BLACKHAWKS SWAP RICHMOND FOR BRENT

Center heads to Chicago after solid AHL postseason

Rockford, Ill.-Chicago Blackhawks General Manager Dale Tallon announced on Thursday that the National Hockey League club has acquired center Tim Brent from the Pittsburgh Penguins in exchange for defenseman Danny Richmond.

Brent heads to the Blackhawks organization after one campaign with the Penguins. The Cambridge, Ontario native appeared in one game with Pittsburgh in 2007-08 while skating in 74 with the American Hockey League’s Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins.

The center set career highs in points (79), goals (18) and assists (43) in ’07-08. Brent also put together a solid postseason while helping the baby Pens to the Calder Cup Finals. In 23 postseason games, Brent tied for the league lead with 12 goals and was third overall with 27 points.

Prior to his stop with the Penguins, Brent played three seasons in the Anaheim Ducks organizations. Drafted twice by Anaheim (round two, #37 overall in 2002 and round three, #75 overall in 2004), the 6-0, 197 center played three seasons in the Ducks system. Brent played 15 games with Anaheim in 2006-07 recording a goal.

Overall, he has tallied 133 points (54 goals, 79 assists) and 193 penalty minutes in 205 career AHL contests during his four-year professional career.

Richmond, 24, dished out two assists and accrued 68 penalty minutes in 39 contests with the Blackhawks over the last three seasons. Last year, the Chicago native spent the majority of the season with the Rockford IceHogs. In 40 games with Rockford, Richmond notched two goals and 12 assists.

The defenseman had his season cut short in ’07-08 after suffering a season ending injury on Feb. 16 when he ruptured his spleen. Richmond had two stints with the Blackhawks last season, playing in seven overall games.

Originally a draft pick of the Carolina Hurricanes (round two, #31 overall in 2003), Richmond was acquired by Chicago on Jan. 20, 2006 for Anton Babchuk.