Coyotes Acquire Klesla, Byers from Blue Jackets for Upshall, Lepisto

The Phoenix Coyotes announced today that they have acquired defenseman Rostislav Klesla and left wing Dane Byers from the Columbus Blue Jackets in exchange for right wing Scottie Upshall and defenseman Sami Lepisto. Klesla still has three years left on his current contract, while Upshall will be an unrestricted free agent, while Lepisto and Byers will be eligible for restricted free agency. In 45 games this season with Columbus, Klesla has three goals and seven assists for 10 points. Byers, who was acquired by the Blue Jackets from the New York Rangers this past November in exchange for Chad Kolarik, has 12 goals and 22 assists for 34 points and 120 penalty minutes in 64 games with Hartford/Connecticut and Springfield of the AHL. Upshall has 16 goals and 11 assists for 27 points in 61 games with the Coyotes, while Lepisto has four goals and seven assists for 11 points in 51 games. Not a bad deal for both teams, as it addresses needs for both of them. The Coyotes get a shutdown defender in Klesla who can play a lot of minutes and also some much needed defensive depth with the current injuries to Ed Jovanovski and Adrian Aucoin. In Upshall, the Blue Jackets get some offensive depth on the wing, as well as a fiery player even though he is a bit prone to injury. Lepisto will bring some offensive depth and puckmoving skill to the Columbus blueline, which will help with the loss of Klesla. Byers will likely play the rest of the season in the minors and won't make an impact on the Phoenix roster.