The Nashville Predators announced today that the club has traded defenseman Andrew Hutchinson to the Carolina Hurricanes in exchange for the Hurricanes’ third-round pick (78th overall) in this Saturday’s NHL Draft.
Hutchinson spent parts of four seasons playing for the Milwaukee Admirals, and was a member of the club’s 2004 Calder Cup championship team.
The Michigan State alumnus notched 31 goals and 65 assists for 96 points in 196 games with Milwaukee. This past season, he recorded a career-high 45 points (10g, 35a), good for eighth in the AHL among blueliners.
The 6-foot-2, 198-pound defenseman has also posted eight points (4g, 4a) in 18 career NHL contests with the Predators.
A native of Evanston, Ill., Hutchinson was selected to play in the AHL All-Star Classic in both 2004 and 2005. During the 2004 Calder Cup Playoffs, he topped AHL defenseman with 16 points (5g, 11a) while helping the Admirals capture the Calder Cup championship.
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Mike Commodore spent the 2004-05 season in Lowell after reaching the Stanley Cup Finals with Calgary.
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The Hurricanes also announced that they have acquired defenseman Mike Commodore from Calgary in exchange for Atlanta’s third-round pick in Saturday’s NHL Entry Draft.
“Our staff got to know Mike really well during his time with Lowell last year,” said Carolina president and general manager Jim Rutherford. “He’s a big, young player that we feel that will be a good addition to our defense.”
Commodore, 25, played all of 2004-05 with the Lowell Lock Monsters, who were the shared affiliate of the Hurricanes and Flames. The Fort Saskatchewan, Alta., native played in 73 games and notched six goals and 29 assists to lead all Lock Monsters defensemen in scoring. He also recorded a goal and two assists (3 points) along with 18 penalty minutes in the Lock Monsters’ 11-game postseason run.
The 6-foot-4, 230-pound Commodore played in 20 games in the 2004 Stanley Cup Playoffs, helping the Flames to the Western Conference championship. Prior to joining Calgary’s organization, Commodore played two seasons in New Jersey’s system, spending time with the Devils and Albany of the American Hockey League.
