Thrashers Acquire Brett Festerling from Canadiens for Drew MacIntyre

The Atlanta Thrashers announced today that they have acquired defenseman Brett Festerling from the Montreal Canadiens in exchange for goaltender Drew MacIntyre. Festerling will be eligible for restricted free agency this summer, while MacIntyre will be an unrestricted free agent. Festerling, who was acquired by the Canadiens this past December from the Anaheim Ducks in exchange for Maxim Lapierre, has no points in one game with the Ducks this season. He never suited up in a game with the Canadiens. He has also appeared in 48 games with Syracuse and Hamilton of the AHL, scoring three goals and 13 assists for 16 points. MacIntyre has played in 20 games with Chicago of the AHL, posting a 12-5-1, with a 2.91 GAA and a .906 save percentage. He has not appeared in an NHL game this season. This is really just a depth move for both teams, as both players will likely spend most of the rest of the season in the minors. The Thrashers get a hard-working defenseman in Festerling who can chip in offensively from time to time, so he could end up as their sixth or seventh defenseman down the road. MacIntyre adds more depth in goal for Montreal as they head into the playoffs, though it remains to be seen if he will play any games with the club.