Blackhawks Acquire Eager For Vandermeer

From ChicagoBlackhawks.com: (link)

Blackhawks General Manager Dale Tallon announced today that the Blackhawks have obtained left wing Ben Eager from the Philadelphia Flyers in exchange for defenseman Jim Vandermeer.

“We wanted a high energy player for our fourth line and Ben Eager is that kind of player,” Tallon said. “He is just 23 years old, he can skate and he is a very gritty player.”

Eager stands at 6’3” tall and weighs 225 pounds and is in his third season in the NHL. He has appeared in a total of 111 games for the Flyers with nine goals and ten assists for 19 points and 313 penalty minutes. In 23 games with the Flyers this season, Eager has racked up 62 penalty minutes. Eager was originally drafted with the 23rd overall choice in the 2002 NHL Entry Draft by the Phoenix Coyotes.

Vandermeer, 27, appeared in 26 games for this Blackhawks this season, scoring two goals and seven assists for nine points to go along with 44 penalty minutes. “Jim Vandermeer will be a free agent at the end of this season. This deal allows us to avoid that situation and improve our team,” Tallon said.

Vandermeer was originally acquired by the Blackhawks from the Flyers on February 19, 2004 for Alex Zhamnov and an exchange of draft choices.