SAN JOSE, Calif. (AP) -The San Jose Sharks acquired standout defenseman Dan Boyle from Tampa Bay on Friday, trading defenseman Matt Carle and top prospect Ty Wishart to the Lightning to acquire their second proven NHL defensive star in two days.
The Sharks, who received journeyman defenseman Brad Lukowich in the deal, also gave up a first-round pick in 2009 and a fourth-round choice in 2010.
San Jose lost defenseman Brian Campbell to Chicago on Tuesday in a lavish free-agent deal, but the Sharks quickly compensated for his departure.
On Thursday, the Sharks signed longtime Los Angeles Kings captain Rob Blake to a one-year, $5 million free-agent contract. With the addition of Boyle, who waived his no-trade clause to join San Jose, the club replaced Campbell’s passing skills with one of the NHL’s top puck-moving defensemen.
Boyle and Blake also have championships on their resume, with Boyle playing a significant role in Tampa Bay’s only Stanley Cup title in 2004.
Boyle and Blake will join Kyle McLaren, Craig Rivet, Christian Ehrhoff and Marc-Edouard Vlasic in a defensive rotation that might be the Sharks’ strength next season under rookie coach Todd McLellan.
Boyle missed the first half of last season with a wrist injury from a freak locker-room accident, but returned to score 25 points in 37 games. In February, Boyle signed a six-year, $40 million contract which begins in the upcoming season.
The Lightning’s new ownership group apparently was eager to rid itself of Boyle’s large contract, but San Jose has been well under the salary cap for most of the three seasons since the league instituted a spending limit.
Boyle was one of the NHL’s top defensemen in the 2006-07 season with 20 goals and 43 assists. His offensive acumen provides a solid counterpoint to Blake’s physical play.
Carle had two goals and 13 assists in 62 games last season, frequently getting benched by coach Ron Wilson. Carle won the Hobey Baker Award at Denver University as the NCAA’s top hockey player, but hasn’t yet starred in the NHL.
The deal’s most painful component for the Sharks is the loss of Wishart, a first-round draft pick two years ago. He finished up his fourth season of junior hockey last spring and played five games with the Sharks’ top minor-league affiliate.
Lukowich, a 10-year NHL veteran joining his fifth team, had one goal and six assists during 59 games in his only season with Tampa Bay.
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