The Carolina Hurricanes have traded forward Alexei Ponikarovsky to the New Jersey Devils for defenceman Joe Sova and a fourth-round draft pick in 2012.
Ponikarovsky was in his first season with the Hurricanes after signing as an unrestricted free agent on July 1.
The 31-year-old Ukrainian has posted seven goals and eight assists with a minus-12 rating with the Hurricanes this season.
Originally drafted in the fourth round (87th overall) by the Toronto Maple Leafs at the 1998 NHL Entry Draft, Ponikarovsky has played 602 career NHL games with the Leafs, Penguins, Kings and Hurricanes scoring 128 goals and adding 168 assists.
Sova was signed as a free agent on March 19 of last year by the Devils. The 23-year-old has scored two goals and two assists in 13 games with the American Hockey League's Albany Devils this season.
He has also appeared in 18 games for the Kalamazoo Wings of the East Coast Hockey League this season, scoring two goals, five assists and racking up 22 penalty minutes.
