Print

Mail

wiki links

Mighty Ducks trade away Sergei Fedorov to Jackets

Russian Sergei Fedorov, right, of the Mighty Ducks, battles with Kirk Maltby of the Red Wings in Detroit, Michigan, on Dec. 3, 2003. The Blue Jackets acquired Fedorov in a trade on Tuesday. Fedorov has 431 goals and 589 assists in 15 NHL seasons. PHOTO: AP

The Columbus Blue Jackets acquired six-time National Hockey League All-Star center Sergei Fedorov and a fifth-round selection in the 2006 NHL draft on Tuesday from the Anaheim Mighty Ducks for forward Tyler Wright and rookie defenseman Francois Beauchemin.

The 35-year-old Fedorov had one assist in five games this season for Anaheim, his second with the Mighty Ducks after 13 seasons with Detroit. The Russian forward recently returned from a groin injury that sidelined him for 13 games.

Columbus general manager and president Doug MacLean had been sorting through trades for the past few weeks, but said he was unwilling to part with any of the Blue Jackets' young talent. Columbus is last in the NHL with 34 goals.

MacLean likened the acquisition of Fedorov to the free-agent signing this summer of defenseman Adam Foote, a mainstay of Colorado's two Stanley Cup-winning teams.

"The point of the deal is similar to our signing of Adam Foote," MacLean said. "We have a lot of young players, a lot of young kids with a lot of talent.

"We're adding a three-time Stanley Cup champion, a Hart winner, who still has a tremendous skill level and is excited to play. He'll be a terrific addition."

Fedorov has 431 goals and 589 assists in 15 seasons in the NHL. The speedy Russian had a career-high 56 goals for the Red Wings in 1993-1994, when he won the Hart Trophy as the league's best player.

Fedorov will make US$6.08 million this season and each of the next two. The Mighty Ducks will gain room under the salary cap.

"He's an expensive player, but we feel good about it," MacLean said.
This story has been viewed 1427 times.