Breaking: Jets Acquire Jiri Tlusty from the Carolina Hurricanes

The Winnipeg Jets have just announced the acquisition of RW Jiri Tlusty from the Carolina Hurricanes, in exchange for a 2016 3rd round pick and a conditional 2015 6th round draft choice.

(Update: Per Ed Tait of the Winnipeg Free Press, and via Carolina Hurricanes PR, the conditional draft pick becomes a 2015 5th round selection if the Jets make the playoffs this year. If they miss the playoffs, the pick stays as a 6th round selection in the 2015 draft.)

Jiri Tlusty, acquired today by the Winnipeg Jets. Courtesy: NHLPA.com

Tlusty is 26 years old, and is in his 3rd year with the Carolina Hurricanes. He was drafted in the 1st round of the 2006 NHL Draft, 13th overall, by the Toronto Maple Leafs. He is an unrestricted free agent at season’s end.

This season, Tlusty has scored 13 goals, 10 assists for 23 points in 52 games played for the Hurricanes. His career best season came in the lockout-shortened 2012-13 season, when he scored 23 goals, 15 assists for 38 points in 48 games played.

There is familiarity between Tlusty and Jets head coach Paul Maurice, as both men were together in the Maple Leafs/Marlies organization and again in Carolina with the Hurricanes. Additionally, Tlusty is from Slany, Czech Republic and has previously played for Kladno in the Czech Elite League, so it stands to reason that he is familiar with current Jets players Michael Frolik and Ondrej Pavelec.

To accommodate the Tlusty acquisition, Jets RW Blake Wheeler was placed on Injured Reserve.

More to come…