The Blue Jackets have acquired defenseman Nathan Paetsch and a second round pick in the 2010 Entry Draft from the Sabres in exchange for forward Raffi Torres, GM Scott Howson announced today. The second round pick was previously acquired by Buffalo from the Canucks.

The Ducks have announced that the club has acquired goaltender Curtis McElhinney from the Flames in exchange for goaltender Vesa Toskala. McElhinney appeared in 10 games for Calgary this season, posting a 3-4-0 record with a 3.23 goals-against average and .885 save percentage. In the month of November, McElhinney went 2-0-0 with a 2.47 GAA and .919 SV% in three games, earning one win in overtime and another in a shootout. On Nov. 4 at Dallas, McElhinney established career highs in saves (38) and shots against (40) en route to his first career road win, a 3-2 decision over the Stars. Toskala did not appear in a game for Anaheim following his acquisition from Toronto with Jason Blake in exchange for J.S. Giguere on Jan. 31, 2010. Toskala posted a 7-12-2 record with one shutout, a 3.66 GAA and .874 SV% in 26 appearances with the Leafs this season.

The Avalanche Hockey Club have announced that the team has acquired forwards Stephane Yelle and Harrison Reed from the Hurricanes in exchange for forward Cedric McNicoll and a sixth-round pick in the 2010 Entry Draft.

The Blue Jackets have acquired a conditional sixth round pick in the 2010 Entry Draft from the Capitals in exchange for defenseman Milan Jurcina, GM Scott Howson announced today. Jurcina was acquired by the Blue Jackets from the Capitals along with forward Chris Clark in exchange for forward Jason Chimera on December 28. Jurcina has tallied 1-6-7 and 24 penalty minutes in 44 games this season, including 1-2-3 and 10 penalty minutes in 17 games with Columbus. He has 15-38-53 and 220 penalty minutes in 319 career NHL games.

The Blue Jackets have acquired the rights to forward Matt Rust from the Panthers in exchange for defenseman Mathieu Roy, GM Scott Howson announced today. Rust is currently playing for the University of Michigan. Rust was Florida?s fourth pick, 101st overall, in the 2007 Entry Draft. He has tallied 34-43-77, 128 penalty minutes and a cumulative +43 plus/minus rating in three seasons at Michigan. He has appeared in 37 games for the Wolverines this season, collecting a career-high 11-21-32, 20 penalty minutes and is +12. The Bloomfield Hills, Michigan native spent two seasons with the United States Development Program from 2005-07, registering 26-35-61 and 123 penalty minutes in 107 games.

The Kings have acquired forward Fredrik Modin from the Blue Jackets for a conditional seventh round selection in the 2010 NHL Draft, Kings President/GM Dean Lombardi announced today. Modin has recorded six points and 12 penalty minutes in 24 games with the Blue Jackets this season while serving as an alternate captain. He missed the first 31 games this season due to injury.

Predators President of Hockey Operations/GM David Poile announced today that the club has acquired forward Dustin Boyd from the Flames in exchange for a fourth-round pick in the 2010 NHL Entry Draft. Boyd has posted 19 points (8g-11a), 15 penalty minutes and a plus-5 rating while averaging 12:14 per game in 60 games for the Flames this season, his second full NHL campaign. Selected 98th overall (third round) by the Flames in the 2004 Entry Draft, Boyd has 57 points (28g-29a) and 35 penalty minutes in 192 career games since the start of the 2006-07 campaign.

Brian Burke, president and GM of the Maple Leafs, announced Wednesday that the team has traded forward Lee Stempniak to the Coyotes. In return, the Maple Leafs will receive defenceman Matt Jones and the Coyotes? fourth-round and seventh-round draft choices in 2010. Jones has played in 106 career NHL games (all with Phoenix) and has one goal and ten assists. He has missed the entire season with an injury.

Coyotes GM Don Maloney announced Wednesday that the Coyotes have acquired left wing Alexandre Picard from the Blue Jackets in exchange for center Chad Kolarik. Picard will report to Phoenix?s AHL affiliate, the San Antonio Rampage. Picard has appeared in nine games for Columbus this season and has also played in 42 games with Syracuse of the AHL, where he has recorded 17-18-35 and 111 penalty minutes. Kolarik has appeared in 59 games with San Antonio (AHL) this season, recording 17-18-35 and 41 PIM. In 135 career AHL games with San Antonio, Kolarik has collected 37-48-85 and 88 PIM.

Coyotes GM Don Maloney announced on Wednesday that the Coyotes have acquired center Petteri Nokelainen from the Ducks in exchange for a sixth round draft choice in the 2011 NHL Entry Draft. Nokelainen has appeared in 50 games for the Ducks this season, recording 4-7-11 and 21 penalty minutes. He split the 2008-09 season between Boston and Anaheim, totaling 4-5-9 and 16 PIM in 50 games. In 172 career NHL games with the New York Islanders, Boston and Anaheim, Nokelainen has recorded 16-16-32 and 60 PIM. He has also collected two assists in 16 NHL playoff games.