Phoenix Coyotes General Manager Don Maloney announced today that the Coyotes have acquired left wing Alexandre Picard from the Columbus Blue Jackets in exchange for center Chad Kolarik. Picard will report to Phoenix’s American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate, the San Antonio Rampage.
Picard, 24, has appeared in nine games for Columbus this season and has also played in 42 games with Syracuse of the AHL, where he has recorded 17-18-35 and 111 penalty minutes (PIM).
The 6-foot-2, 206-pound Picard has appeared in 67 career NHL games with Columbus and has registered two assists and 58 PIM. He made his NHL debut with the Blue Jackets on Nov. 18, 2005. In 234 career AHL games with Syracuse, the native of Les Saules, Quebec has tallied 72-74-146 and 461 PIM. He was originally drafted by Columbus in the first round (8th overall) of the 2004 Entry Draft.
Kolarik, 24, has appeared in 59 games with San Antonio (AHL) this season, recording 17-18-35 and 41 PIM. In 135 career AHL games with San Antonio, Kolarik has collected 37-48-85 and 88 PIM. Following the completion his collegiate career at the University of Michigan in 2007-08, Kolarik joined San Antonio for the 2008 Calder Cup Playoffs and collected 4-2-6 in seven games. Kolarik was drafted by the Coyotes in the seventh round (199th overall) of the 2004 Entry Draft.