The Montreal Canadiens traded left wingers Martin Rucinsky and Benoît Brunet yesterday to the Dallas Stars for right winger Donald Audette and centre Shaun Van Allen.
Rucinsky, who becomes an unrestricted free agent at the end of this season, has two goals and six assists in 18 games this season. In 617 career games, Rucinsky has 169 goals and 234 assists.
He was also a member of the gold-medal-winning Czech team at the 1998 Olympics and was third in team scoring with three goals and an assist. He also won gold with the Czechs at the 1999 world hockey championships.
In 16 games this season, Brunet has just two assists. He also becomes an unrestricted free agent at the end of the season. In 494 career games, all spent with the Habs, Brunet has 92 goals and 149 assists.
Audette, who had a strong year with Atlanta and Buffalo last season, has four goals and eight assists in 20 games with the Stars this season. Van Allen, a fourth-line centre, has two goals and four assists in 19 games this season.