifth round, 145th overall, of the 2003 NHL Entry Draft.

[chilly666]

its either for future considerations or a draft pick cause the trash can't take any players back til july 1st

[PuckHogs29]

Yup, pretty much for nothing right now. That trade was just so the Chicago trade could go through.

[chilly666]

In a separate trade to free up spots on the Thrashers roster, Atlanta dealt their seventh-round pick in Friday's NHL draft, defenceman Michael Vernace and left-winger Brett Sterling to San Jose in exchange for future considerations.

Vernace and Sterling are due to become free agents on July 1.

The Score

[bengino]

the future considerations will likely be a low end draft pick, if we ever end up hearing about who goes back.

[CubsJunkie]

Kinda sad to see Sterling go from a Wolves fan perspective because he was a point-per-game player in the AHL, but just can't transfer that talent to the NHL. Maybe San Jose and their solid core of players will get him over that hump.

[chilly666]

umm yes he is but only if he has jason krog or darren haydar playing with him other than that he sucks

[BrianTheAdsFan]

Dammit!

What is Nolan going to do now?

[I_am_Belak_2]

Was this trade denied by the league? I searched all the sports sites for it and couldn't find anything on the trade. I did see it on sportsnet after it was first reported, then it disappeared from there too. Not even on the NHL site.

[chilly666]

how can you ask that? there wouldn't be a press release from the thrashers if it was denied by the nhl, which there would be no reason for that to happen as well.

[I_am_Belak_2]

I'm asking because there have been trades reversed before. Remember San Jose trying to trade Kyle McLaren to Philadelphia a few years ago?

[chilly666]

umm...that would then mean the hawks-thrashers trade would be reversed as well....and the mclaren trade was reversed due to mclaren failing a physical in season. and this trade was for players' rights more less.