Ducks Acquire Cumiskey from Avalanche for Newton, Draft Pick

The Anaheim Ducks have announced that they have acquired defenseman Kyle Cumiskey from the Colorado Avalanche in exchange for defenseman Jake Newton and a seventh round pick in the 2013 Entry Draft. The pick can become a fifth round pick in 2012 if Cumiskey plays in a minimum of 45 NHL games this season. In 18 games last season with the Avalanche, Cumiskey had one goal and seven assists for eight points. He missed 35 games early in the 2010-11 season with a concussion and the last 28 games of the season with another concussion. In 48 games last season with Syracuse of the AHL, Newton had two goals and seven assists for nine points. He has yet to appear in an NHL game. Not a bad trade for the Ducks, as Cumiskey is a very mobile defenseman and has some offensive upside. He is currently day to day with a groin injury, but with injuries to Toni Lydman and Kurtis Foster, Cumiskey will be a good replacement until the two blueliners return to the lineup. As for the Avalanche, they have plenty of defensive prospects in the minors with offensive upside, so Cumiskey became expendable. Newton will bring some size to Colorado's blueline, something they've been focusing on adding as of late, so he could see a role on the team's defense in the future.