Wilson Brings Blueliner From Carolina by San Jose Sharks Staff / San Jose Sharks

San Jose Sharks Executive Vice President and General Manager Doug Wilson announced today that the team has acquired defenseman Niclas Wallin (wahl-EEN) and a fifth round selection in the 2010 NHL Entry Draft from the Carolina Hurricanes in exchange for a second round selection in the 2010 NHL Entry Draft (previously acquired from the Buffalo Sabres).





“Niclas is a playoff-hardened, veteran player with lots of postseason experience and a Stanley Cup ring,” said Wilson. “Good, solid character players are hard to come by and we think he will complement our existing group very well. He has a history of playing his best when the games mean the most.”



This year is an odd year for the NHL’s annual trade deadline as there is a hiatus during the Olympics and then there are only three days for trades following the break.



“It’s important to have time to integrate someone into the team,” said Wilson. “He understands how to play with good players.”



A strong part of the trade is the Sharks were able to acquire a player with Wallin’s qualities without having to deplete their roster.



“It worked out, we wanted to add to our team and not subtract from it,” said Wilson.



Wallin falls into the category of a player who can handle virtually any situation, whether he’s on the left or right side.



“He’s just a hockey player and knows how to get it done,” said Wilson.



Wallin, 34, is a nine-year NHL veteran, all with the Carolina Hurricanes and won a Stanley Cup with the organization in 2006. He has posted five assists and 26 penalty minutes in 47 games with Carolina this season and is 15th among all NHL defenseman with 125 hits.



In 517 NHL games, he has collected 69 points (18 goals, 51 assists) and 391 penalty minutes. He accumulated three overtime game-winning goals for Carolina.



Wallin has added eight points (three goals five assists) and 32 penalty minutes in 69 Stanley Cup Playoff games and has appeared in two Stanley Cup Finals series. All three of his post-season goals were overtime game-winners earning him the nickname, “The Secret Weapon.”



Wallin represented his native Sweden at the 2008 World Championships, where he picked up four points (two goals, two assists) and 33 penalty minutes in 7 games.



The six-foot-three, 220-pound native of Boden, Sweden was selected by Carolina in the fourth round (97th overall) of the 2000 NHL Entry Draft.







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