After a successful first season under new ownership, the Nashville Predators are continuing franchise rebuilding through some interesting off-season trades. The most immediately impacting of these is the departure of Jason Arnott. The Predators have the sent veteran centre Jason Arnott back to the New Jersey Devils in exchange for a young forward and a draft pick.
The 35-year old Arnott was a Stanley Cup hero for New Jersey. His overtime goal won the 2000 Stanley Cup for New Jersey. In exchange for Arnott the Predators obtained young forward Matt Halischuk, as well as a second round pick in the 2011 National Hockey League Entry Draft.
The Devils’ acquisition of Arnott is part of a strong desire to make a final Stanley Cup run prior to franchise goalie Martin Brodeur’s imminent retirement. The Devils lacked visible strength at centre, and GM Lou Lamoriello decided to seek the services of someone he knew and trusted. During Arnott’s five seasons for the Devils, the Canadian forward scored 97 goals and recorded 124 assists. Including his famed double-overtime Stanley Cup-winning goal, Arnott had a total of 20 points, with eight goals, in the 2000 playoffs.
Arnott’s success has not been limited to his stint with the Devils. Over the course of his 16 season in the NHL, he has also played for the Edmonton Oilers and the Dallas Stars. Since his selection as the seventh pick in the 1993 draft, Arnott has 1,099 games, with 383 goals and a total of 873 points.
Regarding the trade, Devils GM Lamoriello said: "Jason Arnott is a player who brings size, strength, and experience to our hockey club. There is no question he strengthens our center ice position." Arnott waived his no-trade clause with the Predators in order for the deal to go through, and Nashville GM David Poile said that the trade “was in the best interests of both of us and it was time for Jason to go in a different direction.”
Poile is looking towards Nasvhille’s future success and also stated: "Arnie was a good player for us and our captain, but on the other side of the coin, it is an opportunity for other players. Colin Wilson, in all likelihood, will move from left wing back to center, and I think in a lot of ways he's a young Jason Arnott: big, strong, offensive type of player."
The player Nashville received in the trade, Matt Halischuk, fits perfectly in Poile’s vision of reshaping the Predators. The 22-year-old Canadian right winger is a touted up-and-coming prospect. In 21 appearances for the Devils last season, Halischuk managed one goal and two assists. Like Arnott, he too has laid claim to some overtime glory. He scored the game-winning overtime goal against Sweden that gave Canada a gold medal at the 2008 World Junior Championships.
Halischuk also had a successful youth career in the Ontario Hockey League. While playing for the Kitchener Rangers, Halischuk received OHL First All-Star Team honors and was the recipient of the 2008 OHL Memorial Cup George Parsons Trophy. The Parsons Trophy is an award for sportsmanlike conduct showcased throughout the OHL’s Memorial Cup tournament.
Another key benefit to the Predators in acquiring Halischuk is that he has prior experience playing with Predators forward Nick Spaling. The two occasionally shared lines during their tenures for the Rangers and the Predators hope their previous time together adjusts well to NHL play.
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