Ducks finally move Schneider...to Atlanta

From the OC Register:

The salary cap-strapped Ducks finally pulled the trigger on the long-awaited Mathieu Schneider trade Friday, sending the veteran defenseman to the Atlanta Thrashers for two veterans, defenseman Ken Klee and left wing Brad Larsen, and minor-league left wing Chad Painchaud.

The trade is contingent on Schneider passing a physical before 5 p.m. Eastern time on Sunday. Until he does so, the new Ducks acquisitions will not be allowed to practice with the team. Schneider, 39, has not been in Ducks camp since players reported Sept. 19, having received permission to stay away while awaiting a trade.

The move clears Schneider’s $5.625 million salary-cap hit off the books for the Ducks, who pick up cap hits of $1.25 million for Klee and $535,000 for Larsen, whose actual salary this season will be $560,000. Both are set to become unrestricted free agents after this season. Painchaud, who is on a two-way contract, does not enter into the salary-cap equation.

The net cap savings of $3.84 million is more than enough to offset the approximately $3.05 million the Ducks had been above the NHL’s $56.7 million limit, but more moves will likely have to be made for the club to create enough room to sign unrestricted free-agent right wing Teemu Selanne.

I wonder what kind of moves those will be. Good for Atlanta. Not good for the Blues, who really could use a guy like Schneider. I wonder what Burke was asking for from the Blues in return.
So Burke's tie is choking him a little less now. Nice depth addition of Klee. He's steady. Larsen is a 4th liner.
So who is this Chad Painchaud kid?
-Product of Mississauga Ontario
-Drafted in the 4th round by the Thrashers in 2004.
-Not rated very high by Hockey's Future:

Good acceleration and straight line skating. That, combined with his good puck control, makes for rushes along the outside, finished with a direct route to the net to shoot or pass off late. He is not shifty or particularly strong though, and has trouble getting around defensemen.
Sometimes he can become invisible in games outside of his own end, watching plays develop and waiting for something to happen instead of initiating offensive opportunities. Needs to work on his effort level and defense.
Effort will get him more ice time, and maybe a call-up to the AHL, but Painchaud's vision probably isn't good enough to be an NHL-level playmaker, and his shot is not good enough to be an NHL-level goal scorer.

Career minor leaguer I suppose.
-Here are his stats at Hockey Database.

T Tags: Ducks+trade+Schneider+to+Thrashers Ken+Klee Brad+Larsen Chad+Painchaud