Rockford, Ill.- The Chicago Blackhawks General Manager Dale Tallon announced Thursday that the National Hockely League club has acquired center Pascal Pelletier from the Boston Bruins in exchange for center Martin St. Pierre.
Pelletier, 25, made his National Hockey League debut last season with the Bruins and was held scoreless in six games. The Labrador City, New Foundland, native spent the majority of last year in the American Hockey League where he led the Providence Bruins with a career-high 37 goals and a career-best 75 points in 73 regular-season contests. He also dished out a career-most 38 assists before leading Providence with 12 points in 10 playoff contests.
A four-year pro, Pelletier appeared in 206 regular-season matchups with Providence over the last three seasons, registering 71 goals, 99 assists and 170 points. The undrafted forward also netted 69 points (28 goals, 41 assists) in 88 career ECHL contests with the Louisiana IceGators (2004-05) and Gwinnett Gladiators (2005-06). Prior to making his professional debut during the 2004-05 campaign, Pelletier racked up 288 points (112 goals, 176 assists) and 489 penalty minutes in 257 career QMJHL games spanning four seasons with Baie-Comeau and Shawinigan (2000-04).
One year after amassing 99 points in 72 games with the Norfolk Admirals, St. Pierre, 24, was named Rockford IceHogs Most Valuable Player and Second Team AHL Post-Season All-Star after finishing second in the AHL in assists and points in 2007-08. The Embrun, Ontario native started the season with the Mytishi Khimik in Russia, where he had a goal and six assists in 14 games.
Upon his return to North America, St. Pierre made a big splash. He was named Player of the Month for the AHL in November with seven goals and 14 assists in 13 games. He set a Rockford franchise record with a 15-game point streak from November 30 to January 4 and then tied the AHL record for career points in the annual All-Star Classic at eight with a goal and two assists for Canada. St. Pierre led the IceHogs in playoff scoring as well, notching 14 points and was named a postseason Second Team All-Star.
In the three years with the Chicago Blackhawks organization, he appeared in 21 games with Chicago including two recalls in 2007-08. He collected one goal, four points and eight penalty minutes.