Graham, Czuczman down, Sivak traded (update: for McMillan)

Via AHL transactions, Jesse Graham and Kevin Czuczman have been sent to Florida (ECHL), while Peter Sivak has been traded to the Toronto Marlies. Awaiting word on what may be coming back.

Edit, 6:25 p.m.: The return is Carson McMillan, so veteran forward for veteran forward. McMillan has been in the ECHL with Orlando but has over 300 games’ AHL experience and 16 in the NHL, in the Wild organization until this season.

Edit, 6:45 p.m.: Brent Thompson on the kids going to Florida: “It’s strictly a temporary thing. Our young prospects, Czuczman and Graham, are going to get a lot of experience, all situations, rather than sitting here two weeks. With nine defensemen, it was a logjam. It’s a situation where they’ll play. For us, it’s very, very important to get that. One reason why we sent them down is to play a lot of games, a lot of minutes, and play on a good team right now.” (Florida’s among the ECHL’s top teams at the moment. Is that why the Everblades rather than Stockton? Thompson talked about geography, “an easy commute.” I’ve got to think a 35-point difference in the standings didn’t hurt.)

“Hopefully they’ll come back just like the Collberg scenario (when Sebastian Collberg went to Stockton for a couple of weeks). It’s a lot like Collberg.”

McMillan, an experienced guy: “Obviously with us it’s an opportunity for a kid to have a fresh start,” Thompson said. Said he’s heard penalty killing is a strength: “He can play center or the wing,” Thompson said. “At the American League level, he’s a solid checker, a reliable defensive guy, and obviously those are points we need.”

Michael Fornabaio