DETROIT, March 11 (UPI) -- The Detroit Red Wings Tuesday acquired offensive-minded Mathieu Schneider from the Los Angeles Kings for two players and two high draft picks.
The Wings were trying to strengthen their blue line as they seek their second straight Stanley Cup. They sent defenseman Maxim Kuznetsov, center Sean Avery, a first-round draft pick in 2003, and a second-rounder in 2004 to the Kings.
It's a heavy price for Schneider, 32, a steady defenseman with good offensive skills, who should complement the likes of Norris Trophy winner Nicklas Lidstrom, Chris Chelios, and Jason Woolley.
He collects $3.5 million this season and next.
Schneider is enjoying one of the best seasons of his 14-year career, recording 14 goals, one in a 3-2 loss to Detroit on Monday, and 29 assists in 65 games. He is seventh among NHL defensemen in scoring.
He is expected to join his sixth NHL team Wednesday, when the Red Wings visit Phoenix. He also has played for the New York Rangers, New York Islanders, Toronto, and Montreal, recording 152 goals and 347 assists in 901 games.
In 1993, Schneider won a Stanley Cup with the Canadiens. He will be looking to do the same this year with the Wings, who have made a habit of acquiring defensemen before the trade deadline.
Four years ago, the Wings obtained Chelios from Chicago, but lost in the Western Conference semifinals. Last year, they got Jiri Slegr from Atlanta and won their third Cup in six seasons.
Detroit has a six-point lead over St. Louis for first place in the Central Division, and is tied with Vancouver for second in the Western Conference. Los Angeles is eight points out of eighth place in the West.
It was the second trade in 10 days for the Kings, who sent veteran defenseman Dmitry Yushkevich to Philadelphia for a draft pick. On Monday, they signed defenseman Aaron Miller to a contract extension.
On Tuesday, Los Angeles got back a defenseman in Kuznetsov, a 6-5, 235-pound native of Russia, who played in a career-high 53 games with the Red Wings this season, totaling three assists and 54 penalty minutes.
Kutnetsov, 25, a first-round pick in 1995, has appeared in 117 NHL games, all with the Red Wings, and has recorded two goals, seven assists, and 117 penalty minutes.
Avery, 22, has five goals, six assists, and 110 penalty minutes in 39 games this season, his second in the NHL. The 5-10, 195-pounder won a Cup with the Wings as a rookie, although he did not appear in a playoff game.
Avery was assigned to Manchester of the American Hockey League.
The Kings have three first-round picks in this year's draft.
