SAN JOSE, Calif., Jan. 23 (UPI) -- The Boston Bruins traded disgruntled defenseman Kyle McLaren to the San Jose Sharks Thursday as part of a three-team deal involving the Montreal Canadiens.
McLaren, who refused to report to the Bruins in training camp, was shipped to San Jose with a 2004 fourth-round draft pick for goaltender Jeff Hackett and promising defenseman Jeff Jillson. The Sharks obtained Hackett from the Canadiens for right wing Niklas Sundstrom and a 2004 third-round pick.
After getting off to a 19-4-3-1 start, Boston was in no hurry to trade McLaren. But a 4-14-3-0 tailspin increased the urgency -- along with the Bruins' growing dissatisfaction with their goaltending. John Grahame was traded to Tampa Bay last week and General Manager Mike O'Connell apparently was not prepared to go with Steve Shields as his No. 1 goalie.
"Jeff Hackett is a very good goaltender who is proven at the NHL level and we think he can make an impact on our team right away," O'Connell said. "We think this trade addresses one of our needs since we made the trade of John Grahame."
Hackett, 34, became expendable in Montreal last season with the emergence of Hart and Vezina Trophy winner Jose Theodore. Hackett has not been a No. 1 goalie since the 1999-2000 campaign, when he was 23-25-7 with three shutouts and a 2.40 goals-against average in 56 games for the Canadiens.
This season, he is 7-8-2 with a 2.54 GAA in 18 games.
In Jillson, the Bruins get a 1999 first-round draft pick from Rhode Island whose development in the NHL has been slow. He had five goals and 13 assists in 48 games as a rookie in 2001-02 and started this season with the Sharks. But the former University of Michigan star has been in the American Hockey league since Dec. 12.
"Jillson is a big, strong, young defenseman who skates very well and we believe that he will develop into a top-four National Hockey League defenseman," O'Connell said.
San Jose replaces a first-round draft pick with McLaren, who was taken ninth overall in 1995. He has played just 38 games over the last two seasons due to a torn wrist ligament and his highly publicized contract dispute.
When healthy, the 6-4, 225-pound McLaren is a physical presence who can contribute offensively. He had just eight assists last season but posted a career-best 20 assists in 66 games in 1997-98.
"Kyle McLaren is a young, physical defenseman who brings elements which will fit with our stable of defensemen for years to come," Sharks General Manager Dean Lombardi said.
San Jose could use the defensive help. Only Columbus (151) has given up more goals than the Sharks (146), who were a popular pick to win the Western Conference championship.
Montreal ends up with Sundstrom, a 27-year-old Swedish checking specialist who has two goals and 10 assists in 47 games. The eighth overall pick in the 1993 draft, he broke into the NHL with the New York Rangers and in 1999 was traded to Tampa Bay, although he never played for the Lightning.
"We are very satisfied to have acquired Niklas Sundstrom, a very skilled player, as well as a third-round pick," Canadiens General Manager Andre Savard said. "Sundstrom adds depth to our group of forwards. Despite his age, he has already played in almost 600 NHL games and is averaging over 40 points per season."
