This deal should be a steal of a rental for the Devils.
Last night, they acquired 6-foot-4 winger Alexei Ponikarovsky from the Hurricanes for Albany defenseman Joe Sova and a 2012 fourth-round pick.
“He’s got hockey sense. He knows how to play the game,” general manager Lou Lamoriello said, marveling at his fortune. “And he’s 6-4.
“This player is going to help our team.”
Lamoriello said there is a chance Ponikarovsky could be in the Devils’ lineup this afternoon when the Flyers visit Prudential Center. The 31-year-old played for Carolina in Raleigh, N.C., last night.
Ponikarovsky is eligible for unrestricted free agency July 1, and is earning $1.5 million this season. He has had four 20-goal seasons, playing eight-plus seasons with the Maple Leafs before shuffling among the Penguins, Kings and Hurricanes over the last two calendar years.
Ponikarovsky’s best season was 2008-09 when he scored 23 goals and added 38 assists for the Maple Leafs.
At 6-foot-4, 225 pounds, he adds size and skill to an already-talented Devils forward corps.
Ponikarovsky adds to the glut of nominal left wings on the Devils roster: Ilya Kovalchuk, Zach Parise, Patrik Elias, Dainius Zubrus, Mattias Tedenby, Eric Boulton and Ryan Carter.
“I imagine [Carolina] is going to go with young players,” Lamoriello said.
“He fits exactly what we need on our left side with his size. We need to improve our third and fourth lines.”