Garth Snow made a great trade this evening, acquiring James Wisniewski from the Anaheim Ducks for a conditional third round draft choice in 2011. Wisniewski, signed by Anaheim this afternoon to a one-year, $3.2 million contract, makes up for the loss of physicality in Andy Sutton and at a much younger age. The 5-11, 200-pound defenseman is 26 and averaged more than 24 minutes of icetime with Anaheim last season. The Ducks have several young defenseman ready to make their club, while the Islanders had the need and the salary cap space. Wisniewski could become an unrestricted free agent at season’s end.
Snow, who has been trying to trade for an upgrade on defense all month, finally got that with the signing of Wisniewski. The Canton, Michigan native is coming off a career high in points last season--he finished with three goals and 27 assists in 69 games with Anaheim.
"We see James as a key addition to our team and we feel our fans will connect with his style of play," Snow said in a team press release. "He is a solid puck-moving defenseman who can bring an added element of toughness to our blue-line."
The Islanders have two third-round picks in the 2011 draft. In addition to their own, they acquired one from the Colorado Avalanche in exchange for a fourth-round pick (No. 85 overall) in this year's draft.
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