Ducks Acquire Cumiskey

  The Anaheim Ducks have acquired defenseman Kyle Cumiskey today in a trade with the Colorado Avalanche. The Avalanche in turn received defenseman Jake Newton, and a seventh-round draft pick in the 2013 NHL Entry Draft. As a clause in the deal, in the event Cumiskey plays in 45 NHL regular season games this season, Colorado will instead receive Anaheim's fifth-round pick in 2012.

  Cumiskey has been plagued with a severe concussion sustained In February 2010, relegating him to only 18 games last season with the Colorado Avalanche, who drafted the Abbotsford, B.C. native in the 7th round (222nd overall) in the 2005 NHL Entry Draft. Cumiskey re-signed with the Avalanche as a restricted free-agent to a one-year, two-way deal in September worth $708,750. The Avalanche relegated himto the American Hockey League on Wednesday, and waived him on Friday.

  Cumiskey’s injury plagued career has seen him appear just 132 NHL games, and 96 AHL games through the last five years.

  The injuries have without a doubt stunted the 24 year-old’s growth as a pro hockey player, but Cumiskey has shown great potential when he is healthy. His concussion limited him to 18 games with the Avalanche last year, where he scored one goal and eight points and had a -3 rating. In 2009-2010, however, Cumiskey totaled a promising 7 goals and 20 points with 47 hits in 61 games, 21 games shy of a full season. If not for the injury, Cumiskey may well have had his breakout year last season and kept his place with the young team.

  Provided Cusmiskey can stay healthy this year, the Ducks have added some good young depth with the trade. Cumiskey will likely be relegated to the American Hockey League for strength training and development before he gets another crack at the NHL. Cumiskey has great speed and ability to join the rush as an offensive defenseman, and could pan out well as a an asset on the powerplay for the Ducks later in the year. Four current NHL roster defensemen, and three AHL defensemen on contract outside of Cumiskey all have expiring contracts this year.

  Jake Newton, a native of San Jacinto, California, heads a bit further East on the globe. He signed as a free agent to a three-year entry-level contract in March, 2010 worth $900,000 per-year, and heads into his final contracted year.

  He spent 2010-2011 with Syracuse of the AHL, where he appeared 48 times, scoring two goals and nine points with a -18 rating. Prior to his professional debut, the 23 year-old spent two years with Lincoln of the USHL where he played 115 games and scored 21 goals and 42 assists for 63 points and a +15 rating. In 2009-2010, he spent one year with Northwestern where he played 34 games, collecting 9 goals and 22 points with a -3 rating.

  His 6’3 205lbs. frame is something that the Avalanche could use in their system should he develop into a consistent NHL blue-liner.

- Kendall Grubbs