Out With the Old and In with the New: Minnesota Wild Acquire Goalie Jeff Deslauriers from Anaheim

Jan 10, 2012; Anaheim, CA, USA; Anaheim Ducks goalie Jeff Deslauriers (43) makes a save against the Dallas Stars during the first period at the Honda Center. Mandatory Credit: Kelvin Kuo-USA TODAY Sports

In addition to acquiring Jason Pominville from the Buffalo Sabres, which you can read here, the Minnesota Wild made a minor trade with the Anaheim Ducks. With the subtracting of Matt Hackett, the Wild have added goaltender Jeff Deslauriers, 28, in exchange for future considerations.

Signed as a free agent on July 12^th, 2011, Deslauriers has played in 62 career NHL games with Anaheim and Edmonton, notching a 23-32-4 record with three shutouts, a 3.24 goals against average and .901 save percentage. Not only does this move provide Houston with another solid goaltender to take over for Hackett, but it also provides a little of healthy competition for both Darcy Kuemper and Johan Gustafsson. This signing doesn’t change the fact that the franchise No. 1 spot is ultimately Kuemper’s for the taking at this point. However, it does help relieve some of the weight from Kuemper’s shoulders should Minnesota make a deep playoff run without the services of Josh Harding.

As you can tell by the video below, Minnesota’s new 6’4″ 203-pound goalie may be useful short term.