The Tampa Bay Lightning on Tuesday acquired forward Brandon Segal from the Chicago Blackhawks. In a related transaction, the Norfolk Admirals traded forward Matt Fornataro to the Rockford IceHogs.
Segal, 6-foot-2, 209 pounds, has played in 53 AHL games with Rockford this season, collecting 13 goals and 25 points to go along with 63 penalty minutes. Segal ranks fourth on the IceHogs in goals and is seventh in points.
The Richmond, B.C., native has played in 92 career NHL games with the Lightning, Dallas Stars and Los Angeles Kings, collecting 11 goals and 22 points. He played in two games with Tampa Bay during the 2008-09 season, including his NHL debut on Mar. 3, 2009, versus the Pittsburgh Penguins.
Segal was originally drafted by Nashville in the fourth round, 102nd overall in the 2002 NHL Entry Draft. The 28-year-old has skated in 508 career AHL games with the Milwaukee Admirals, Portland Pirates, Norfolk Admirals, Manchester Monarchs, Texas Stars and Rockford IceHogs, collecting 120 goals and 233 points. He reached the Calder Cup Finals with Milwaukee in 2006, and represented Norfolk at the 2009 AHL All-Star Classic.
Fornataro, 26, has five goals and 20 assists in 46 games with Norfolk this season. The fourth-year pro out of the University of New Hampshire has played 214 career AHL games with Norfolk, Houston, Worcester and Syracuse, totaling 44 goals and 67 assists for 111 points.
