From Raleigh to Jersey

THE CANADIAN PRESS

RALEIGH, N.C. -- The Carolina Hurricanes traded forward Alexei Ponikarovsky to the New Jersey Devils on Friday for defenceman Joe Sova and a fourth-round pick.

The Hurricanes announced the trade about 90 minutes after their 3-0 win over Washington.

Ponikarovsky joined the Hurricanes last summer as a free agent, signing a one-year deal worth US$1.5 million. He has seven goals and eight assists with a minus-12 rating in 49 games this season.

Originally drafted in the fourth round (87th overall) by Toronto in 1998, he spent nine seasons with the Maple Leafs before being traded to Pittsburgh in the 2009-10 season.

Ponikarovsky played for the L.A. Kings last season and has 128 goals, 168 assists over 603 career NHL games.

The 23-year-old Sova is in his rookie season in the American Hockey League and has two goals, four assists in 14 games with the Albany Devils.