Islanders trade Chris Simon

NEWS RELEASES

NEW YORK ISLANDERS

MINNESOTA WILD

************************* New York Islanders release

In two separate trades, the Islanders have sent defenseman Marc-Andre Bergeron to Anaheim for a third round draft pick in 2008 and forward Chris Simon to Minnesota for a sixth round draft pick in 2008.

The team has also recalled winger Jeff Tambellini from Bridgeport of the American Hockey League.

“We appreciate all the good things that Chris and Marc-Andre have done for the organization, but these trades allow us to play our younger kids especially Jeff Tambellini,” said Islanders General Manager Garth Snow. “Jeff is going to have an opportunity to play here and for us to reunite the ‘Kid Line’.”

Tambellini has played in 16 games with the Islanders this season and has scored one goal while splitting his time with Bridgeport.

In 46 games with the Sound Tigers this season, Tambellini leads the AHL with 29 goals and is fifth in the league in scoring with 58 points.

He was acquired by the Islanders at the trade deadline in March of 2006 along with Denis Grebeshkov for Mark Parrish and Brent Sopel.

In 64 career NHL games, Tambellini has scored four goals with ten assists for 14 points.

Bergeron, who was in his second season with the Islanders, has scored nine goals with nine assists for 18 points in 46 games.

He was acquired by the Islanders last season with a third round draft selection for Grebeshkov.

In 69 games with the Islanders over the two seasons, Bergeron scored 15 goals with 24 assists for 39 points.

Simon, who was also in second season with the Islanders, played in 28 games this season scoring a goal with two assists for three points.

He was signed by the Islanders as a free agent in July 2006.

In 95 games with the Islanders over the two seasons, Simon scored 11 goals with 19 assists for 30 points.

************************* Minnesota Wild release

SAINT PAUL/ MINNEAPOLIS - Minnesota Wild President and General Manager Doug Risebrough today announced the National Hockey League (NHL) club has acquired left wing Chris Simon from the New York Islanders in exchange for a sixth-round pick in the 2008 NHL Entry Draft.

Simon, 36 (1/30/72), has recorded three points (1-2=3) and 43 penalty minutes in 28 games for the Islanders this season.

The 6-foot-3, 232-pound native of Wawa, Ont., is in his 15th NHL season, totaling 305 points (144-161=305) and 1,808 penalty minutes in 772 games with Quebec, Colorado, Washington, Chicago, Calgary, the New York Rangers and Islanders.

He posted career-highs in goals (29), assists (20) and points (49) in 1999-2000 for Washington.

Simon, who won a Stanley Cup with Colorado in 1996, was Philadelphia’s second-round pick (No. 25 overall) in the 1990 NHL Entry Draft.

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