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After losing five games in a row and eight of their last nine, it seems the Carolina Hurricanes are finally wanting to shake things up.
The club announced this evening the acquisition of right winger, Greg Nemisz, from the Calgary Flames for Kevin Westgarth.
Westgarth, who is in the final year of a two year contract which pays him $725,000 this season, played in just 12 games this year and had a team low 4:52 of average ice time per game. He never quite materialized into the feared enforcer management and fans were hoping for.
He has zero points this season.
Nemisz has also been a bit of a disappointment and has 5 goals in 32 games in the AHL so far this season. He is young though and the Hurricanes are hoping for further development.
The press release follows:
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – Dec. 30, 2013
HURRICANES AQUIRE GREG NEMISZ FROM CALGARY
Carolina sends Kevin Westgarth to Flames
RALEIGH, NC – Jim Rutherford, President and General Manager the National Hockey League’s Carolina Hurricanes, today announced that the team has acquired forward Greg Nemisz (GREHG NEH-mihtz) from Calgary in exchange for forward Kevin Westgarth. Nemisz will report to the Hurricanes’ American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate, the Charlotte Checkers.
"Greg is a young player and a former first-round pick that we hope will continue to develop into a solid NHL player," said Rutherford.
"We thank Kevin for his time with the Hurricanes and wish him well."
Nemisz, 22, has scored five goals, earned four assists (9 points) and posted a plus-5 plus/minus rating in 32 games this season with the AHL’s Abbotsford Heat. The Courtice, Ont., native is in his fourth professional season, and has appeared in 15 career NHL regular-season games with Calgary, earning one assist. Nemisz (6’3", 197 lbs.) has played in 206 career AHL regular-season games with Abbotsford, notching 35 goals and earning 46 assists (81 points).
The Flames drafted Nemisz in the first round, 25th overall, of the 2008 NHL Entry Draft. He was a member of the Windsor Spitfires’ back-to-back Memorial Cup-winning teams in 2009 and 2010, and represented Canada at the 2010 International Ice Hockey Federation World Junior Championship.
The Hurricanes host the Montreal Canadiens on Tuesday at PNC Arena (7 p.m., FOX Sports Carolinas, Hurricanes Radio Network). Individual-game tickets for all Hurricanes regular-season games are on sale at the PNC Arena Box Office and via Ticketmaster. For information on Hurricanes ticket packages, please call 1-866-NHL-CANES, or visit www.CarolinaHurricanes.com.
GREG NEMISZ’S CAREER STATISTICS
REGULAR SEASON PLAYOFFS YEAR Team
LGE GP G A TP PIM GP G A TP PIM 2006-07 Windsor
OHL 62 11 23 34 23 - - - - - 2007-08 Windsor
OHL 68 34 33 67 52 5 2 1 3 8 2008-09 Windsor
OHL 65 36 41 77 48 20 8 12 20 22 2009-10 Windsor
OHL 51 34 36 70 50 15 2 10 12 12 2010-11 Calgary
NHL 6 0 1 1 0 - - - - -
Abbotsford AHL 68 14 19 33 28 - - - - - 2011-12 Calgary
NHL 9 0 0 0 0 - - - - -
Abbotsford AHL 51 13 16 29 29 8 2 4 6 4 2012-13 Abbotsford AHL
55 3 7 10 34 - - - - - 2013-14 Abbotsford AHL
32 5 4 9 9 - - - - - NHL Totals (2 seasons)
15 0 1 1 0 - - - - - AHL Totals (4 seasons)
206 35 46 81 100 8 2 4 6 4