Mon, Jan 30, 2006 at 2:00pm

HURRICANES ACQUIRE WEIGHT

The Carolina Hurricanes acquired center Doug Weight and winger Erkki Rajamaki from the St. Louis Blues for forwards Jesse Boulerice, Mike Zigomanis and Magnus Kahnberg, as well as a first-round pick in 2006, a fourth-round pick in 2006 and a fourth round pick in 2007.

What does it give the Carolina Hurricanes
In a surprise deal (most observers had Weight landing with Ottawa or Calgary), the Hurricanes made another statement to the rest of the NHL that they are to be reckoned with. What makes this deal even sweeter for Carolina--aside from having lured Weight away from an Eastern Conference rival, the Senators--is the fact that they acquired a top-notch center without sacrificing a key element on their current roster. Weight joins Eric Staal, Rod Brind'Amour, Matt Cullen and Kevyn Adams to form an outstanding and all-around center brigade. Moreover, despite having acquired a rent-a-player, Carolina has not sacrificed its future--two of the draft picks traded were acquired in previous deals, while the 'Canes first pick in 2006 will be down the first round's totem pole. For now, Rajamaki is essentially a throw-in. Props to 'Canes GM Jim Rutherford.

What does it give the St. Louis Blues
One day after dealing Mike Sillinger to the Predators, the Blues continued their dealing ways by sending center Weight to the Hurricanes. While acquisitions Boulerice, Zigomanis and Kahnberg could possibly all skate for the Blues down the road, in one role-playing capacity or another, it's the three draft picks that will help shape the Blues' future. In today's capped NHL, that's not a bad return for a player that will surely test the unrestricted free agent market this summer. Zigomanis has a chance to skate regularly on a scoring line, while Boulerice replaces recently departed Aaron Downey as the new enforcer. Kahnberg has been hesitant to come to North America, so the Blues are clearly taking a gamble on the slick Swede.

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