Capitals, Oilers make AHL swap

The Washington Capitals, parent club of the AHL’s Hershey Bears, have acquired left wing Dane Byers from the Edmonton Oilers, parent club of the AHL’s Oklahoma City Barons, in exchange for defenseman Garrett Stafford.

Byers, 27, posted six goals, four assists and 144 penalty minutes in 58 games played with Oklahoma City this season.

The 6-foot-3, 204-pound native of Nipawin, Sask., is in his eighth professional season. He has appeared in a total of 443 AHL games with Hartford, Springfield, San Antonio and Oklahoma City, piling up 248 points (106 goals, 142 assists) and 934 penalty minutes.

Byers has also played in 14 NHL games with the New York Rangers and Columbus Blue Jackets, recording one goal and 60 penalty minutes. He was originally selected by the Rangers in the second round (48th overall) of the 2004 NHL Entry Draft.

Stafford recorded 21 points (one goal, 20 assists) and 36 penalty minutes in 48 games with Hershey this season. In his 10th full season as a pro, Stafford has played in 658 games in the American Hockey League with Cleveland, Worcester, Grand Rapids, Texas, San Antonio, Hamilton and Hershey, recording 366 points (93 goals, 273 assists). He has also registered two assists in seven NHL games with Detroit, Phoenix and Dallas.

During the 2003-04 season, his first season as a pro, Stafford played 73 games with the Cleveland Barons and scored 46 points (12-34-46). That earned him Second Team AHL All-Star honors and a spot on the AHL All-Rookie team. He was also a key member of the Texas Stars during their run to the Calder Cup Finals in 2010.