The New York Rangers have acquired forward Brad Isbister from the Carolina Hurricanes in exchange for the rights to Jakub Petruzalek and a conditional fifth-round pick in the 2008 NHL Entry Draft.
Isbister will report to the Hartford Wolf Pack of the American Hockey League (AHL).
Isbister, 29, has appeared in nine games with the AHL’s Albany River Rats this season, recording three goals and five assists for eight points, along with 54 penalty minutes. His eight points are tied for third on the team.
The 6-foot-4, 231-pound forward has skated in 467 career NHL contests with the Phoenix Coyotes, New York Islanders, Edmonton Oilers, and Boston Bruins, registering 99 goals and 107 assists for 206 points, along with 563 penalty minutes. In 2005-06, he skated in 58 games with the Bruins, collecting six goals and 17 assists for 23 points, along with 46 penalty minutes.
As a third-year forward with the Islanders in 1999-2000, Isbister established career highs in goals (22), power-play goals (nine) and points (42) in 64 games.
Internationally, Isbister has skated with Canada at the 2000 and 2001 World Championships, as well as the 1997 World Junior Championships, where he helped his team capture a gold medal.
A native of Calgary, Isbister was originally drafted by Winnipeg with its fourth choice, 67th overall, in the 1995 NHL Entry Draft.
Petruzalek, 21, has appeared in six AHL games with Hartford this season, registering two assists. He also had 10 points in seven ECHL games for Charlotte.
A ninth-round draft choice by the Rangers in 2004, Petruzalek tallied 34 goals and 60 assists (94 points) in 83 games with Ottawa and Barrie of the Ontario Hockey League (OHL) between 2004 and 2006 prior to turning professional.
