| | TAMPA, Fla. -- Chris Gratton, the Tampa Bay Lightning captain, was traded to the Buffalo Sabres for centers Brian Holzinger and Wayne Primeau and defenseman Cory Sarich late Thursday night.
| |  | |
| Gratton |
The teams also exchanged draft picks, with Tampa Bay receiving a third-round choice this year and Buffalo getting a second-round selection in 2001.
Gratton, in his sixth season with the Lightning, is third on the team with 41 points. He has 14 goals and 121 penalty minutes in 58 games. Gratton's second stint with Tampa Bay lasted only 110 games.
The center signed as a free agent with the Philadelphia Flyers, before the 1997-98 season, after spending four seasons with the Lightning. Philadelphia traded Gratton back to Tampa Bay for Mikael Renberg and Daymond Langkow on Dec. 12, 1998.
In 404 career games with the Lightning, Gratton has 88 goals, 148 assists and 741 penalty minutes.
The injury-plagued Sabres were in need of a top center after captain Michael Peca dislocated his shoulder -- an injury that could keep him out for the rest of the regular season.
Buffalo is in 10th place in the Eastern Conference, two points out of a playoff spot with 14 games remaining.
Holzinger, in his sixth season with the Sabres, scored seven goals and assisted on 17 others in 59 games this campaign. He was Buffalo's sixth-round draft choice in 1991.
Primeau, the 17th pick in the 1994 draft, has five goals and seven assists in 41 games.
Sarich, a rookie, has no goals and four assists. He did not record a point in four games last season with Buffalo. | |
ALSO SEE
Habs spoil Gratton's Buffalo debut, rise in standings
Sabres strike again; acquire Gilmour to go with Gratton
 NHL East: Hasek on block?
 |
