Sharks, Ducks pull off 4-player deal

The Anaheim Ducks continued their roster reshuffling in the waning moments of the trade deadline Wednesday, sending forward Travis Moen and defenseman Kent Huskins to the San Jose Sharks for goalie prospect Timo Pielmeier, Boston University sophomore forward Nick Bonino and a conditional fourth-round draft pick in 2011.

The trade came just moments after Anaheim General Manager Bob Murray had sent forward Samuel Pahlsson to the Chicago Blackhawks for defenseman James Wisniewski and a draft pick. Anaheim currently sits in a three-way tie for ninth in the Western Conference with Edmonton and Nashville with 68 points.

In another move, the Ducks acquired Erik Christensen from the Atlanta Thrashers in exchange for center Eric O'Dell.

Christensen, 25, appeared in 47 games for Atlanta this season, scoring 5 goals and 14 assists with 14 penalty minutes. Christensen ranked second among team leaders in faceoff percentage (54.6%; 233-for-427) and third in faceoffs won. The 6-foot-1, 205-pound native of Edmonton averaged 14:16 time on ice and 17.1 shifts-per-game with the Thrashers this season.

Originally selected by Pittsburgh in the third round (69th) of the 2002 Entry Draft, Christensen was acquired by Atlanta with Colby Armstrong, Angelo Esposito and a first-round selection in the 2008 Draft (Daultan Leveille) in exchange for Marian Hossa and Pascal Dupuis on Feb. 26, 2008. In 200 career NHL games with Pittsburgh and Atlanta, Christensen has recorded 40-49=89 points with 104 PIM.

O'Dell, 18 has appeared in 59 games for Sudbury of the Ontario Hockey League (OHL) this season, scoring 30 goals and 29 assists. A 6-foot, 177-pound native of Ottawa, O'Dell represented the Eastern Conference at the 2009 OHL All-Star Classic, scoring 1 goal. In 2007-08, O'Dell played in 28 games for Sudbury, leading team rookies and finishing fifth overall in scoring with 14 goals and 18 assists.

"These two players understand that the team comes first," San Jose GM Doug Wilson said.  "They have both won a Stanley Cup and will be great additions to our club."

Moen and Pahlsson were two of the catalysts on Anaheim's checking line, along with Rob Niedermayer, during the club's Stanley Cup championship in 2007. The trio happened to be the only line Anaheim coach Randy Carlyle did not feel the need to change throughout the season.

Pielmeier, 19, a third-round pick of the Sharks in 2007, is currently in his first season with the Shawinigan Cataractes of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League. In 41 games, he is 30-7-2 with a 2.65 goals-against average and .915 save percentage. The 6-foot, 175-pound keeper ranks fifth overall in the QMJHL in both GAA and save percentage while also ranking sixth in wins.

Selected by San Jose in the third round of the 2007 Entry Draft (83rd overall), Pielmeier began his North American career in the QMJHL with St. John's in 2007-08, leading the league in save percentage (.911). The native of Deggendorf, Germany represented his country in the 2005-06 World U-18 Championships and again in 2006-07 at the World Junior Championships.

Bonino, a native of Hartford, Conn., is second in scoring for the Terriers with 37 points (13 goals) this season. He also tops the club with a plus-19 rating in 33 games at BU. He was named the Reebok Hockey East Player of the Month for February, posting 14 points with a plus-9 rating in 9 games. He also garnered Most Valuable Player honors at the annual Beanpot Tournament last month, scoring 3 goals in 2 games as Boston University won the title. Bonino was drafted by San Jose in the sixth round (No. 173 overall) in 2007.

San Jose (42-11-9), currently tops in the Western Conference with 93 points, is happy to reel in two experienced players with Stanley Cup rings. Both Moen and Huskins will become unrestricted free agents on July 1.

The 29-year old Huskins had 2 goals and 6 points with a plus-6 rating in 33 games with Anaheim this season. He has missed the last 26 games with a broken foot. Huskins, a sixth-round pick by Anaheim in 1998, has played in 142 NHL games, scoring 6 goals and 28 points with a plus-26 rating.

Moen, despite being drafted by the Calgary Flames in the fifth round (No. 155 overall) in 2000, never played with the club and, instead, was signed by the Chicago Blackhawks in October 2002. Before the 2005-06 season, he was traded to Anaheim and played in 39 games that season with the Ducks. During the club's Stanley Cup run in '07, Moen would score the Cup-clinching goal in Game 5 of its series against the Ottawa Senators. The 26-year-old left wing has played in 63 games with Anaheim this season, registering 4 goals and 11 points.

There were five stipulations attached to the deal between the clubs:

1. In the event San Jose qualifies for the 2009 Stanley Cup Final, then San Jose will transfer Buffalo's second-round draft pick in the 2009 Draft (previously acquired), instead of San Jose's 4th round draft pick in 2011.

2. In the event San Jose re-signs one or both of Moen or Huskins for the 2009-10 season, then San Jose will also transfer its own fourth-round pick in the 2012 Draft.

3. In the event Anaheim re-signs one or both of Moen or Huskins for the 2009-10 season, then Anaheim will transfer its own fourth-round draft pick in the 2011 Draft.

4. In the event San Jose and Anaheim each sign one of the above players for the 2009-10 season, then the transfers referenced in 2 and 3 are cancelled out.

5. The transfer by San Jose of its fourth-round draft pick in 2011 (or Buffalo's 2nd round draft pick in 2009) is conditioned on both Moen or Huskins playing at least one (1) game (regular season or playoffs) for San Jose during the 2008-09 season.