Red Wings Obtain Four Veterans

The two-time defending Stanley Cup champion Detroit Red Wings got busy as the NHL trade deadline approached Tuesday (3 p.m. ET).

Just hours after acquiring left wing Wendel Clark from the Tampa Bay Lightning, the Red Wings improved at the blue line as well, nabbing veteran defenseman Chris Chelios from the Chicago Blackhawks for defenseman Anders Eriksson and one first-round pick in the 1999 NHL Entry Draft

The Red Wings also have acquired New York Rangers defenseman Ulf Samuelsson.

Chelios, who has played 16 NHL seasons in Montreal and Chicago, is a three-time Norris Trophy winner with 632 career assists. He became the first American-born defenseman to win the Norris when he received the award as member of the Canadiens in 1989. Chelios, 37, has eight goals and 28 assists with a plus-minus rating of minus-7 this season. The Red Wings also extended Chelios' contract for two years, through 2002.

Earlier this season, Chelios said he had a handshake agreement with the Blackhawks to remain in Chicago. But reports in Chicago Tuesday said he demanded a trade Monday after the Blackhawks refused to give him a contract extension. He has one season remaining on a deal that pays him $3.72 million.

Eriksson is still developing. In just his fourth NHL season, he has two goals, five assists and a plus-minus of 5.

The Red Wings needed to bolster their defense because, according to the Detroit News, veteran defenseman Uwe Krupp is out for the season with a back injury. The injury could jeopardize his career, the report said.

As an unrestricted free agent, Krupp signed a guaranteed four-year, $16.4-million contract in the off-season. He recently resumed skating in an attempt to come back from a herniated disc but Monday told the team he is still in pain.

General manager Ken Holland said, "It would be a reach," for the Red Wings to count on Krupp returning for the playoffs.

Earlier Tuesday, the Red Wings acquired Clark and a sixth-round draft pick in the '99 draft from the Tampa Bay Lightning for backup goalie Kevin Hodson and a second-round pick in this season's draft.

In 14 NHL seasons -- with Toronto, Quebec, the New York Islanders and Tampa Bay -- Clark, 32, has 322 goals and 230 assists. He has 28 goals and 14 assists this season.

Hodson, 26, is 0-2 this season with a 3.09 goals-against average. In four NHL seasons in Detroit, Hodson is 13-7-4 with a 2.37 GAA.

The Red Wings also got veteran goalie Bill Ranford from the Lightning for conditional drafpicks. Ranford, in his 14th NHL season, had his best years in Edmonton during the early 1990s. He won a Stanley Cup with the Oilers in 1990, also winning the Conn Smythe Trophy that season. This season Ranford, 32, is 3-18-3 with a 3.90 goals-against average.

In other trade action Tuesday:

Flyers re-acquire Duchesne, Berube

PHILADELPHIA -- The Philadelphia Flyers brought back a couple of familiar faces at the NHL trade deadline, acquiring defenseman Steve Duchesne from the Los Angeles Kings and left wing Craig Berube from the Washington Capitals.

Philadelphia sent Dave Babych and a 2000 fifth-round draft pick to the Kings, and got Berube for future considerations.

Capitals send Hunter to Avs

DENVER -- The Colorado Avalanche on Tuesday acquired 19-year veteran Dale Hunter from the Washington Capitals for a draft pick.

Hunter began his career with the Quebec Nordiques, now the Avalanche. He played for the Nordiques until June 1987, when he was traded to the Capitals.

Habs send Damphousse to Sharks

MONTREAL -- The Montreal Canadiens have traded captain Vincent Damphousse to San Jose, the Sharks confirmed Tuesday.

According to a Sharks official, San Jose surrendered yet-to-be determined draft picks in the deal.

Caps deal Juneau to Buffalo

BUFFALO, N.Y. -- The Buffalo Sabres acquired Joe Juneau and a third-round draft pick from the Washington Capitals Tuesday for Alexei Tezikov, a defenseman with the AHL Rochester Americans.

Juneau, 31, scored the overtime goal against Buffalo that eliminated the Sabres from last year's Eastern Conference finals.

Atcheynum heads back to St. Louis

ST. LOUIS -- The St. Louis Blues re-acquired right wing Blair Atcheynum from the Nashville Predators Tuesday for a 2000 sixth-round draft pick.

Atcheynum, 29, was taken from the Blues in the expansion draft and had eight goals and siassists in 53 games for Nashville. He has not recorded a point since Feb. 23.

Leafs acquire Perreault from Kings

TORONTO -- The Toronto Maple Leafs acquired center Yanic Perreault from the Los Angeles Kings on Tuesday in exchange for wing Jason Podollan and a third-round pick in this year's draft.

Canucks deal Zezel to Anaheim

VANCOUVER, British Columbia -- The Vancouver Canucks traded veteran center Peter Zezel to the Anaheim Mighty Ducks for future considerations on Tuesday.

Devils get Nemchinov; Chorske headed to Calgary

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