The Carolina Hurricanes started the big trade deadline day off by dealing defenseman Aaron Ward to the Anaheim Ducks for a conditional fourth round draft pick and goalie prospect Justin Pogge.
The Canes are reporting that the draft pick originally belonged to the Boston Bruins and could be for either the 2010 or 2011 draft year.
Pogge was originally Toronto's property and was traded to Anaheim for a conditional pick in October of 2009. He is currently in the minor leagues and will probably be sent to Albany to close out the season.
Carolina is looking for salary relief and will benefit by freeing up the balance of Ward's 2.5 million dollar salary.
The team released the following about Pogge:
Pogge, 23, played in seven NHL games with the Toronto Maple Leafs in 2008-09, and has a career NHL record of 1-4-1 with a 4.35 goals-against average. He has spent the 2009-10 season with San Antonio of the American Hockey League (AHL), posting a 12-7-3 record with a 2.57 goals-against average and .920 save percentage. In 165 career AHL games with Toronto and San Antonio, Pogge has earned a record of 83-63-14, with a 2.69 goals-against average.
Pogge (6’3", 200 lbs.) played his junior hockey in the Western Hockey League (WHL), where he was the WHL Player of the Year and the Canadian Major Junior Goaltender of the Year in 2006, after posting a 38-10-6 record with a 1.72 goals-against average and 11 shutouts for the Calgary Hitmen. The Ft. McMurray, Alb., native was Toronto’s first choice, 90th overall, in the third round of the 2004 NHL Entry Draft. He was acquired by the Ducks from the Maple Leafs on Oct. 8, 2009, in exchange for a conditional pick in the 2011 NHL Entry Draft.