Sabres add Conklin from Columbus

The Columbus Blue Jackets, parent club of the AHL’s Syracuse Crunch, have acquired a fifth-round pick in the 2007 Entry Draft from the Buffalo Sabres in exchange for goaltender Ty Conklin and have claimed goaltender Brian Boucher off waivers from the Chicago Blackhawks.

Conklin appeared in 11 games with the Blue Jackets in 2006-07 and was 2-3-2 with a 3.30 goals-against average and .871 save percentage. He also played 19 games with the Syracuse Crunch, and was 3-12-3 with a 3.32 GAA and .902 save percentage.

Conklin led the Hamilton Bulldogs to within one victory of the Calder Cup championship in 2003, and helped the Edmonton Oilers to the Stanley Cup Finals in 2006. He has an NHL record of 29-22-4 in 71 career games with Columbus and Edmonton, along with a 2.60 GAA and .901 save percentage.

The native of Anchorage, Alaska, was originally signed by Edmonton as a free agent on Apr. 18, 2001, after a standout college career at New Hampshire. During his three-year career with the UNH Wildcats, Conklin was 57-23-12 with seven shutouts, a 2.17 GAA and .915 save percentage, establishing school records for GAA, wins, save percentage and games played.

In the 2000-01 season Conklin was a Hobey Baker Award finalist, NCAA First Team All-American and Hockey East First Team All-Star.