Kyle Turris is no longer a desert dog.
The former third overall draft pick of the Phoenix Coyotes in 2007 was dealt to the Ottawa Senators for a defenceman and a draft pick on Saturday.
Turris, a restricted free agent who held out for the first six weeks of the NHL season before finally signing a a two-year $2.8 million contract with the Coyotes in November, was traded to the Senators in exchange for blueliner David Rundblad and a second-round pick in 2012.
"I think there was an understanding on both sides that we wanted to move forward and move on," said Turris in a conference call. "I was given the heads up that something could possibly happen soon."
Rundblad was a first-round pick in the 2009 NHL draft by the St. Louis Blues. Ottawa later acquired him for a first-round pick last season.
Rundblad was considered one of Ottawa's top prospects before the season started. The 22-year-old Turris was held scoreless in six games following his signing just before the Nov. 30 deadline.
Turris is likely to see action on the Senators' second line, perhaps as early as Tuesday night against the Buffalo Sabres.
"He (Turris) can really skate, he can shoot the puck and brings a dimension of speed to our team. It really solidifies that second-line (centre) position that we're looking to fill, and we're excited to have him," said Ottawa head coach Paul MacLean in an NHL.com press release.
Turris spent a year at the University of Wisconsin after being drafted behind Patrick Kane and James van Riemsdyk in the 2007 NHL Entry Draft.
