The Montreal Canadiens added some depth to their blueline on Tuesday by acquiring defenceman James Wisniewski from the New York Islanders.
In return, the Islanders will receive a compensatory second-round pick in 2011, as well as a conditional fifth-rounder in 2012.
"I'm extremely happy to be joining a team that's a contender for the Cup," said Wisniewski in a team release. "I'm planning on doing everything I can to help things stay that way and help the Canadiens keep winning."
The Canadiens are playing the Capitals in Washington on Tuesday, but Wisniewski is expected to join his new club on Wednesday in Tampa Bay.
The 26-year-old has tallied three goals and 18 assists in 32 games this season.
A fifth-round pick of Chicago in the 2002 NHL Entry Draft, Wisniewski has recorded 20 goals and 98 helpers in 286 regular-season games with the Blackhawks, Anaheim and Islanders.
"I'm expecting to play a similar role as I did in New York," he said. "Getting a lot of ice-time, chipping in on the power-play and the penalty-kill and doing my best to keep the puck out of our net while creating chances at the other end of the ice."
