Canucks Acquire Sami Pahlsson from Blue Jackets

The Vancouver Canucks have announced that they have acquired center Sami Pahlsson from the Columbus Blue Jackets for minor league defenseman Taylor Ellington and two fourth round picks in the 2012 Entry Draft. The draft picks that Columbus will receive are Vancouver's fourth round pick and the New York Islanders' fourth round selection, which the Canucks acquired in the Christian Ehrhoff trade this past summer. In 61 games so far this season, Pahlsson has two goals and nine assists for 11 points. Ellington has appeared in 55 games with Kalamazoo of the ECHL, scoring seven goals and 15 assists for 22 points. He was also held pointless in one game with Chicago of the AHL and has yet to appear in an NHL game.

Not a bad depth move for the Canucks, as Pahlsson will bring lots of two-way skill and veteran depth up the middle, particularly on their third and fourth lines. The acquisition ended up being the precursor to the Cody Hodgson trade, and Vancouver really took a downgrade at center on their checking lines. Pahlsson is not as fast as he used to be and the team will likely miss Hodgson's speed up the middle, but he should still be helpful to the Canucks as they inch closer to the playoffs. As for the Blue Jackets, they've been full-blown sellers for the past several weeks, so it comes as no surprise that they moved Pahlsson, an impending free agent. It remains to be seen if Ellington will figure into their rebuild efforts, but the draft picks are the key to this deal to help the Blue Jackets restock their team through the draft.

Blue Jackets Add Pahlsson, Garon Via Free Agency

The Columbus Blue Jackets added some forward and goaltending depth to their roster on Wednesday by signing center Sami Pahlsson and goaltender Mathieu Garon to contracts. Pahlsson signed a three-year deal worth $7.95 million, which averages out to $2.65 million per season, while Garon signed a two-year contract worth $2.4 million, which averages out to $1.2 million per season. Pahlsson played last season with the Anaheim Ducks and Chicago Blackhawks, who acquired him at the 2009 trade deadline. In 65 games, he scored seven goals and 11 assists for 18 points. In 557 career games with the Ducks Blackhawks, and Boston Bruins, Pahlsson has 54 goals and 92 assists for 146 points. Garon split last season with the Edmonton Oilers and Pittsburgh Penguins, posting an 8-9-0 record in 19 games with a 3.12 GAA and a .894 save percentage. He won his first Stanley Cup with the Penguins this past season.

These are decent signings for the Blue Jackets, as both players bring plenty of depth to their respected positions. Pahlsson gives the team a very skilled two-way forward who plays with plenty of grit, as well as veteran depth at center. Garon gives the Blue Jackets a more than capable back-up to Steve Mason next season should the young netminder struggle or miss time with an injury.