Jackman also traded; Hilbert acquired
Penguins deal Recchi to Carolina PITTSBURGH (AP) – The Carolina Hurricanes added another important offensive piece Thursday, acquiring veteran forward Mark Recchi from Pittsburgh less than an hour before the NHL’s trade deadline.
The Penguins also traded defensemen Cory Cross and Ric Jackman, claimed center Andy Hilbert, who was put on waivers by the Chicago Blackhawks and sent center Shane Endicott to Wilkes-Barre Scranton for conditioning for two weeks.
The Hurricanes sent defenseman Niklas Nordgren, minor league forward Krys Kolanos and a second-round pick in 2007 to Pittsburgh.
With the move, Recchi leaves the league’s worst club with 40 points to join the NHL’s top club with 91 points.
“It’s going to be a breath of fresh air for me,” Recchi said. “I just can’t wait to get there, lace them up and get in the lineup with these guys.”
Recchi has 24 goals and 33 assists in 63 games for Pittsburgh, which loses a proven scorer and doesn’t get much in return.
Jackman was traded to Florida for center Petr Taticek, 22, who has nine goals and 21 assists in 44 games with the Panthers’ American Hockey League affiliate in Houston. Jackman had six goals and 22 assists in 49 games with the Penguins, but struggled to stay in the lineup and never won the confidence of the team’s coaches.
Cross, 35, was traded to Detroit for a fourth round draft pick after appearing in just six games with the Penguins this season, recording one assist and six penalty minutes.
Hilbert, 25, played in 28 games this season with Chicago, recording nine points and 22 penalty minutes. He ranked seventh in scoring in the AHL in 2004-05, recording 79 points in 79 games with the Providence Bruins. He was named team MVP and led the team in playoff scoring with 21 points in 17 games during the Calder Cup playoffs.
He has played in 66 NHL games with Boston and Chicago, recording 15 points and 40 penalty minutes.
Endicott, 24, played in 34 games with the Penguins.
The 6-foot-4, 211 pounder was drafted by the Penguins in the second round of the 2000 draft.
He missed the first 20 games recovering from a high ankle sprain and nine games with a groin injury.