Hurricanes NHL

12/31/2005 - HURRICANES ACQUIRE STEPHEN PEAT FROM WASHINGTON

Jim Rutherford, President and General Manager for the National Hockey League’s Carolina Hurricanes, today announced that the team has acquired right wing Stephen Peat from the Washington Capitals in exchange for left wing Colin Forbes. Peat will be assigned to the Hurricanes’ top minor league affiliate, Lowell of the American Hockey League (AHL).

“We are familiar with Stephen, having seen him on the NHL level a number of times over the past four years,” said Rutherford. “He adds toughness to our organization.”

Peat, 25, has split the 2005-06 season between Washington (NHL) and Hershey (AHL). He made his season debut with Washington against Atlanta on Oct. 8 prior to missing 21 games with a hand injury. The Princeton, B.C., native was assigned to Hershey on Dec. 18 and has registered one assist, seven penalty minutes and a (+3) rating in five games with the Bears. A second-round draft pick of the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim in the 1998 NHL Entry Draft, Peat has totaled 10 points (8g, 2a) and 234 penalty minutes in 130 career NHL games, all with Washington. He has five points (2g, 3a) and 125 penalty minutes in 46 career AHL games with Portland and Hershey.

Colin Forbes

Forbes, 29, was signed by Carolina as a free agent on Aug. 11, 2004. He has spent the entire 2005-06 season with Lowell, notching 28 points (10g, 18a) in 34 games. The Carolina Hurricanes conclude a two-game road trip on Wednesday at Ottawa (7:30 p.m., FSN South, Hurricanes Radio Network), before returning home to face the Philadelphia Flyers at the RBC Center on Thursday (7 p.m., FSN South, Hurricanes Radio Network). The Flyers game is the start of a four-game home stand for Carolina which includes contests against the Montreal Canadiens on Dec. 31 (8 p.m., FSN South, Hurricanes Radio Network), the Atlanta Thrashers on Jan. 4 (7 p.m., FSN South, Hurricanes Radio Network) and the New York Islanders on Jan. 6 (7 p.m., Hurricanes Radio Network).

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12/31/2005 - HURRICANES TRADE RADIM VRBATA TO CHICAGO

Jim Rutherford, President and General Manager for the National Hockey League’s Carolina Hurricanes, today announced that the team has traded right wing Radim Vrbata (rah DEEM vuhr BAH tuh) to the Chicago Blackhawks in exchange for future considerations.

“Radim’s ice time has been limited with the Hurricanes this season,” said Rutherford. “This will give him a fresh start.”

Vrbata, 24, has posted three goals and two assists (5 points) in 16 games with the Hurricanes this season. He has been a healthy extra for 21 of Carolina’s 37 games, including each of the last 11. Vrbata was originally acquired by Carolina from Colorado on March 11, 2003, in exchange for winger Bates Battaglia. In 106 games for the Hurricanes, the Mlada Boleslav, Czech Republic, native posted 19 goals and 16 assists (35 points).

The Carolina Hurricanes continue a four-game home stand with a special New Year’s Eve game on Saturday at 8 p.m. against the Montreal Canadiens (FSN South, Hurricanes Radio Network). The home stand continues on Jan. 4 against the Atlanta Thrashers (7 p.m., FSN South, Hurricanes Radio Network) and concludes on Jan. 6 against the New York Islanders (7 p.m., Hurricanes Radio Network).

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