THREE'S COMPANY - Patrick ends quiet deal day by acquiring Frantisek Kucera Well, they weren�t the blockbuster trades that many Penguins fans were hoping for, but the team did add several new faces to the lineup over the past two days. Starting prior to the Penguins game with the New York Rangers on Monday, general manager Craig Patrick sent defenseman Jeff Norton to the San Jose Sharks for defenseman Bobby Dollas and goaltender Johan Hedberg. Norton, who was signed by Pittsburgh as a free agent on Nov. 15, returned to the Sharks for the third time in his career, while Dollas was making his second trip to Pittsburgh. Pittsburgh gave up offensive potential in Norton for Dollas� stay at home defensive style and steady play. Dollas has appeared in 641 career NHL games with the Sharks, Penguins, Winnipeg, Quebec, Detroit, Anaheim, Edmonton, Calgary and Ottawa, posting 138 points (42+96) and 463 penalty minutes. The 6-2, 212 pound Montreal native was selected 14th overall in the 1983 Draft by Winnipeg. He played in 70 games with the Pens during the 1998-99 season, posting 10 points (2+8) and 60 penalty minutes, but was one of the team�s steadiest blueliners in the playoffs. Hedberg, 27, played in 46 games this season with Manitoba (IHL), posting a record of 23-13-7 and a 2.56 goals against average. He ranked first in the IHL with 2,696 minutes played, third in wins and sixth in goals against average at the time of the trade, and was selected to play in the 2001 IHL All-Star Game earlier this season. The 5-11 and 185 pound native of Leksand, Sweden was originally drafted in the eighth round (218th overall) by Philadelphia of the 1994 Entry Draft. He played five seasons (1992-97) with Leksand in Sweden, before coming to North America in 1997-98. He returned to his homeland to play in 1998-99, but came back to the US for last season. He recorded a 18-9-5 record with San Jose�s Kentucky farm club in 1999-2000. Patrick started things semi-early on Tuesday, sending longtime Penguins prospect Sven Butenschon to the Edmonton Oilers for left wing Dan LaCouture. The newly acquired 23-year-old winger played in 37 games this season with the Oilers, recording six points (2+4) and 29 penalty minutes. Last season LaCouture played in 70 games with the Hamilton Bulldogs (AHL), recording 40 points (23+17) and 85 penalty minutes. In 219 career games with Hamilton, LaCouture recorded 96 points (55+41) and 189 penalty minutes. The 6-3 and 210 pound native of Hyannis, Massachusetts was drafted by the New York Islanders in the second round (29th overall) of the 1996 Entry Draft. He was acquired by Edmonton from the New York Islanders on August 25, 1997 in exchange for Mariusz Czerkawski Patrick finished up his dealings by getting defenseman Frantisek Kucera from the Columbus Blue Jackets in exchange for a sixth round choice in the 2001 Entry Draft. Kucera, 33, played in 48 games this season for the Blue Jackets, recording seven points (2+5) and 12 penalty minutes. He was signed as a free agent by Columbus on July 7, 2000. The 6-2 and 205 pound native of Prague, Czech Republic has played in 402 career NHL games, recording 103 points (23+80) and 239 penalty minutes. He was a member of the Czech Republic's gold medal winning team at the 1998 Winter Olympics.
