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Oilers Acquire Pitkanen, Sanderson, Draft Pick From Flyers for Lupul, Smith
Sunday, Jul. 1st, 2007
The Edmonton Oilers have obtained defenceman Joni Pitkanen, left winger Geoff Sanderson and a third round draft choice in the 2009 NHL Entry Draft from the Philadelphia Flyers in exchange for Jason Smith and Joffrey Lupul.
Oilers General Manager Kevin Lowe says “We are pleased to have Joni and Geoff join the Oilers. Joni is a talented young defenceman with a proven track record. He possesses the offensive skills we have been seeking on the blueline and look forward to having him in the lineup. Geoff brings a long list of accomplishments to the Oilers, foremost is the experience and leadership he possesses as a veteran of the NHL.”
“As happy as we are with the addition of Pitkanen and Sanderson, it is difficult to see Jason leave us,” continued Lowe. “Jason has been an exceptional leader and member of the Oilers and has served proudly as our team captain. He and Wendy have also served this community very well and their contributions to the City of Edmonton will have a lasting effect.”
The first choice (fourth overall) of the Flyers in the 2002 NHL Entry Draft, Pitkanen was one of the leaders among NHL defencemen in 2006-07. The 6’3”, 210-pound native of Oulu, Finland scored 4-39-43 with 88 PIM in 77 games, establishing single-season career-highs in assists, games and penalty minutes. He was the third leading scorer on the Flyers roster and led Philadelphia in assists and power play assists (17).
Pitkanen has been ranked among the NHL’s top 25 defencemen in scoring in each of the last two seasons. His 43 points this past season ranked him 22nd, while his career-high 13-33-49 in 2005-06 placed him 19th. He was also among the2006-07 NHL blueline leaders in assists (16th) and ice time (20th with 24:32 minutes per-game). The 23-year-old defenceman has led the Flyers in ice time in each of the last two seasons.
He began his NHL career with the Flyers in 2003-04 and was named to the NHL All-Rookie Team that season after scoring 8-19-27 in 71 games. A member of the Eastern Conference Team at the 2004 NHL YoungStars Game in Minnesota, Pitkanen was second among NHL rookies in plus/minus at +15 and was second in scoring among NHL rookie defencemen with his 27 points.
A key member of the Flyers powerplay unit, Pitkanen was tied for second in powerplay scoring in 2006-07 with 1-17-18 and led Philadelphia in powerplay assists. During his rookie season, Pitkanen was ranked second among NHL rookies in powerplay points (5-12-17) and powerplay assists.
Prior to joining the Flyers, Pitkanen played three seasons in the Finnish SM-Liiga with Karpat Oulu, scoring 9-30-39 with 113 PIM in 105 games. He also played three seasons with the Karpat Oulu juniors and twice represented Finland at the IIHF World Junior Championship, winning back-to-back bronze medals in 2002 and 2003. He received the IIHF Directorate Award as the tournament’s best defenceman in 2003.
Oilers General Manager Kevin Lowe says “We are pleased to have Joni and Geoff join the Oilers. Joni is a talented young defenceman with a proven track record. He possesses the offensive skills we have been seeking on the blueline and look forward to having him in the lineup. Geoff brings a long list of accomplishments to the Oilers, foremost is the experience and leadership he possesses as a veteran of the NHL.”
“As happy as we are with the addition of Pitkanen and Sanderson, it is difficult to see Jason leave us,” continued Lowe. “Jason has been an exceptional leader and member of the Oilers and has served proudly as our team captain. He and Wendy have also served this community very well and their contributions to the City of Edmonton will have a lasting effect.”
The first choice (fourth overall) of the Flyers in the 2002 NHL Entry Draft, Pitkanen was one of the leaders among NHL defencemen in 2006-07. The 6’3”, 210-pound native of Oulu, Finland scored 4-39-43 with 88 PIM in 77 games, establishing single-season career-highs in assists, games and penalty minutes. He was the third leading scorer on the Flyers roster and led Philadelphia in assists and power play assists (17).
Pitkanen has been ranked among the NHL’s top 25 defencemen in scoring in each of the last two seasons. His 43 points this past season ranked him 22nd, while his career-high 13-33-49 in 2005-06 placed him 19th. He was also among the2006-07 NHL blueline leaders in assists (16th) and ice time (20th with 24:32 minutes per-game). The 23-year-old defenceman has led the Flyers in ice time in each of the last two seasons.
He began his NHL career with the Flyers in 2003-04 and was named to the NHL All-Rookie Team that season after scoring 8-19-27 in 71 games. A member of the Eastern Conference Team at the 2004 NHL YoungStars Game in Minnesota, Pitkanen was second among NHL rookies in plus/minus at +15 and was second in scoring among NHL rookie defencemen with his 27 points.
A key member of the Flyers powerplay unit, Pitkanen was tied for second in powerplay scoring in 2006-07 with 1-17-18 and led Philadelphia in powerplay assists. During his rookie season, Pitkanen was ranked second among NHL rookies in powerplay points (5-12-17) and powerplay assists.
Prior to joining the Flyers, Pitkanen played three seasons in the Finnish SM-Liiga with Karpat Oulu, scoring 9-30-39 with 113 PIM in 105 games. He also played three seasons with the Karpat Oulu juniors and twice represented Finland at the IIHF World Junior Championship, winning back-to-back bronze medals in 2002 and 2003. He received the IIHF Directorate Award as the tournament’s best defenceman in 2003.
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© 2009 hockeyfights.com. All rights reserved.
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