NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — The Nashville Predators have acquired forward Paul Gaustad and a fourth-round pick in the 2013 draft from Buffalo for a first-round pick in the 2012 draft.
The teams confirmed the deal after the NHL trade deadline Monday. Nashville also sent Buffalo a fourth-round pick in 2013 to edge out another team that offered a first-round pick for Gaustad.
In his seventh full NHL season, Gaustad is a reliable checking forward and a good face-off specialist. He proved expendable in Buffalo because he is in the final year of his contract and eligible to be an unrestricted free agent this summer.
Gaustad has seven goals and 10 assists in 56 games this season.
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AP Sports Writer John Wawrow, in Buffalo, N.Y., contributed to this report.