The Buffalo Sabres, parent club of the AHL’s Rochester Americans, have acquired forward Johan Larsson, goaltender Matt Hackett, a first-round selection in the 2013 NHL Entry Draft and a second-round selection in the 2014 NHL Entry Draft from the Minnesota Wild in exchange for forward Jason Pominville and a fourth-round selection in the 2014 NHL Entry Draft.
In his first AHL season, Larsson, 20, has recorded 37 points (15 goals, 22 assists) in 62 games for the Houston Aeros. He made his NHL debut as a member of the Wild on Feb. 17 against Detroit, skating 14:02 of ice time.
Larsson was selected by the Wild in the second round (56th overall) of the 2010 NHL Entry Draft. A native of Lau, Sweden, the forward captained Sweden’s goal medal-winning team at the 2012 IIHF World Junior Championship, where he recorded six assists in six games. He was selected as the Swedish Elite League Rookie of the Year in 2012 after recording 36 points in 49 games with Brynas.
Hackett, 23, has appeared in 43 games for the Aeros in his third AHL season, recording a 19-20-3 record with a 2.66 goals-against average and a .907 save percentage. In 132 regular-season AHL games, the London, Ont., native has compiled a 62-53-13 record with a .913 save percentage and three shutouts. He has also backstopped the Aeros to a 14-12 record in 26 postseason games, reaching the Calder Cup Finals in 2011.
Hackett was selected by the Wild in the third round (77th overall) of the 2009 NHL Entry Draft. He has appeared in 13 total NHL games as a member of the Wild in the 2011-12 and 2012-13 seasons, compiling a 3-7-0 record, a .914 save percentage and a 2.64 GAA.
