Islanders Acquire Lessard from Thrashers for Skinner

The New York Islanders announced on Tuesday that they have acquired right wing Junior Lessard from the Atlanta Thrashers in exchange for defenseman Brett Skinner. Lessard, who has six goals and five assists for 11 points in 41 games, was assigned to the Islanders' AHL affiliate in Bridgeport. In 27 career NHL games with the Dallas Stars and Tampa Bay Lightning, he has three goals and one assist for four points. Lessard has yet to appear in an NHL game this season. Skinner, in his first NHL season, has played in 11 games, scoring no points and four penalty minutes. There isn't much to say about this trade. It's merely one for the Islanders to boost their AHL affiliate with offensive depth and the Thrashers to bolster their defensive depth at the AHL level. Don't expect to see these two in the NHL for the rest of the season unless their respected teams become ravaged with injuries over the next couple of months.