The Tampa Bay Lightning have acquired right wing Lauri Tukonen from the Dallas Stars in exchange for defenseman Andrew Hutchinson, it was announced by Executive Vice President & General Manager Brian Lawton. Tukonen, a 6-foot-2, 198-pound native of Hyvinkaa, Finland, has skated in 22 games with Lukko Rauma of Finland this season, tallying five goals, eight assists and 22 penalty minutes. Originally drafted 11th overall by Los Angeles at the 2004 NHL Entry Draft, Tukonen, 22, has skated in five career games with the Kings (2006-07 and 2007-08). He appeared in 185 career American Hockey League games with Manchester, tallying 36 goals, 103 points and 74 penalty minutes. Tukonen skated in three World Junior Championships for Finland from 2004-2006, collecting Bronze Medals in 2004 and 2006. In 2006 he finished third in tournament scoring with three goals and 10 points in seven games. On July 21 he was traded to Dallas by Los Angeles in exchange for Richard Clune. Hutchinson, 6-foot-2 and 200 pounds, skated in two games with the Lightning this season, averaging 14:43 of ice time. Signed as a free agent by the Lightning prior to the season, he appeared in 20 games with Norfolk this season, recording a goal, 13 assists and 14 penalty minutes. The 28-year-old native of Evanston, Illinois has appeared in 97 career NHL games with Tampa Bay, Carolina and Nashville. He has accumulated 10 goals, 33 points and six power-play goals.

The Predators added some toughness to the club on Thursday, acquiring right wing Wade Belak from the Panthers for center Nick Tarnasky, as reported by Yahoo.com. Belak has recorded no points and 25 penalty minutes in 15 games with Florida this season.

Phoenix Coyotes General Manager Don Maloney announced today that the Coyotes have acquired center Wyatt Smith from the Tampa Bay Lightning in exchange for future considerations. Smith will join the Coyotes? American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate, the San Antonio Rampage. Smith, 31, has recorded 3-5-8 and 12 penalty minutes (PIM) in 18 games this season for the Norfolk Admirals of the AHL. In 2007-08, Smith split the season between the NHL and AHL, collecting three assists in 25 games for the Colorado Avalanche and recording 17-18-35 in 40 games with Lake Erie. A native of Thief River Falls, Minn., Smith began his NHL career with Phoenix, recording 3-7-10 in 54 games for the Coyotes from 1999-2002. He has recorded 10-22-32 and 65 PIM in 211 career NHL games with Phoenix, Nashville, the New York Islanders, Minnesota, and Colorado. Smith has also appeared in 421 career AHL games, recording 131-169-300 and 422 PIM with Springfield, Milwaukee, Bridgeport, Houston, Lake Erie and Norfolk. The 5-foot-11, 205-pound Smith was originally drafted by the Coyotes in the 9th round (233rd overall) of the 1997 Entry Draft.

Cliff Fletcher, general manager of the Toronto Maple Leafs, announced this afternoon that the team has obtained forward Lee Stempniak from the St. Louis Blues. In exchange, the Blues will receive Carlo Colaiacovo and Alex Steen. Stempniak, 25, has three goals and 10 assists in 14 games with St. Louis this season. He has averaged 19:28 in ice-time in 2008-09 and he was tied for third on the team with 43 shots. His best NHL season was 2006-07 season when he scored a team-leading 27 goals and added 25 assists for 52 points in all 82 games. He has 16 career goals on the powerplay and nine career game-winning goals.

Darryl Sydor is going back for a third stint with the Stars, according to a Canadian Press report. The Stars acquired the defenceman on Sunday from the Penguins in exchange for defenceman Philippe Boucher.

The Tampa Bay Lightning have acquired defenseman Steve Eminger, right wing Steve Downie and a fourth-round pick in the 2009 NHL Entry Draft from the Philadelphia Flyers in exchange for defenseman Matt Carle and San Jose?s third-round pick in 2009 (previously acquired) today, Executive Vice President and General Manager Brian Lawton announced. Eminger, a 212-pound native of Woodbridge, Ontario, has played in all 12 games with the Flyers this season recording two assists and an even rating. Eminger is a veteran of 224 NHL games with the Flyers and Washington Captials, recording six goals and 45 points. He made his first and only Stanley Cup Playoff Appearance in 2008 with the Capitals, recording one goal in five games. The 25-year-old defenseman played his junior career with the Kitchener Rangers from 1999 until 2003. He played in 191 career games with the Rangers, recording 29 goals and 135 points. He also played in 30 playoff games, notching three goals and 13 points. He was originally drafted by Washington in the first-round, 12th overall, at the 2002 NHL Entry Draft. Downie, a 5-foot-10, 192-pound native of Newmarket, Ontario, has played in six games with the Flyers this year, recording 11 penalty minutes. He has played in 38 career NHL games, all with Philadelphia, recording six goals and 12 points. He also has one career shorthanded goal and one game-winning goal. The 21-year-old played in 190 career junior games with Windsor, Peterborough and Kitchener. He amassed 82 career goals and 234 points. He also appeared in 43 OHL playoff games, recording 18 goals and 53 points. Downie was originally drafted by Philadelphia in the first round, 29th overall, in the 2005 NHL Entry Draft.

Phoenix Coyotes General Manager Don Maloney announced today that the Coyotes have acquired center Alexander Nikulin from the Ottawa Senators in exchange for defenseman Drew Fata. Nikulin, 23, has scored two goals in five games this season with the Binghamton Senators of the American Hockey League (AHL). Last season, the native of Moscow, Russia recorded 14-36-50 and 34 penalty minutes (PIM) in 71 games for Binghamton. He also appeared in two NHL games with Ottawa. Prior to his AHL career, Nikulin spent three seasons in the Russian Super League, collecting 18-25-43 and 30 PIM in 100 games. He also represented Russia at the 2005 World Junior Championships and won a silver medal. The 6-foot-1, 203-pound Nikulin was originally drafted by Ottawa in the fourth round (122nd overall) of the 2004 Entry Draft. Fata, 24, has played in seven games with the San Antonio Rampage (AHL) this season. In 225 career AHL games with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, Bridgeport and San Antonio, the 6-foot-1, 220-pound Fata has registered 9-33-42 and 600 PIM. He has also appeared in eight NHL games with the New York Islanders. A native of Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, Fata was originally selected in the third round (86th overall) of the 2001 Entry Draft by Pittsburgh.