Predators President of Hockey Operations/GM David Poile announced today that the club has acquired defenseman Joe Piskula from the Flames for forward Brian McGrattan. Piskula will report to the Predators primary developmental affiliate, the AHL’s Milwaukee Admirals.

Piskula, 28, has 10 points and 51 penalty minutes in 46 games for Calgary’s AHL affiliate, the Abbotsford Heat, in 2012-13.

The blueliner played 112 games during a three-year career at the University of Wisconsin from 2004-07, posting 22 points (3g-19a) and 80 penalty minutes. 

The Canadiens have acquired winger Michael Ryder from the Stars in exchange for winger Erik Cole, according to an ESPN.com report on Tuesday.

The Canadiens also received a third-round draft pick from the Stars.

The Kings have acquired a conditional draft selection in the 2013 NHL Draft from the Flyers in exchange for forward Simon Gagne, Kings President/GM Dean Lombardi announced today.
 
Gagne, 32, has played in 11 games this season with the Kings, recording five assists and two penalty minutes.  He has played in 772 career NHL regular season games with the Flyers, Lightning and Kings, recording 586 points and 318 penalty minutes.  In 109 career NHL playoff games he has 59 points and 32 penalty minutes.
  

The Lightning have acquired goaltender Cedrick Desjardins from the Canadiens in exchange for goaltender Dustin Tokarski, vice president and GM Steve Yzerman announced today.

Desjardins, 27, has appeared in 22 games this season with the Hamilton Bulldogs of the AHL, compiling a record of 7-13-2 with a 2.94 goals-against average and .905 save percentage. He has played in two career NHL games, both with the Lightning during the 2010-11 season, picking up a pair of victories while recording a 1.00 goals-against average and .968 save percentage.

The Kings have acquired defenseman Keaton Ellerby from the Panthers in exchange for a fifth-round selection in the 2013 NHL Draft and assigned defenseman Andrew Campbell to Manchester (AHL), Kings President/GM Dean Lombardi announced Friday.  

Ellerby, 24, has played in 125 career NHL games (all with the Panthers), recording 17 points and 70 penalty minutes.  The native of Strathmore, Alberta was drafted by the Panthers in the first-round (10th overall) in the 2007 NHL Entry Draft.
 
This season, Ellerby has appeared in nine games with the Panthers, recording zero points and 36 penalty minutes.  Ellerby is expected to join the team in Nashville.  
 

The Islanders have acquired veteran goaltender Tim Thomas in a trade with the Bruins, the teams said.

Thomas, 38, led the Bruins to the Stanley Cup championship in 2011, but has not played this season.

The Bruins acquired a conditional second-round pick in 2014 or '15 in the deal.

The Devils acquired center Andrei Loktionov from the Kings in exchange for a draft pick on Wednesday, according to an ESPN.com report.

New Jersey shipped a fifth-round selection in the 2013 draft for Loktionov, who will be assigned to the team's AHL affiliate in Albany, N.Y.

Loktionov, 22, is in his fourth professional season. He has seven goals and 14 points in 59 NHL games.

The Ducks announced today that the club has acquired defenseman Ben Lovejoy from the Penguins in exchange for a fifth-round selection in the 2014 NHL Entry Draft.

Lovejoy, 28, appeared in three games for Pittsburgh this season, going scoreless while averaging 13:36 time-on-ice. The defenseman has appeared in five NHL seasons with the Penguins.

The Rangers have traded veteran forward Mike Rupp to the Wild in exchange for forwards Darroll Powe and Nick Palmieri, according to an ESPN.com report on Monday.

The 33-year-old Rupp had four goals, one assist and 97 penalty minutes in 60 games for the Rangers last season.