Red Wings Sign Ian White to Two-Year Contract

The Detroit Red Wings have announced that they have signed defenseman Ian White to a two-year contract worth $5.75 million. The deal will pay him $2.875 million per season. In 78 games last season with the Calgary Flames, Carolina Hurricanes, and San Jose Sharks, he had four goals and 22 assists for 26 points. Not a bad signing for the Red Wings, as White will add some offensive skill and puck-moving ability to the blueline, as well as some mobility. He does suffer from inconsistency from time to time, and being bounced between three different teams last season didn't help out his offensive game any. Playing in Detroit will likely help White improve his overall offensive game and consistency.

Sharks Acquire Ian White from Hurricanes

In a second and separate trade by both teams today, the San Jose Sharks have acquired defenseman Ian White from the Carolina Hurricanes in exchange for a second round pick in the 2012 Entry Draft. Just prior to this trade, the Hurricanes acquired defenseman Derek Joslin from the Sharks in exchange for future considerations. White, who will be an unrestricted free agent this summer, was acquired by the Hurricanes earlier this season from the Calgary Flames with Brett Sutter in exchange for Anton Babchuk and Tom Kostopoulos. In 55 games this season with the Flames and Hurricanes, White has two goals and 14 assists for 16 points. Not a bad move for the Sharks, as White will bring plenty of offensive and puck-moving skill to the blueline, as well as some mobility. For the Hurricanes, White didn't play very well on the team, but they will lose a little depth on defense with his departure. Perhaps they could go shopping for another blueliner by the February 28 trade deadline if they feel they need more defensive depth.

Flames Acquire Babchuk, Kostopoulos from Hurricanes for Sutter, White

The Calgary Flames announced today that they have acquired defenseman Anton Babchuk and right wing Tom Kostopoulos from the Carolina Hurricanes in exchange for left wing Brett Sutter and defenseman Ian White. The trade comes one week after Sutter was charged with assault outside an Arizona bar. He is alleged to have punched a cab driver after a drunken altercation and has made a public apology. He has one assist in four games this season, while White has two goals and four assists for six points in 14 games. Babchuk has three goals and five assists for eight points in 17 games, while Kostopoulos has one goal and three assists for four points and 30 penalty minutes in 17 games. White and Babchuk will be unrestricted free agents next summer, while Sutter will be a restricted free agent. Kostopoulos will be an unrestricted free agent in 2012. This is a pretty even trade for both teams in terms of player quality, as Babchuk and White both have plenty of offensive skill on the blueline, while Sutter and Kostopoulos both play with lots of grit and toughness. The trade does offer the Flames some salary cap relief, as Babchuk and Kostopoulos both make a combined $2.4 million, while White's salary is $3 million. The deal is also a bit of a shakeup for the Flames, as they are 4-6 in their last 10 games. The deal also comes in the wake of rumors that the Flames have been considering trading team captain Jarome Iginla, possibly to the Los Angeles Kings in a package that would involve Brayden Schenn. However, the Flames have denied that they are going to trade Iginla. As for Sutter, his off ice altercation last week likely didn't sit well with team management and is likely sending a message to their players that such acts will not be tolerated. Sutter will get a fresh start on a rebuilding Hurricanes team, where cousin Brandon Sutter is one of the top prospects. Brett could likely become a checking forward with the team, where he will provide lots of toughness and energy.

Flames Re-Sign Defenseman Ian White to One-Year Contract

The Calgary Flames have announced that they have avoided arbitration with defenseman Ian White and signed him to a one-year contract worth $2,999,995. He was acquired by the Flames from the Toronto Maple Leafs this past January in the Dion Phaneuf trade. In 83 games last season with the Flames and Maple Leafs, White had 13 goals and 25 assists for 38 points and 51 penalty minutes. Not a bad signing for the Flames, as White has plenty of offensive skill on the blueline. He's a decent puck-handler, has a good shot, and can score goals despite being prone to inconsistency at times.

Maple Leafs Acquire Phaneuf in Blockbuster Trade

The Toronto Maple Leafs made a huge splash on the trade market Sunday by acquiring defenseman Dion Phaneuf, left wing Fredrik Sjostrom, and prospect defenseman Keith Aulie in exchange for center Matt Stajan, left wing Niklas Hagman, right wing Jamal Mayers, and defenseman Ian White. The move comes as both teams try to shake-up their slumping rosters. In 55 games this season with the Flames, Phaneuf has 10 goals and 12 assists for 22 points and 49 penalty minutes, while Sjostrom has one goal and five assists for six points in 46 games. Aulie has yet to appear in an NHL game.

In 55 games with the Maple Leafs this season, Stajan has 16 goals and 25 assists for 41 points, while Hagman has 20 goals and 13 assists for 33 points in 55 games. In 44 games with the Maple Leafs, Mayers has two goals and six assists for eight points and 78 penalty minutes, while White has nine goals and 17 assists for 26 points and 39 penalty minutes in 56 games.

I have to say, this trade caught me completely off guard. Phaneuf had popped up in the rumor mill in recent weeks, but it seemed unlikely that he would be moved given the length and cost of his contract. He will, however, bring lots of toughness, offensive skill, and a great shot to the Maple Leafs' blueline. Sjostrom gives the team a decent checking line forward, while Aulie gives Toronto another young, physical defenseman to build around. While Maple Leafs' general manager Brian Burke did deplete his offense a little to acquire Phaneuf, and by doing so has shown that he is now fully rebuilding the team, Toronto now boasts a pretty strong blueline with Phaneuf, Tomas Kaberle, Mike Komisarek, and Francois Beauchemin.

The Flames had been mired in a nine-game winless streak prior to defeating the Oilers on Saturday night and had been reportedly looking to shake things up offensively. Stajan and Hagman both bring lots of offensive depth and scoring ability to the team's forward lines. Perhaps one of them will be able to help Jarome Iginla increase his goal-scoring over the course of the next few months. Mayers brings lots of grit and toughness to the Flames' roster, while White brings plenty of toughness and some offensive skill to the blueline. It will be interesting to see how many of these players the Flames will keep beyond this season. Hagman is under contract for two more seasons, while Mayers and Stajan are both unrestricted free agents this summer. White will be a restricted free agent this summer and could be retained if he plays well in Calgary. Hopefully these players will give the Flames a much needed offensive boost and be retained beyond this season, as it would be a shame to see them deal away a talented defenseman like Phaneuf for nothing but rental players.