The Atlanta Thrashers have acquired defenceman Mark Popovic from the Anaheim Mighty Ducks in exchange for forward Kip Brennan.
Popovic notched 18 points in 74 games with Cincinnati (AHL) last season. The 6-1, 215-pound defenseman shared third among Cincinnati blue liners in points and was third in assists. Popovic also shared first among team defensemen with three assists and was tied for second with five points in 11 playoff games.
The native of Stoney Creek, Ontario made his NHL debut with Anaheim at Buffalo on Jan. 2, 2004. Popovic set AHL career highs with 21 assists and 24 points in 2002-03. He has earned 56 points (eight goals, 48 assists) and 156 penalty minutes in 221 AHL career games with Cincinnati over the past three seasons.
Popovic, selected by Anaheim in the second round, 35th overall, in the 2001 NHL Entry Draft, collected 155 points (36 goals, 119 assists) and 210 penalty minutes in 247 OHL games with Toronto St. Michael's over four seasons from 1998-2002. Popovic tallied a career-best 12 goals and was named an OHL First-Team All-Star in 2001-02, and set junior career highs with 35 assists and 42 points in 2000-01.