The Carolina Hurricanes have traded the rights to defenceman Jack Johnson and defenceman Oleg Tverdovsky to the Los Angeles Kings in exchange for defenceman Tim Gleason and centre Eric Belanger.
The Hurricanes were in need of some immediate defensive help after losing Aaron Ward to free agency and Frantisek Kaberle for up to six months because of shoulder surgery. Johnson did not want to sign with Carolina this season because he wanted to return to the University of Michigan.
''This deal improves our forward lines and adds a very good, young defenseman with NHL experience to the Hurricanes,'' Carolina general manager Jim Rutherford said. ''Eric and Tim strengthen the balance of our team.''
Johnson, who the Hurricanes picked third overall in the 2005 NHL Entry Draft, is a highly regarded prospect. He tallied ten goals, 22 assists and 149 penalty minutes in 38 games for the University of Michigan last season.
Tverdovsky scored three goals and chipped in 20 assists (12 on the power play) in 72 games with the Hurricanes last season. In 687 career NHL games he has 77 goals and 236 assists. He has two years and $5 million remaining on his contract.
In 78 games with the Kings last season, Gleason scored two goals and assisted on 19 others. The Kings re-signed Gleason, who will earn $1.2 million this season, as a restricted free agent to a two-year deal on September 17.
Belanger put up 17 goals and 20 assists in 65 games with the Kings last year. In 323 career NHL games he has 63 goals and 87 assists. He will make $1.3 million this season