COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) -- The Columbus Blue Jackets have traded center Antoine Vermette to the Phoenix Coyotes for two draft picks and goaltender Curtis McElhinney.
The deal would give Columbus a second-round pick in the 2012 draft and a fifth-round pick in 2013. The fifth-round pick will become a fourth rounder if the Coyotes make the playoffs this season and win their first-round series.
“We are extremely pleased to acquire Antoine,” Maloney said. “He is a smart, skilled, two-way center who will be a great addition to our lineup.”
The Blue Jackets, with the worst record in the NHL, have been trolling for trade partners for the past few weeks. Rumors have been flying about the club dealing captain Rick Nash or high-priced center Jeff Carter. Instead, for now, the Blue Jackets dealt Vermette (6-feet-1, 198 pounds), who has eight goals and 19 assists in 60 games this season.
Vermette, 29, has 141 goals and 178 assists in 600 career games for Columbus and Ottawa. He had career highs in goals (27) and assists (38) in 2009-10 with Colubmus.
McElhinney's acquisition could open the door to Columbus trading goalie Curtis Sanford, who will be an unrestricted free agent this summer.
Sanford is recovering from a back injury. The Blue Jackets also have former Calder Trophy goalie Steve Mason, who has been erratic since being named the league's top rookie in 2009.
McElhinney, 28, has appeared in 69 career NHL games with Calgary, Anaheim, Ottawa and Phoenix, with a 19-26-4 record, a 3.09 goals-against average, a .899 save percentage and two shutouts. He was 1-0-0 with a 1.67 goals-against average and a .944 save percentage in two games with Phoenix this season, and went 10-13-0 with a 3.04 goals-against average and a .907 save percentage in 25 games with Portland of the American Hockey League.
He is rehabilitating an injury and will remain on assignment with Portland.
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