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| Ice at PNC Arena is ready for start of Carolina Hurricanes training camp - Peter Koutroumpis, PKS Consulting LLC |
With the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) and the ratification of a new 10-year Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) by both the National Hockey League (NHL) and the National Hockey League Players' Association on Saturday, the league and its players are back in business.
The Carolina Hurricanes step onto the ice at PNC Arena in Raleigh, N.C. at 1 p.m.
Hurricanes trade Boucher, Alt for Pither
Earlier in the day, the team dealt goaltender Brian Boucher and defensive prospect Mark Alt to the Philadelphia Flyers for center Luke Pither.
According to the team's press release, Pither will be assigned to the Charlotte Checkers of the American Hockey League (AHL).
The Burketon, Ont., native signed as a free agent with
the Flyers on March 4, 2010, after totaling 250 points (104g, 146a) in 307
games during a five-year Ontario Hockey League (OHL) career with Kingston, Guelph,
Belleville and Barrie.
In two seasons with Adirondack
of the American Hockey League (AHL), Pither (6’0”, 186 lbs.) has
notched 30 points (11g, 19a) in 106 games.
Carolina signs Ellis to one-year deal at $650 K
An hour before camp was to begin on the ice, the team announced that it had come to terms with goaltender Dan Ellis, a veteran goaltender who had been playing with the team's American Hockey League affiliate, the Charlotte Checkers.
“Dan is an experienced netminder who
has had good years in the NHL, and played well for Charlotte this
season,” said Hurricanes President and General Manager Jim Rutherford.
“We feel it is
important to have a veteran goalie to partner with Cam during the compressed season.”
The Saskatoon,
Sask.,
native is 72-57-15 with a 2.68 goals-against average and 12 shutouts in 165
career NHL
games with Dallas,
Nashville,
Tampa
Bay
and Anaheim.
Originally selected by Dallas
in the second round, 60th overall, in the 2000 NHL
Entry Draft, Ellis has appeared in seven career Stanley Cup playoff games,
going 2-5 with a 2.87 goals-against average and .928 save percentage.
Hurricanes trade Stewart and picks to L.A. for Westgarth
Not quite finished, just 11 minutes later the Hurricanes announced another trade.
Carolina acquired forward Kevin Westgarth
from the Los Angeles Kings in exchange for forward Anthony Stewart, its 2013 fourth-round draft pick and a
sixth-round selection in the 2014 draft to the Kings.
“We were looking for a character,
team guy who can play a gritty role for our team,” said
Rutherford.
“Kevin is a good
addition to fill that spot.”
Westgarth,
28, is entering his seventh professional season. In 2011-12, he played 25 games
with Los Angeles, notching one goal, earning one assist (2 points) and
accumulating 39 penalty minutes.
In 90 career NHL
regular-season games with the Kings, the Amhurstberg, Ont., native has earned
five points (1g, 4a) while totaling 153 penalty minutes.
Westgarth appeared in
all six of the Kings’ 2011 postseason games, recording two assists, 14
penalty minutes and a plus-2 rating.
Westgarth
(6’4”, 234 lbs.) originally signed with Los
Angeles as a free agent on March
16, 2007, after four seasons at Princeton
University.
In addition to his NHL
experience, he has totaled 22 goals, 28 assists (50 points) and 580 penalty
minutes in 224 American Hockey League (AHL) games with Manchester.
More to come as training camp gets underway soon.
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