Carolina Trades Ozolinsh

Six-time all-star defenseman Sandis Ozolinsh and top minor league prospect Byron Ritchie were traded by the Carolina Hurricanes to the Florida Panthers on Wednesday for three players.

The Hurricanes received defenseman Bret Hedican, center Kevyn Adams and minor league prospect Tomas Malec.

Ozolinsh, in his 10th NHL season, was picked as a starter for the World all-star team for the second consecutive season despite offensive numbers that didn’t match his days with the Colorado Avalanche.

“We’re in the second half of the season now, we’re getting into real critical games and we have to be more responsible defensively,” Carolina General Manager Jim Rutherford said. In 119 career games with Carolina, Ozolinsh had 16 goals and 51 assists for 67 points.

Jarome Iginla was selected as a reserve for the All-Star game. Iginla, the Calgary Flame center who leads the league with 29 goals and 53 points, will be making his all-star debut with the North American team. Boston’s Joe Thornton, who ranked second in points with 51, and Chicago’s Eric Daze, second in goals with 26 entering play Wednesday, will also make their all-star debuts for the North American team.... The Dallas Stars traded left wing Valeri Kamensky to the New Jersey Devils for defenseman Andre Lakos and future considerations.

All-star reserves on Page D10.