Ducks defensemen prospects Luca Sbisa and Stefan Warg were two of the many players who switched teams this weekend in advance of the Western Hockey League’s trade deadline.
Sbisa was sent from the Lethbridge (Alta.) Hurricanes to the Portland (Ore.) Winterhawks. Portland, which is 26-16-2 and third place in its conference, ceded two players and a first-round pick in the 2010 CHL Import Draft to Lethbridge, which is near the bottom of the league at 14-23-5, for Sbisa and a pair of draft picks.
Sbisa made the Ducks’ roster out of training camp but was returned to Lethrbidge in October. While competing for the Swiss national team at the recent IIHF World Junior Championships, he suffered a hip flexor injury that will sideline him into February. Sbisa is expected to recover in time to represent Switzerland at the Vancouver Olympic Games.
Warg was dealt from the Seattle Thunderbirds to the Prince Albert (Sask.) Raiders for a defenseman and future draft pick. Prince Albert is 22-20-3; Seattle is 14-23-6. Bruno Campese, the Raiders’ coach and GM, called Warg “a solid, reliable d-man who adds size and composure to our defensive corps.”
Warg has 13 points, all assists, and 53 penalty minutes through 37 games with Seattle. A fifth-round pick in 2008, Ward also took part in the Ducks’ most recent training camp.