The Buffalo Sabres have traded team captain Jason Pominville to the Minnesota Wild in exchange for two prospects and two high draft picks.Pominville, 30, was drafted by the Sabres in the second round of the 2001 NHL Draft. He has played in Buffalo since the 2005-2006 season, consistently finishing among the team's top point producers each year. He was named captain in October 2011.
"He was drafted by us and everything he represents as a player, you can multiply by a big number as a person. [We are] extremely grateful for everything that he has done and wish him only the best," Sabres General Manager Darcy Regier said Wednesday.
The Canadian-born winger has scored 10 goals and 25 points this season. His career totals include 187 NHL goals and 459 points.
The Sabres receive goaltender Matt Hackett, 23, center/winger Johan Larsson, 20, a first-round pick in 2013, and second-round pick in 2014 in return. Buffalo sends a fourth-round pick in 2014 to Minnesota along with Pominville.
The Sabres, who are considered to be in rebuilding mode, have also traded away defensemen Robyn Regehr and Jordan Leopold in the past week.
In a news release, the Sabres provided more information about the two prospectss the team received in return for Pominville:
In his first AHL season, Larsson (5’10”, 200 lbs., 7/25/92) has recorded 37 points (15+22) in 62 games for the Houston Aeros. He made his NHL debut as a member of the Wild on Feb. 17 against Detroit, skating 14:02 of ice time.
Larsson was selected by the Wild in the second round (56th overall) of the 2010 NHL Entry Draft. A native of Lau, Sweden, the forward captained Sweden’s goal medal-winning team at the 2012 IIHF World Junior Championship, where he recorded six assists in six games. He was selected as the Swedish Elite League Rookie of the Year in 2012 after recording 36 points (12+24) in 49 games with Brynas (SEL).
Hackett (6’2”, 173 lbs., 3/7/90) has appeared in 43 games for the Aeros in his third AHL season, recording a 19-20-30 record with a 2.66 goals against average and a .907 save percentage. In 132 regular-season AHL games, the London, Ontario native has compiled a 62-53-13 record with a .913 save percentage and three shutouts. He has also backstopped the Aeros to a 14-12 record in 26 postseason games, reaching the Calder Cup finals in 2011.
Hackett was selected by the Wild in the third round (77th overall) of the 2009 NHL Entry Draft. He has appeared in 13 total NHL games as a member of the Wild in the 2011-12 and 2012-13 seasons, compiling a 3-7-0 record, a .914 save percentage and a 2.64 goals against average.