Thrashers Acquire Defenseman Mathieu Schneider from Anaheim

The Atlanta Thrashers have acquired defenseman Mathieu Schneider from the Anaheim Ducks in exchange for defenseman Ken Klee and forwards Brad Larsen and Chad Painchaud, according to Executive Vice President and General Manager Don Waddell.

Schneider, 39, is a veteran of 19 NHL seasons with the Canadiens, Islanders, Maple Leafs, Rangers, Kings, Red Wings and Ducks, recording 702 points (212 goals, 490 assists) in 1,197 games. A Stanley Cup Champion with Montreal in 1993, he has appeared in 109 NHL playoff games over 13 playoff seasons with Montreal, Toronto, Los Angeles, Detroit and Anaheim, tallying 53 points (10 goals, 43 assists).

The 5-11, 195-pound defenseman, who has played in two NHL All-Star Games (1996 and 2003), has scored 93 power play goals, 28 game-winning goals and has earned a career plus-73 rating while averaging 23:21of ice time (since the statistic began being tracked in 1998-99). Since the beginning of the 2003-04 season, he has the third highest plus/minus rating (plus-89) in the league (behind Nicklas Lidstrom and Marek Malik) and is one of only six NHL defensemen to earn a plus-rating in each of the last seven seasons.

Last season with Anaheim, Schneider appeared in 65 games, recording 39 points (12 goals, 27 assists) and earned a plus-22 rating while averaging 22:18 of ice time per game. He tied for first among team defensemen in goals and ranked second among team defensemen in points, assists and plus/minus rating. He recorded a plus- or even-rating in 32 straight games from Dec. 18 to March 5 (plus-17), the longest streak in the league last season. In six playoff games with the Ducks, he tallied one goal and eight penalty minutes.

The native of New York, N.Y., represented the United States in the 1998 Winter Olympic Games in Nagano and the 2006 Winter Olympic Games in Turin. He has also represented the United States at the 1996 World Cup of Hockey, helping win the Gold Medal, and the 1988 World Junior Championships.

Originally selected by Montreal in the third round, 44th overall, by Montreal in the 1987 NHL Entry Draft, Schneider played three seasons with Cornwall of the Ontario Hockey League from 1986-87 to 1988-89, where he was named to the OHL First All-Star Team in 1988 and 1989.

Klee, 37, has played one season for the Thrashers since signing as a free agent on July 2, 2007, appearing in 72 games and recording 10 points (one goal, nine assists) during the 2007-08 season. In 13 NHL seasons with Washington, Toronto, New Jersey, Colorado and Atlanta, he has registered 184 points (54 goals, 130 assists) in 863 games.

Larsen, 31, was acquired off waivers from Colorado on Feb. 24, 2004 and has appeared in 202 games for the Thrashers, recording 32 points (15 goals, 17 assists). In eight NHL seasons with the Thrashers and Avalanche, he has tallied 48 points (19 goals, 29 assists) in 294 games.

Painchaud, 22, was selected by the Thrashers in the fourth round, 106th overall, in the 2004 NHL Entry Draft. He spent last season between the Chicago Wolves of the American Hockey League, where he recorded three points (one goal, two assists) in 22 games, and the Gwinnett Gladiators of the ECHL, where he registered 14 points (eight goals, six assists) in 10 games.

The Thrashers open their 2008-09 Regular-Season schedule on Friday, Oct. 10 at Philips Arena against the Washington Capitals at 7:30 p.m. Season Tickets for the Atlanta Thrashers start at $10 per game and are available for the 2008-09 season by calling (866) 715-1500 or visiting atlantathrashers.com. Individual tickets can be purchased by visiting atlantathrashers.com, calling (800) 326-4000, or by visiting the Philips Arena Box Office or any Ticketmaster Ticket Outlet.
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