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One day before the 2013 NHL trade deadline, the Carolina Hurricanes have made their long-awaited move for a defenseman, acquiring Marc-Andre Bergeron from the Tampa Bay Lightning in exchange for Adam Hall and a seventh-round draft pick in the 2013 entry draft.
Bergeron, 32, is in the final year of a two-year contract paying him $1 million, and will be an unrestricted free agent at the end of the season. In twelve games this year, Bergeron has five points, and his only goal of the year ironically came against his new club, in a 5-2 Tampa Bay win over Carolina on February 23 in Raleigh.
With Bergeron's acquisition, it seems more likely that Jamie McBain will be dealt before the trade deadline on Wednesday at 3:00 p.m., as Bergeron is a power-play specialist and not exactly an overly physical defenseman.
The release from the Hurricanes follows.
‘CANES ACQUIRE MARC-ANDRE BERGERON FROM TAMPA BAY
Carolina sends Adam Hall and a seventh-round pick to Lightning for defenseman
RALEIGH, NC – Jim Rutherford, President and General Manager of the National Hockey League’s Carolina Hurricanes, today announced that the team has acquired defenseman Marc-Andre Bergeron (BAIR-zhur-uhn) from the Tampa Bay Lightning in exchange for Adam Hall and a seventh-round pick in the 2013 Draft.
"Marc-Andre is a skilled, veteran defenseman who has made a good career out of helping teams on the power play," said Rutherford.
Bergeron, 32, is in his 10thNHL season and has earned five points (1g, 4a) in 12 games for the Lightning this season. The Trois-Rivieres, Que., native was in his third season with the Lightning, after leading Tampa Bay defensemen in points (24) and power-play points (9) in 43 games last season.
Bergeron (5’9", 190 lbs.) has totaled 82 goals, 149 assists (231 points) and 209 penalty minutes in 477 career NHL games with Edmonton, the New York Islanders, Anaheim, Minnesota, Montreal and Tampa Bay. Originally signed by the Oilers as an undrafted free agent on July 20, 2001, Bergeron established career highs with the Oilers in 2006, when he scored 15 goals, including eight power-play tallies, and 35 points in 75 games played. Bergeron has appeared in 57 career Stanley Cup playoff games, including deep playoff runs with Edmonton (2006), Montreal (2010) and Tampa Bay (2011), totaling 15 points (7g, 8a). Bergeron’s career statistics are below.