Providence, RI - The Providence Bruins, the 2007-08 regular season points champions of the American Hockey League, announced this afternoon that the Boston Bruins of the National Hockey League have acquired left wing Matt Marquardt from the Columbus Blue Jackets in exchange for defenseman Jonathan Sigalet.
Marquardt, who will turn 21 on July 19, registered 43 goals and 26 assists in 68 games during the 2007-2008 season, which he split between Baie-Comeau Drakkar and the Moncton Wildcats, both of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League. After recording 20 goals and 33 points in 35 games for Moncton, Marquardt was traded to Baie-Comeau on December 22, 2007, where he scored 23 goals and added 13 helpers in 33 games.
A native of North Bay, Ontario, Marquardt began his junior career with the Wildcats, posting 25 points in 68 games as a rookie in 2005-06. The forward's 43 goals last year marked a career-high and his 69 points fell just one shy of the 70 registered in 2006-07. Marquardt added seven goals and seven assists in 32 career junior playoff games. He was originally selected by the Blue Jackets 194th overall in the seventh round of the 2006 NHL Entry Draft but was not signed by Columbus.
Sigalet, 22, saw action in 74 regular season games for Providence in 2007-2008 and notched 23 points, including 20 assists, and a +20 plus/minus rating. In three seasons with the P-Bruins, Sigalet appeared in 199 regular season games, registering 81 points on 21 goals and 60 assists. The blue-liner's only NHL appearance came on January 9, 2007 with Boston in a game at the Ottawa Senators. He was drafted by Boston 100th overall in the fourth round of the 2005 NHL Entry Draft.
