The Chicago Blackhawks, parent club of the AHL’s Rockford IceHogs, have acquired center Samuel Pahlsson, defenseman Logan Stephenson and a conditional draft pick from the Anaheim Ducks, parent club of the AHL’s Iowa Chops, in exchange for defenseman James Wisniewski and 2009 AHL All-Star center Petri Kontiola.
Pahlsson, 31, has recorded 10 assists, 15 points and 32 penalty minutes in 52 games with the Ducks this season. He led Ducks centers with a 54.0 faceoff winning percentage and ranked third among team forwards with an average time on ice of 18:30 per game.
The Ange, Sweden, native is currently in his ninth National Hockey League campaign, collecting 143 points (52G, 91A) and 258 penalty minutes in 544 regular-season games with the Boston Bruins (2000-01) and Anaheim (2000-09). Pahlsson was a member of Anaheim’s 2007 Stanley Cup Championship squad, posting 12 points (3G, 9A) and 20 penalty minutes in 21 contests during their playoff run.
The Colorado Avalanche’s 10th pick, 176th overall, in the 1996 NHL Entry Draft, Pahlsson has appeared in 64 Stanley Cup Playoff tilts, racking up 23 points (7G, 16A), while helping Anaheim reach the Finals twice (2003 and 2007). Pahlsson captured a Gold Medal as a member of Team Sweden at the 2006 Olympic Winter Games.
Stephenson, 23, has skated in 44 American Hockey League contests this season with Iowa and San Antonio, registering four points (1g, 3a) and 61 penalty minutes. The Saskatoon, Sask., native was acquired by the Ducks from the Phoenix Coyotes in exchange for left wing Joakim Lindstrom on Dec. 3, 2008.
Originally drafted by the Coyotes with their second choice, 35th overall, in the 2004 NHL Entry Draft, Stephenson has appeared in 191 career AHL contests since turning pro in 2006-07, collecting five goals, 15 assists and 245 penalty minutes.
Wisniewski, 25, has recorded 56 points (13G, 43A) and 192 penalty minutes in 168 games with the Blackhawks over the last four seasons since turning pro. The Canton, Mich., native has posted 11 assists and 13 points in 31 games with Chicago this season after missing the first 28 contests of the season while recovering from offseason knee surgery.
Kontiola, 24, notched five assists in 12 matchups with the Blackhawks in 2007-08, in his only NHL action. The Seinajoki, Finland, native has spent the entire 2008-09 campaign in the AHL, leading the Rockford IceHogs with 38 assists and 53 points in 61 outings.
Kontiola also appeared in 66 contests with Rockford in 2007-08, finishing second on the club both in assists (50) and points (68). Prior to making his North American professional debut in 2007-08, Kontiola played in 200 games over four seasons (2003-07) with Tappara of the SM-Liiga (Finnish League), scoring 33-96=129 points.
