Isles swap Comrie, Campoli for McAmmond, pick

Rejuvenated by new coach Cory Clouston and a current 5-1-1 streak, the Ottawa Senators Friday acquired center Mike Comrie and defenseman Chris Campoli from the New York Islanders in exchange for forward Dean McAmmond and a 2009 first-round draft pick the Senators had originally acquired from San Jose.

This will be Comrie's second stint in Ottawa. The eighth-year veteran had 25 points in 41 games with the Senators during the 2006-07 season after being acquired from the Phoenix Coyotes on Jan. 3, 2007. He also had 2 goals and 6 points in 20 playoff games as the Senators reached the Stanley Cup Final.

"I'm obviously excited," Comrie said about rejoining the Senators. "I played in Ottawa before. I know what's at stake and what it's like and it's an exciting place to play.

"It's a great group of guys and I'm thrilled about the opportunity to play on a great team."

Following the 2007 Final, Comrie signed with the Islanders. Last season, he led the team with 49 points and was second with 21 goals. He missed five weeks earlier this season with a hip injury, and in 41 games has 7 goals and 20 points.

"When I talked to him a short time ago, (Comrie) indicated he really was disappointed when he left Ottawa," Senators General Manager Bryan Murray said. "He enjoyed it here and he felt that he should have stayed here. I think what we'll find out, with 25 games left, is whether we like each other enough to make a deal this summer to continue (having) Mike stay in Ottawa."

Joining Comrie in Canada's capital is Campoli, a 2004 seventh-round pick who has blossomed into a full-time NHL player in his fourth season. After a breakout rookie season that saw him post 9 goals and 34 points in 80 games, health issues have plagued Campoli. Mostly healthy this season, Campoli has 6 goals and 17 points in 51 games, numbers that put him on pace to nearly match his first-season output.

"We feel that we've acquired a defenseman that will give us some skill back there and some mobility back there that we've been talking about a great deal this year," said Murray of Campoli, 24, who was in his fourth season with the Islanders. "He's young, he's mobile, he's got real decent skill, he's a good first-pass guy and plays on the power play. He's got a great contract going forward (Campoli is signed through the 2009-10 season).

"I've been watching him for awhile now, our scouts like him and the fact that he's mobile and young helps this year and we certainly think, going forward, that it addresses one of our needs."

McAmmond, in his 16th NHL season, joins his eighth team. In 916 NHL games with the Blackhawks, Oilers, Flyers, Flames, Avalanche, Blues and Senators, McAmmond has 176 goals and 422 points.

In 44 games with the Senators this season, McAmmond has 3 goals and 7 points.

"We're excited that we are able to add another piece to our rebuilding plans while bringing in someone like Dean who will provide additional depth for our team," Islanders General Manager Garth Snow said. "The Islanders organization would like to thank Mike and Chris for their contributions both on and off the ice over the past few seasons."

The first-round pick previously belonged to the San Jose Sharks, who sent it to Tampa Bay as part of the Dan Boyle trade. Tampa sent it to Ottawa as part of the Andrej Meszaros deal.

The Islanders now have 10 picks in the 2009 Entry Draft, including two first-round choices and three second-round picks.

Material from team online media was used in this report.

Contact Adam Kimelman at [email protected].