Just as the 3 pm NHL trade deadline passed, reports surfaced that the Ottawa Senators and New York Islanders had struck a deal. The Senators traded center Shane Prince and a seventh round pick to the Islanders in exchange for a third round pick in 2016.
Senators have sent Shane Prince and 7th in 2016 to Islanders for a third in 2016. #TradeCentre
— Bruce Garrioch (@SunGarrioch) February 29, 2016
Prince, 23, was drafted by the Senators in the second round, 61st overall, in the 2011 NHL Entry Draft. He appeared in his first two NHL games in 2014-15, but played in 42 games this season. He has accumulated three goals and 13 points in 44 career NHL games.
Prince carries a $700,000 annual salary and cap hit with him and he is set to become a restricted free agent at the end of this season.
The native of Rochester, New York, has been designated to mostly fourth-line duty with the Senators, playing alongside Chris Neil and Zach Smith for the majority of the 2015-16 season. He can easily slide into the same role for the playoff-bound Islanders, or serve as the team’s 13th forward.
Prince is a former 90-point scorer with the Ottawa 67’s of the OHL and reached 65 points with the Binghamton Senators of the OHL just last season.
For full coverage of the NHL trade deadline, check out The Hockey Writers’ Deadline Day page.