NHL: Calgary trades for Panthers blueliner
The Calgary Flames have added Jay Bouwmeester to their defense corps, at least for the next few days.
Bouwmeester, who is eligible to become an unrestricted free agent on Wednesday, was acquired by Calgary in a trade with the Florida Panthers as the NHL entry draft in Montreal wrapped up yesterday with the final six rounds at the Bell Centre.
The Flyers were among the teams that had been interested in Bouwmeester. The 6-foot-4, 214-pound defenseman had spent his entire career with Florida, which drafted him third overall in 2002.
Florida got Jordan Leopold - also on the verge of free agency - and a third-round pick, which the Panthers used to draft right winger Josh Birkholz 67th overall.
The trade gives Flames general manager Darryl Sutter a window of exclusivity in negotiating a new contract with Bouwmeester, 25, and his agent, Bryon Baltimore.
The Flames also traded defenseman Jim Vandermeer to Phoenix for center Brandon Prust.
The Coyotes picked up defenseman Sami Lepisto from Washington for a fifth-round pick in next year's draft, and Los Angeles dealt center Brian Boyle for a third-round pick, also in 2010.
Minnesota acquired center Kyle Brodziak from Edmonton for fourth- and fifth-round draft picks.
Stanley Cup champion Pittsburgh chose Philip Samuelsson, the son of former Penguins and Flyers defenseman Ulf Samuelsson, and Andy Bathgate, the grandson of Hall of Famer Andy Bathgate Sr., one of the original Penguins players in 1967.
The Penguins also took high school defenseman Alex Velischek, son of Randy Velischek, who played 509 NHL games for Minnesota, New Jersey and Quebec from 1982 through 1992.
The New York Rangers selected Ryan Bourque, son of Hall of Fame defenseman Ray Bourque, 80th overall.
Selanne staying. Ten-time all-star forward Teemu Selanne will play another season with Anaheim. His decision came a day after defenseman Scott Niedermayer told the team he would return. Selanne will turn 39 next week.
