The New York Islanders traded away two veterans for extra picks in this year's draft in last minute deals before the trade deadline. Veteran forward Chris Simon was sent to the Minnesota Wild for a sixth round pick while defenseman Marc-Andre Bergeron was dealt to the defending Stanley Cup champion Anaheim Ducks for a third round selection. After making those deals, the Islanders recalled forward Jeff Tambellini from Bridgeport of the AHL.

“We appreciate all the good things that Chris and Marc-Andre have done for the organization, but these trades allow us to play our younger kids especially Jeff Tambellini,” said Islanders General Manager Garth Snow. “Jeff is going to have an opportunity to play here and for us to reunite the ‘Kid Line’ [Tambellini, Frans Nielson and Blake Comeau].”

Simon had just finished serving an NHL record 30-game suspension for intentionally stepping on Pittsburgh's Jarkko Ruutu with his skate blade this December. Simon had also served a 25-game suspension for hitting Ryan Hollweg of the Rangers in the face with his stick last March. That suspension carried into last season's Stanley Cup playoffs and the first five games of this campaign.

After this year's suspension, Simon took a leave of absence from the Islanders to work on personal issues. He returned to the team on February 21 in the game against the Tampa Bay Lightning and was not well received by fans at the Nassau Coliseum.

In 28 games this season, the 36-year-old Wawa, Ontario, native has one goal and two assists to go along with 43 penalty minutes. Simon played one Stanley Cup winner with the 1996 Colorado Avalanche and helped the 1998 Washington Capitals reach the finals. Simon will add additional grit and toughness to the Wild for the playoff run.

Bergeron is an offensive-minded who was acquired from Edmonton just prior to last year's trade deadline. The 27-year-old native of St-Louis-de-France, Quebec, is a power play specialist with a booming shot. Unfortunately, his lapses in the defensive zone frustrated Islanders' coach Ted Nolan and led to frequent benchings when the Islanders had more than six healthy players available on the blueline.

In 46 games this season, Bergeron has nine goals and 18 points. In 258 NHL career games, he has scored 48 goals and added 79 assists for 127 points.

Bergeron will add his offensive touch to the Ducks for their stretch drive as they battle for first place in the Pacific Division.

For the Islanders, the two moves stand as addition by subtraction. They eliminate one player who saw a decreasing role and who often served as a distraction (Simon) and a player who never really fit in Ted Nolan's defense-first philosophy (Bergeron). The Islanders gain two extra draft choices in this year's draft which is considered one of the deepest in recent years.

Tambellini has scored one goal in 16 games with the Islanders this season. In 46 games with Bridgeport, he has an AHL-leading 29 goals and is fifth in the league with 58 points.

The Islanders also acquired defenseman Rob Davison from the San Jose Sharks earlier today in exchange for a seventh round pick and announced the signing of center Mike Comrie to a one-year contract extension worth $4 million.