Coyotes send Ference to Devils in multi-player deal

[Kel Varnsen]

GLENDALE, Ariz. -- The Phoenix Coyotes on Friday acquired center Pascal Rheaume and two other minor-league players from the New Jersey Devils in a trade for defenseman Brad Ference.

Rheaume and defenseman Ray Schultz will report to the San Antonio Rampage, Phoenix's AHL affiliate, while defenseman Steven Spencer will remain with the ECHL's South Carolina Stingrays.

Ference, a first-round draft choice of Vancouver in 1997, had two goals and nine assists in 19 games this season with San Antonio. In 245 career NHL games split between Florida and Phoenix, Ference has four goals and 30 assists.

Rheaume, 32, had no points in 12 games this season with New Jersey and had two goals in nine games with the Devils' AHL affiliate in Albany, N.Y.

He's appeared in 317 career NHL games over nine seasons with New Jersey, St. Louis, Chicago, Atlanta and the New York Rangers, with 39 goals with 52 assists.

Schultz, who has played 45 NHL games over six seasons with the New York Islanders, had five assists and 22 penalty minutes in 18 games this season with Albany.

Spencer, a ninth-round pick of Nashville in the 2002 draft, has played in 15 games this season with South Carolina.

 

[coyoteshockeyfan]

This is simply a move to get a struggling San Antonio some depth players to help them out. Good move, I cant believe we were able to get decent AHL role players for Ference.

 

[Murf]

Good trade. I didn't even realize Ference was still around.