From my inbox

For Immediate Release
Friday, Feb. 12, 2010

MINNESOTA WILD ACQUIRES CAM BARKER FROM CHICAGO BLACKHAWKS IN EXCHANGE FOR KIM JOHNSSON AND NICK LEDDY

SAINT PAUL/MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. – Minnesota Wild General Manager Chuck Fletcher today announced the National Hockey League (NHL) club has acquired defenseman Cam Barker from the Chicago Blackhawks in exchange for defensemen Kim Johnsson and Nick Leddy.

“I thank Kim Johnsson for his efforts and contributions to the Wild’s success over the last four seasons,” said Fletcher. “We are very excited to add Cam Barker to our team. It is difficult to obtain a 23-year defenseman with Cam’s size and talent.”

Barker, 23 (4/4/86), has acquired 14 points (4-10=14) and 58 penalty minutes (PIM) in 51 games with Chicago this season. He set career-highs with 40 points (6-34=40) in 68 contests with the Blackhawks in 2008-09, tallying 24 of his 34 assists on the power play and ranked tied for sixth among NHL defensemen with 29 power play points. Barker added nine points (3-6=9) in 17 playoff matches with Chicago. The 6-foot-3, 215-pound native of Winnipeg, Manitoba, has skated in 200 career NHL contests with the Blackhawks registering 80 points (17-63=80) and 219 PIM. He was originally selected by Chicago third overall in the 2004 NHL Entry Draft.

Johnsson, 33 (3/16/76), has recorded 281 points (66-215=281) in 731 career NHL contests with the New York Rangers, Philadelphia and Minnesota.

Leddy, 18 (3/20/91), a native of Eden Prairie, Minn., was selected by the Wild in the first round (16th overall) of the 2009 NHL Entry Draft. He has five points (1-4=5) in 19 games in his freshman season at the University of Minnesota.

Great seats are still available for all Minnesota Wild home games, including tonight’s game against the Atlanta Thrashers. For more information on single game ticket packages visit www.wild.com/ticketpacks.

Chuck Fletcher will be available to discuss today’s trade with media at 6:15 p.m. in the Xcel Energy Center press box

-- WILD --

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My thoughts...I am probably in the minority on this by I like Johnsson. And it has been reported that the Wild would pursue either Johnsson or Marek Zidlicky at seasons end, both who are pending UFA's. My choice would have been Johnsson but both have had their ups and downs, that is for sure. Fans have been on dogging these players at different times because of their inconsistent play. However, I believe Johnsson is more reliable defensemen. As for Leddy...I don't like losing a first round pick. It is pretty clear that he is not progressing at the U, but he is basically in the infant stages of his career, so who knows how good he is going to be. And now for what I see as the prize in Barker. He was a 3rd overall pick so his potential is very high, much like Leddy. His size is a plus, 6-3 & 222 lbs, and because he is still young, he will probably add to that frame. The one knock is his contract. It is inflated because he was one of the Blackhawks players who did not receive their qualifying offer on time this past off-season, thus had to quickly be resigned under the assumption that he would have been unrestricted. What that means is Barker is a $3 million a year player.

It is yet to be determined how high Barker and departed Leddy will get to, so there is uncertainty with this move. It is clear that Chicago made this move because of future 'cap space'. What I do like is similar to what I liked about acquiring Guillaume Latendresse...bringing in a player who has not been reaching expectations, with the upside being huge if potential is reached.