The Fourth Period :: Phoenix Coyotes :: Coyotes deal Nokelainen, Stafford to Habs


October 23, 2011 \| 12:08pm ET

Coyotes deal Nokelainen, Stafford to Habs
TheFourthPeriod.com

TFP has learned that the Phoenix Coyotes have traded center Petteri Nokelainen and defenseman Garrett Stafford to the Montreal Canadiens in exchange for center Brock Trotter and a 2012 seventh-round draft pick.

Nokelainen, 25, has one assist and a minus-1 rating in five games with the Coyotes this season.

In 194 career NHL regular-season games with the New York Islanders, Boston Bruins, Anaheim Ducks and Coyotes, Nokelainen has accumulated 17 goals and 18 assists for 35 points.

The native of Imatra, Finland, was originally drafted 16th overall by the Islanders in the 2004 NHL Entry Draft.

Stafford, 31, has played a total of seven NHL games with Detroit, Dallas and Phoenix, and has registered two assists and eight shots.

Trotter, 24, has played just two games in the NHL, both in the 2009-10 season with the Canadiens.

In 2010-11, Trotter registered nine 9 goals and 17 assists for 26 points in 49 games with Riga of the Kontinental Hockey League.