NHL NOTEBOOK: KINGS TRADE SOPEL TO VANCOUVER.Byline: Staff and Wire Services The Kings' trade for Brent Sopel Brent Sopel (born January 7, 1977 in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan) is a Canadian professional ice hockey defenceman who currently plays for the Chicago Blackhawks of the National Hockey League. in March turned out to be a one-year rental. Sopel, acquired from New York Islanders The New York Islanders are a professional ice hockey team based in Uniondale, a hamlet located on Long Island in Town of Hempstead, Nassau County, New York, United States. at the trade deadline last season, moved to Vancouver on Monday when the Kings received a second-round draft pick in 2007 or 2008 and a 2008 fourth-round pick for the 30-year-old defenseman. "I'm very excited, my family is very excited, we never wanted to leave Vancouver in the first place," Sopel told the Associated Press Associated Press: see news agency. Associated Press (AP) Cooperative news agency, the oldest and largest in the U.S. and long the largest in the world. . "I love the city and I love the team." The NHL NHL Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, see there trade deadline arrives at noon today and the Kings, who already parted with Craig Conroy Craig Conroy (born September 4, 1971, in Potsdam, New York) is a professional ice hockey player who plays for the Calgary Flames. Playing career Conroy was drafted 123rd overall in the 1990 NHL Entry Draft by the Montreal Canadiens after a solid four year career at and Sean Avery Sean Avery (born April 10, 1980 in Pickering, Ontario, Canada) is a professional hockey player in the National Hockey League, currently playing for the New York Rangers. He had formerly played for the Detroit Red Wings and Los Angeles Kings. , might have Aaron Miller's name on the table but otherwise aren't likely to make moves. Sopel broke into the NHL with Vancouver in 1998-99 and spent parts of six seasons with the Canucks before an August 2005 trade to the Islanders. Seven months later, the Islanders shipped Sopel to the Kings for prospects Denis Grebeshkov Denis Grebeshkov (born October 11, 1983) is a Russian ice hockey defenceman who currently plays for the Edmonton Oilers of the NHL. Grebeshkov was born in Yaroslavl, Soviet Union He was a first round selection, 18th overall by the Los Angeles Kings in the 2002 NHL Entry and Jeff Tambellini Jeff Tambellini (born April 13, 1984, in Port Moody, British Columbia) is a professional hockey player. His father, Steve Tambellini, played in the NHL as a member of the New York Islanders. and a draft pick. The Kings hoped Sopel, a puck-moving defenseman, would aid their power play, but Sopel had zero goals and one assist in 11 games last season and had four goals and 19 assists in 44 games this season. Sopel is under contract for $2.4 million this season and will be a free agent this summer. -- Rich Hammond More trades: The New York Islanders acquired winger Richard Zednik from Washington for a second-round draft pick in 2007. Zednik has six goals and 12 assists for the Capitals this season. He has also missed 31 games with wrist and groin injuries. ... The Capitals sent defenseman Lawrence Nycholat to Ottawa for defenseman Andy Hedlund and a sixth-round draft pick. ... Vancouver acquired veteran center Bryan Smolinski from Chicago for a conditional second-round draft pick. "I'm ecstatic about it," said Smolinski, who is expected to play on a line with Vancouver captain Markus Naslund, a former teammate in Pittsburgh. Smolinski had 37 points in 62 games with the Blackhawks this season. ... Forward Kyle Calder ended up in Detroit as part of a three-team deal that saw the Philadelphia Flyers acquire defenseman Lasse Kukkonen from Chicago. The Flyers sent Calder to Chicago for a 2007 third-round draft pick and Kukkonen. The Blackhawks then sent Calder to Detroit for forward Jason Williams. Drury still out: Chris Drury will miss Buffalo's game tonight against Toronto as the Sabres co-captain recovers from a concussion after being blindsided by Ottawa's Chris Neil last week. Coach Lindy Ruff said that Drury is still a few days away from being cleared for practice. There's a chance Drury could return when Buffalo hosts Montreal on Friday. Blue Jackets moves: The Columbus Blue Jackets The Columbus Blue Jackets are a professional men's ice hockey team based in Columbus, Ohio, United States. They are members of the Central Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League (NHL). re-signed left wing Fredrik Modin to a multi-year contract and placed forward Dan Fritsche on injured reserve. Fritsche injured his wrist Feb. 25 against Nashville. CAPTION(S): photo Photo: Instead of battling Vancouver's Markus Naslund, Brent Sopel, right, will be on his side, after the Kings traded Sopel. Andrew D. Bernstein/Getty Images |
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