The Carolina Hurricanes began what could reportedly be a busy period of trade activity on Monday evening by acquiring center Greg Nemisz from Calgary in exchange for Kevin Westgarth.
Per the Hurricanes’ official release, Nemisz, a 23-year-old center who Calgary chose 25th overall in 2008, will report to Charlotte. At the time of the trade, the 6-foot-3, 197-pound native of Courtice, Ontario, was playing for the AHL’s Abbotsford Heat, where he had nine points (5g, 4a) in 32 games.
Since turning professional in 2010 following four junior seasons with the Windsor Spitfires. Nemisz has played most of his four professional seasons in the AHL, where he has totaled 81 points (35g, 46a) in 206 career games with Abbotsford. He has also played a total of 15 NHL games with Calgary, most recently in the 2011-12 season, recording one assist.
In addition to winning two Memorial Cups with Windsor in 2009 and 2010 while teammates with Checkers forward Justin Shugg, Nemisz captured a silver medal with Canada at the 2010 World Junior Championship.
“Greg is a young player and a former first-round pick that we hope will continue to develop into a solid NHL player,” Hurricanes General Manager Jim Rutherford said in the team's official release.
Nemisz will not join the Checkers in time for Monday’s game in Rockford but should meet up with them in Charlotte prior to a pair of games against Texas on Thursday and Friday. Barring any other additions, subtractions or injuries, the addition would give the Checkers an extra forward for the first time in several weeks, as Zach Boychuk is currently playing in the NHL and Sean Dolan and Jared Staal continue to deal with injuries.
The Hurricanes' loss of Westgarth does not open up an immediate need for the Hurricanes to add a player from Charlotte, as he had been the extra forward prior to the deal. Of course, immediate projections could be a moot point if Carolina does indeed have another trade up its sleeve.