:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/45773788/2015-01-16_019-XL.0.0.jpg)
This will obviously be updated, but Ron Francis has been a busy man. Less than two hours after trading Jiri Tlusty to Winnipeg, Francis dealt one of the most coveted defensemen on the market, sending Andrej Sekera to the Los Angeles Kings for a first round pick and defenseman Roland McKeown, per Sportsnet's John Shannon. The news was first reported by TSN's Aaron Ward and then confirmed by literally everyone in the world on Twitter.
Sekera was in his second season with the Hurricanes and served as an alternate captain this season. In 131 games with the Hurricanes, Sekera scored 13 goals and added 50 assists for 63 points over his two years in Carolina. An unrestricted free agent after this season, Sekera had expressed an interest earlier this season in re-signing with the Canes, but clearly Francis felt that the Canes' chances of signing him was low enough that he should cash in.
Release from the team follows:
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – Feb. 25, 2015
‘CANES GET FIRST-ROUNDER, McKEOWN FOR SEKERA
Carolina receives first-round pick, prospect for blueliner
RALEIGH, NC – Ron Francis, Executive Vice President and General Manager of the National Hockey League’s Carolina Hurricanes, today announced that the Hurricanes have acquired defenseman Roland McKeown (muh-KOW-uhn) and a first-round draft pick in exchange for defenseman Andrej Sekera.
"We appreciate Andrej’s contributions to our organization on and off the ice over the past two seasons," said Francis. "He is a good player and an even better person.
"Roland has served in leadership positions for Kingston and Hockey Canada and is a good young defenseman that our scouts like. Obviously we are also happy to add an additional first-round pick."
McKeown, 19, is in his third season with the Kingston Frontenacs of the Ontario Hockey League (OHL), serving as Kington’s captain and ranking second among Kingston defensemen with 24 points (4g, 20a) in 54 games played. The Listowel, Ont., native was selected in the second round (50th overall) of the 2014 NHL Draft after ranking 13th among OHL defensemen in scoring in 2013-14 with 43 points (11g, 32a) in 62 games played, serving as alternate captain for the Frontenacs. McKeown has represented Canada in several international competitions, including the 2013 U-18 World Junior Championship and the 2013 Ivan Hlinka Memorial Tournament. His career statistics are below.
The first round draft pick that Carolina will receive in the deal will be in the 2015 NHL Draft should Los Angeles make the 2015 Stanley Cup playoffs, or the 2016 NHL Draft if they do not.
Sekera, 28, has scored two goals and earned 17 assists (19 points) in 57 games with the Hurricanes this season. The Bojnice, Slovakia, native joined Carolina from Buffalo via a trade at the 2013 NHL Draft, and set career highs in goals (11), assists (33), points (44), power-play goals (4) and shots (142) in 74 games during the 2013-14 season. Sekera (6’0", 201 lbs.) has notched 30 goals and earned 125 assists (155 points) in 470 career NHL regular season games with Buffalo and Carolina since turning pro in 2006-07.
The Carolina Hurricanes host the Washington Capitals on Friday at PNC Arena (7 p.m., FOX Sports Carolinas, Hurricanes Radio Network). For information about Hurricanes ticket packages, please visitwww.CarolinaHurricanes.com/
ROLAND McKEOWN CAREER STATISTICS
YEAR TEAM
2011-12 Toronto Marlboros GTHL 28 10 25 35 30 - - - - -
2012-13 Kingston OHL 61 7 22 29 33 4 0 0 0 4
2013-14 Kingston OHL 62 11 32 43 61 7 1 3 4 8
Canada WJ18-A 7 0 1 1 2 - - - - -
2014-15 Kingston OHL 54 4 20 24 43 - - - - -
OHL TOTALS (3 seasons)