Richards, Campbell deals highlight busy day

LOS ANGELES: The Dallas Stars got a playoff boost, San Jose won the Brian Campbell sweepstakes and Colorado turned back the clock in a busy day of National Hockey League trades on Tuesday.

There were 25 trades at the NHL's trading deadline, involving 45 players who must now blend into new teams in unfamiliar cities.

The Dallas Stars appeared to be one of the biggest winners by acquiring Canadian star Brad Richards from the Tampa Bay Lightning.

The Lightning receives left wing Jussi Jokinen, center Jeff Halpern and goaltender Mike Smith in exchange for Richards, who won a Stanley Cup with Tampa Bay in 2004 and was also named MVP of the post-season.

In addition to Richards, the Stars obtained netminder Johan Holmqvist to serve as the backup to Marty Turco. Tampa Bay also received a 2009 fourth-round pick in the deal.

Selected in the third round of the 1998 draft, Richards was coveted by a number of teams, including the Chicago Blackhawks and the Columbus Blue Jackets.

The 27-year-old center, who had a no-trade clause in his contract, recently was asked by the Lightning to submit a list of teams to which he would be willing to go.

"I just know (Dallas is) a really good organization," Richards told Canadian sports network TSN.

"They have a chance to win now. There are some great players there that I'll get a chance to play with. There's a lot of stability in that organization."

San Jose restocked by acquiring one of the most coveted defenceman in Campbell from the Buffalo Sabres.

In exchange for the two-time All-Star, San Jose sent right-wing Steve Bernier and a 2008 first-round pick to Buffalo. The Sharks also obtained a seventh-round pick this year in the deal.

Unable to come to terms on a new contract with Campbell, who can become an unrestricted free agent on July 1, the Sabres had no choice but to trade him.

Last summer, the club lost stars Daniel Briere and Chris Drury to free agency.

"I'm still trying to let it sink in a little bit," Campbell said. "It's unfortunate that we couldn't come to something and get something done.

"It didn't surprise me. You have to look out for number one and have to do that as much as possible."

Campbell had spent his entire eight-year career with the Sabres. In 63 games this season, the Canadian has registered five goals and 38 assists.

The Colorado Avalanche added toughness by luring back Adam Foote.

The trade for Foote from the Columbus Blue Jackets coincides with the return of Swedish superstar Peter Forsberg, who the Avalanche re-signed on Monday.

Like Forsberg, Foote was a member of Colorado's Stanley Cup championship teams in 1996 and 2001.

The Washington Capitals restocked by acquiring France's Cristobal Huet from the Montreal Canadiens for a 2009 second-round draft pick.

"It was unexpected and obviously when I got the call I was shocked," former All-Star Huet said. "I would have loved to finish the job here.

"I didn't play well enough the last few weeks so I guess I didn't help my cause.

"I tried to give myself a chance to help the team every night."

A seventh-round pick of Los Angeles in 2001, Huet had been the No 1 netminder for Montreal and should have no problem winning the starting job with the Capitals.

In 39 games this season, the 32-year-old has posted a 21-12-6 record with two shutouts and a 2.55 goals-against average.

Huet is in his fifth season in the NHL. The native of France owns a 72-59-24 career record with 15 shutouts.

The departure of Huet, who is a two-time Olympian, leaves the goaltending duties in Montreal to rookies Carey Price and Jaroslav Halak.

The Minnesota Wild reloaded their roster by trading for controversial Canadian forward Chris Simon.

The troubled left wing was traded by the New York Islanders to Minnesota for a 2008 sixth-round pick.

Simon recently completed his NHL-record 30-game suspension for intentionally stomping on the leg of Pittsburgh's Jarkko Ruutu in December.

The 36-year-old also received a 25-game ban last season for hitting the New York Rangers' Ryan Hollweg in the face with his stick in March.

AFP

(China Daily 02/28/2008 page24)