The Blue Jackets have announced that they have traded Center Chad Kolarik, acquired from Phoenix as part of the Alexander Picard deal last spring, to the New York Rangers in exchange for LW Dane Byers.
Byers, who currently has 3 goals and 6 assists for the Hartford Wolf Pack this season, was a 2nd round pick (48th overall) in the 2004 entry draft. Last season, he had 25-27-52 and a -9 with 100 PIMs in 74 games for the Wolf Pack, and 1 goal and 31 PIMs in 5 games with the Rangers.
SBNation’s scouting report:
Assets: A big, projectable frame and the potential to become a two way up and down winger with scoring ability and the willingness to hit people.
Flaws: Still needs to work on his offensive game to be productive at the NHL level, and needs to cut down on his PIMs.
This appears to be a move to provide some scoring depth for Springfield – not sure if Howson has anything else up his sleeve, though.
In other news, the Jackets placed Kristian Huselius on IR, and have called up Mike Blunden in case he is needed for Friday’s game.