It has been a crazy 24 hours in the world of hockey. The Flyers and Kings partnered up in a trade that sent Vincent Lecavalier to Los Angeles. Columbus and Nashville also swapped a deal that involved Ryan Johansen. Now Anaheim has made a splash of their own as they acquired goaltender Dustin Tokarski from Montreal for left-wing prospect Max Friberg.
TRADE: #NHLDucks acquire goalie Dustin Tokarski from Montreal in exchange for winger Max Friberg.
— Anaheim Ducks (@AnaheimDucks) January 7, 2016
Tokarski was drafted in the fifth round (122nd overall) by the Tampa Bay Lightning in the 2008 NHL Entry draft. He only played a total of 7 games for the Lightning, with an overall record of 1-3-1. Most of his career was spent in the AHL where he played a total of 146 games for the Norfolk Admirals, who from 2007-2012 were affiliated with the Lightning. He then played for Tampa’s current affiliate, the Syracuse Crunch, for part of 2011-2012 before he was then traded to the Montreal Canadiens.
In his overall career, Tokarski has played a total of 33 NHL games, 26 of them with the Canadiens. He is most known for taking over for an injured Carey Price in the 2014 Eastern Conference Finals. With Price out for an extended period of time this season, Tokarski had a chance to step up and prove himself. Unfortunately that did not go well as in 6 games this season his record was 1-3. He was then overtaken by Mike Condon and never had another chance to prove himself, which lead the Canadiens to acquire Ben Scrivens late last month.
This could be another chance for Tokarski to prove his worth in the NHL. But it looks like he won’t get that chance immediately as he will first report to the Ducks AHL affiliate, the San Diego Gulls. This will give the Gulls more depth at the goaltender position and allow the Ducks to have more options for potential future recalls to the NHL.
Been told that Tokarski deal isn’t response to Gibson getting hurt. Injury isn’t considered to be serious. Day to day in literal sense.
— Eric Stephens (@icemancometh) January 7, 2016
Also, Matt Hackett has dealt with injuries, ineffectiveness with Gulls. So Ducks have Gibson and then Andersen, Khudobin and now Tokarski.
— Eric Stephens (@icemancometh) January 7, 2016
The Gulls are coming off a 4-3 win over the San Antonio Rampage. They will return to action tomorrow night as they take on Charlotte Checkers.
