Islanders trade Hunter to Devils for Rolston & a pick (clears cap space for Parise)
The New York Islanders have traded Trent Hunter to the New Jersey Devils for Brian Rolston and a conditional pick in 2012 which also clears up some cap space for the Devils to re-sign Zach Parise.
Islanders item - Isles trade for Brian Rolston
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The Islanders have acquired 38-year-old Devils forward Brian Rolston in exchange for Trent Hunter.
Rolston, whose $5.062 cap hit will give the Islanders a big boost toward the cap floor, finished with 14 goals and 20 assists in 65 games for the Devils last season. Hunter was limited to 17 games last year and had to undergo season-ending knee surgery in February.
The move allows both the Islanders to get to the cap floor and the Devils to clear cap space.
Rolston had to waive his no-trade clause to come to join the Islanders. According to Rolston's agent, Steve Bartlett, he did so because he felt the Islanders were a "good young team on the rise." Rolston also has a longstanding relationship with Islanders assistant coach/advisor Doug Weight.
Bartlett also said the Islanders pursued Rolston hard in the summer of 2008 before he signed a four-year $20.25 million deal with New Jersey.
The deal announced by the Islanders originally had New Jersey sending them a conditional pick in the 2012 draft, but that is no longer included in the traded, according to someone with knowledge of the situation.
Rolston, a four-time 30-goal scorer, won a Stanley Cup with the Devils during his rookie season in 1994-95. He has amassed 335 goals and 402 assists in 16 seasons in the NHL.
