RALEIGH, NC - Don Waddell, President and General Manager of the National Hockey League's Carolina Hurricanes, today announced that the team has acquired defenseman Sami Vatanen from the New Jersey Devils in exchange for forward Janne Kuokkanen, defenseman Fredrik Claesson and a conditional fourth-round selection in the 2020 NHL Draft. New Jersey will retain 50% of Vatanen's salary in the trade.

"Sami is player that fits our system well," said Waddell. "His skating, vision and puck-moving skills will help us out in all facets of the game. We expect him to return to the lineup in early March."

Vatanen, 28, has registered 23 points (5g, 18a) in 47 NHL games with the Devils this season. The 5'10", 185-pound defenseman has posted 194 points (45g, 149a) in 434 career NHL games with New Jersey and Anaheim. Vatanen has skated in 44 career Stanley Cup Playoff games, recording 23 points (6g, 17a). The Jyvaskyla, Finland, native has averaged over 21:00 of ice time in each of the last six seasons, and he has tallied 86 career power-play points (21g, 65a). Vatanen has represented Finland internationally at the 2010 and 2011 IIHF World Junior Championships, the 2010 IIHF World Championship, the 2014 Winter Olympics and the 2016 World Cup of Hockey. He was drafted by the Ducks in the fourth round, 106th overall, of the 2009 NHL Draft.