PR - Hurricanes

MARKUS NASLUND TRADED TO DIVISION RIVALS; 'CANES ACQUIRE #1 GOALIE AND
SCORING FORWARD

The Hurricanes GM was expected to make an announcement regarding Markus
Naslund's future with the team and today it was unveilled that Naslund
was no longer a Hurricane. Today Markus Naslund and Matthew Lombardi
were dealt to the Saints in exchange for Ryan Getzlaf, Ilya Bryzgalof,
and 2 draft picks (4th and 5th round) for next year's draft.

This was a sign and trade deal as Markus Naslund signed a 4-year
contract extension worth $9,610,000. "I figured the management team
would either move me or let me go to free agency. It was a tough call
since I could of taken up 1\4 of their payroll. This team has a lot of
young pieces and I think they are looking to move ahead. Our entire
forward lineup had changed since we won the championship, all of those
guys are younger now. Guess it was time to move us old farts out." said
Naslund.

Markus' buddy Bill Guerin, who played alongside each other for 2 seasons
in Calgary, retired in the last few years. The only player remaining
from the three wisemen of the Hurricanes is Shawn Bates who continues to
centre the second line for the Calgary Hurricanes. "Definitely a lot of
change in the room. We have a lot of young guys on the farm who I am
sure will start to help us in the near future. We also have guys coming
into their prime like Alexandre Svitov and Robert Schnabel. This team
will keep growing and get stronger."

As training camp approaches in a few weeks time the Hurricanes will be
looking towards key guys like Jason King, Alexander Sundstrom, Alexander
Svitov, Martin Cibak, Shawn Bates, Ryan Getzlaf, and a solid core of
defenseman. The team has changed dramatically since the TFHL Cup win,
but the team is only getting younger and better.

Calgary Sun