Ottawa acquires Mullen

The Ottawa Senators, parent club of the AHL’s Binghamton Senators, have acquired defenseman Patrick Mullen from the Vancouver Canucks in exchange for forward Jeff Costello.

Mullen will be assigned to Binghamton.

Mullen, 27, has appeared in 46 games this season with Vancouver’s American Hockey League affiliate, the Utica Comets, registering 20 points (seven goals, 13 assists) and 23 penalty minutes. His 20 points see him lead Comets defensemen while ranking seventh among Utica players in scoring.

Signed to a two-way contract by Vancouver on July 12, 2012, the Pittsburgh native has recorded 91 points (27 goals, 64 assists) and 116 penalty minutes over 228 career AHL games with Manchester, Chicago and Utica.

Mullen was originally signed by the Los Angeles Kings as a free agent on April 3, 2009, following a four-season collegiate career with the University of Denver.

Costello was selected by Ottawa in the fifth round of the 2009 NHL Draft and is in the midst of completing his final season of collegiate eligibility with the University of Notre Dame, where he has recorded 19 points (11 goals, eight assists) and 69 penalty minutes this season.