The occasionally stormy tenure of Kyle Turris in the desert has come to an end.
The Phoenix Coyotes have traded Turris to the Ottawa Senators.
In return, Phoenix has received defenceman David Rundblad and a second-round draft pick.
"We hope that (he's) a second-line centre iceman that will come in here and play real hard," Senators GM Bryan Murray said of Turris. "I believe he is a very talented young man. Given the type of team we have and the age of our core guys that he will be a real nice addition to our forward group."
Turris, who was a restricted free agent after last season, was unable to come to terms on a new deal with the Coyotes over the summer and held out for the first six weeks of the season. Turris finally returned to the team after signing a two-year, $2.8 million deal on Nov. 22.
"He told me this is not going to work out and I began looking for the best deal and move ahead," Coyotes general manager Don Maloney said. "We clearly differed on his game. We thought he would be better suited lower down in the lineup, and he didn't think so."
The 22-year-old native of New Westminster, B.C. has appeared in six games for the Coyotes since signing, but has not registered a point. In 65 games last season in Phoenix, Turris posted 11 goals and 14 assists.
"I just spoke to the young man and he's the opposite of an attitude problem," said Murray. "He's excited to come to Ottawa. There were obviously issues that he felt were in play in Phoenix, whether it was ice time or the roll he was given. At any rate, we accept that there are locations where certain players fit and others don't. All we can worry about is him coming here and fitting in and being a good player for us."
Turris was drafted by Phoenix with the third overall pick in the 2007 NHL Entry Draft.
"He can really skate and can really shoot the puck," said Senators head coach Paul MacLean. "He brings a dimension to our team and it really solidifies that second line and centre position that we've been looking to fill and we're excited to have him."
Rundblad has scored one goal and three assists and is a minus-11 in 24 games with the Senators this season. He was originally drafted 17th overall by the St. Louis Blues in 2009. The Senators acquired him at the 2010 NHL Entry Draft in exchange for their first-round pick in that draft.
"David is a work in progress and we think he will be an exceptional talent," Maloney said. "I believe you can never have enough defenceman, and he gives us a strong, right-handed shot on the blue line.
"He's like a quarterback on the power play, and he's a talented, offensive-minded defenceman. He has all the tools to succeed as an elite player in this league."
