The Carolina Hurricanes continue to be among the busiest teams Sunday, the first day of the 2012-13 season.
Sunday afternoon, the team announced it acquired rugged forward Kevin Westgarth from the Stanley Cup champion Los Angeles Kings in exchange for forward Anthony Stewart, a fourth-round pick in 2013 and a sixth-round pick in 2014.
"We were looking for a character, team guy who can play a gritty role for our team," Carolina president and general manager Jim Rutherford said. "Kevin is a good addition to fill that spot."
It was Rutherford's second trade on Sunday. In the morning, the Hurricanes traded backup goalie Brian Boucher and prospect Mark Alt for minor leaguer Luke Pither. Boucher became expendable when the club invited veteran goalie Dan Ellis, who was playing for the Charlotte Checkers in the American Hockey League, to training camp to be the backup to Cam Ward.
The 'Canes signed Ellis to a one-year deal for $650,000, Rutherford announced Sunday afternoon.
"Dan is an experienced netminder who has had good years in the NHL, and played well for Charlotte this season," Rutherford said. "We feel it is important to have a veteran goalie to partner with Cam during the compressed season."
Westgarth, 28, played 25 games for the Kings last season, managing a goal, an assist and 39 penalty minutes. For his career, all with the Kings, he has one goal, four assists and 153 penalty minutes in 90 games.
Stewart, also 28, had nine goals and 11 assists and 30 penalty minutes for Carolina last season. After spending his first four years with the Florida Panthers, Stewart played one year with the Atlanta Thrashers before joining the Hurricanes for the 2011-12 season. He has 27 goals and 71 points in 262 NHL games.
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