The Philadelphia Flyers, parent club of the AHL’s Philadelphia Phantoms, have acquired defenseman Janne Niskala from the Nashville Predators, parent club of the AHL’s Milwaukee Admirals, in exchange for forward Triston Grant and their seventh-round pick in the 2009 NHL Entry Draft.
Niskala, 26, recorded 19 goals and 25 assists for 44 points and 81 penalty minutes while playing in all 80 regular season games for Milwaukee this past season. He led Admirals defensemen in goals (19, second among AHL defensemen) and points (44, tied for 11th among AHL defensemen).
A 2004 draft pick by Nashville, Niskala was also a member of the bronze medal-winning Team Finland at the 2008 IIHF World Championships in Halifax and Quebec City.
Grant, 24, has played 197 AHL games with Philadelphia over the past three seasons, notching 37 points (17-20-37) and 570 penalty minutes. He also logged eight NHL contests with the Flyers in 2006-07.
The 6-2, 213-pound left wing totaled AHL career highs in goals (10), assists (11) and points (21) in 72 games for the Phantoms in 2007-08. Grant added two assists in 12 Calder Cup Playoff contests.
