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Leafs Deal Mark Fraser To Edmonton For Abney, Hartikainen

January 31, 2014, 11:09 AM ET [1475 Comments]
Mike Augello
Toronto Maple Leafs Blogger • RSSArchiveCONTACT
The Toronto Maple Leafs have traded veteran defenseman Mark Fraser to the Edmonton Oilers for minor leaguer Cameron Abney and winger Teemu Hartikainen.

After a successful 2013 season, Fraser injured his knee in Philadelphia during the opening week of the season and was never able to get back up to speed early this season. The 27-year-old Ottawa, ON native had one assist and 33 penalty minutes in 19 games for Toronto and was in the lineup once since December 19.

The 22-year-old Abney was selected 82nd overall in 2009 and is currently a member of the ECHL’s Bakersfield Condors after playing parts of two seasons with the Oilers AHL affiliate in Oklahoma City.



Hartikainen has played 52 career NHL games and split time between Edmonton and Oklahoma City the past three seasons, but bolted to Ufa Salavat Yulayev of the KHL this season because the Oilers would not sign the 23-year-old to a one-way deal.



The deal reunites the tough defenseman with Edmonton bench boss Dallas Eakins, who coached Fraser during the Toronto Marlies 2012 Calder Cup run and prior to the end of the NHL lockout. If Fraser is able to recapture the form that he displayed in leading the Leafs in plus/minus while paired with Cody Franson last season, it may help bolster an Oilers blueline that has been defensively inept thus far under Eakins.

The move from the Toronto perspective somewhat alleviates a roster quandary that Toronto was likely to face with David Clarkson, Trevor Smith and Dave Bolland getting close to returning to the lineup.

Clarkson had staples removed from his surgically repaired elbow this week and is expected to be back with the team early next week for the two game Florida road trip. Smith injured himself in a post-practice workout, but could still be eligible to return before the Olympic break and Bolland participated in practice for the fifth straight day on Friday, with head coach Randy Carlyle giving him a 50/50 chance of being back before the two-week hiatus for the Sochi games beginning February 9.




GM Dave Nonis faced the prospect of losing Fraser or Paul Ranger if he tried to send them down as both would have to clear waivers, so by moving Fraser in the deal to the Oilers, he opens up a roster spot and clears $1.275 Million in cap space, which could be used to add a player before the March 5th trade deadline.

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