COLUMBUS, OHIO – The Columbus Blue Jackets have acquired a second round pick in the 2012 Entry Draft, a fifth round pick in the 2013 Entry Draft and goaltender Curtis McElhinney from the Phoenix Coyotes in exchange for center Antoine Vermette, club Executive Vice President of Hockey Operations and General Manager Scott Howson announced today.
The second round pick in 2012 was originally acquired by the Coyotes from the Ottawa Senators, while the fifth round pick in 2013 will become a fourth round pick if Phoenix qualifies for the 2012 Stanley Cup Playoffs and advances to the second round.
McElhinney, 29, has appeared in 69 career NHL games with the Calgary Flames, Anaheim Ducks and Ottawa Senators, compiling a 19-26-4 record with a 3.09 goals-against average, .899 save percentage and two shutouts. He was 1-0-0 with a 1.67 goals-against average and .944 save percentage in two games with Phoenix this season, while going 10-13-0 with a 3.04 goals-against average and .907 save percentage in 25 games with the American Hockey League’s Portland Pirates. He is currently rehabilitating an injury and will remain on assignment with Portland.
Vermette tallied 8-19-27 and 12 penalty minutes in 60 games with Columbus this season and has registered 141-178-319 and 317 penalty minutes in 600 career NHL games. He was acquired by the Blue Jackets from Ottawa on Mar. 4, 2009 and appeared in 241-straight games with the club, totaling 61-91-152 and 112 penalty minutes.
The Blue Jackets return to action Friday when they host the Colorado Avalanche. Game time from Nationwide Arena is set for 7 p.m. ET. Live coverage on FOX Sports Ohio HD begins with the Blue Jackets Live pre-game show starting at 6:30 p.m. The game will also be broadcast live on the Wheeling Island Hotel & Casino Blue Jackets Radio Network, including Sports Radio 97.1 The Fan in Columbus and online at BlueJackets.com.
Single game tickets for the Blue Jackets home games starting at $26 are on sale now at the Nationwide Arena Ticket Office, The OhioHealth Chiller Ice Rinks and all Ticketmaster Ticket Centers. Fans can also purchase tickets by phone at (800) 745-3000 or online at BlueJackets.com, the official club web site, and ticketmaster.com.
The 2013 NHL All-Star Game is coming to Columbus Jan. 26-27, 2013. Fans can guarantee access to seats for both the game and Skills Challenge now by reserving a full or partial season ticket plan for the Blue Jackets’ 2012-13 season. Ticket plans start at less than $15 per game. In addition to guaranteed access to All-Star tickets, full and partial-season ticket holders receive a number of great benefits including significant savings versus single-game prices; the best available seat locations; exclusive access to events with players and coaches; and priority access to tickets for most other events at Nationwide Arena and the Jerome Schottenstein Center. For more information, call (800) NHL-COLS or visit BlueJackets.com.
