RALEIGH, N.C., Jan. 23 (UPI) -- The Carolina Hurricanes Sunday shipped disgruntled center Keith Primeau and a fifth-round pick in the 2000 draft to Philadelphia for center Rod Brind'Amour, goaltender Jean-Marc Pelletier and a second-round choice this year.
"We are excited to announce the acquisition of Rod Brind'Amour," Hurricanes general manager Jim Rutherford said. "He brings character, leadership and toughness to our locker room. He is one of the NHL's best all-around centers and will boost our specialty teams. This is a player we have coveted for some time."
Primeau had been involved in a bitter holdout and the deal came on the heels of the latest confrontation between Primeau and Carolina owner Peter Karmanos. There had been speculation the Hurricanes would deal Primeau in a three-way deal involving the Phoenix Coyotes and New York Rangers.
Brind'Amour, who suffered a broken right foot earlier in the season, has five goals and three assists in 12 games. Primeau had 30 goals and 62 points in 78 games last season.
"It's been a long time coming, I guess," Primeau said. "I have heard the speculation as much as everybody else over the last one or two weeks. Now that it has finally happened, I don't know if there is a better fit in the National Hockey League than the Philadelphia Flyers. I'm extremely excited and looking forward to a great experience."
"It is important to our franchise to negotiate fair, yet realistic contracts," said Hurricanes general manager Jim Rutherford. "We took a position on Keith that was an important step for the organization and our fans. We placed a certain value on Keith and we could not come to terms."
Primeau has agreed to a five-year contract worth a reported $23 million and is expected to be in the Flyers' lineup next week. His return could not come at a better time for Philadelphia, which is struggling in the absence of superstar center Eric Lindros.
With Lindros sidelined since Jan. 14 with another concussion, the Flyers are 0-2-1. He is expected back on Thursday, but has suffered three concussions in the last 22 months and is only signed through this season.
Even when Lindros was healthy the Flyers struggled, going 0-3-1 with only three goals in their last four games and falling 10 points behind first-place New Jersey in the Atlantic Division.
Primeau, 28, not only gives Philadelphia another bruising presence at center, he provides insurance should Lindros need more recovery time, have to change his rugged style or opt to leave the team at the end of the season.
"We felt that it will make us a bigger and better club," Flyers general manager Bobby Clarke said. "To have two centermen like Lindros and Primeau back-to-back will make us a tougher opponent to play against."
Primeau began his career with Detroit, but was involved in the blockbuster deal that sent Brendan Shanahan from Hartford to the Red Wings. He was named Hurricanes captain, recorded his second 30-goal campaign and earned his first All-Star berth in 1998-99.
He has scored at least 26 goals in five of the last six seasons and is averaging 134 penalty minutes over the last seven campaigns.
