National Hockey League roundup

[February 16, 2015]  Feb 15 (The Sports Xchange) - The Nashville Predators acquired defenseman Cody Franson and forward Mike Santorelli from the Toronto Maple Leafs in exchange for a 2015 first-round draft pick, prospect Brendan Leipsic and veteran forward Olli Jokinen.

According to USA Today, shedding Jokinen's $2.5 million contract helps the Predators fit Franson ($3.3 million) and Santorelli ($1.5 million) into their budget.

Currently on a five-game winning streak, the Predators have picked up points in 20 of their last 23 games (16-3-4) and sit atop the NHL standings with a 38-12-6 record.

"In preparation for the 2015 playoff run, our goal was to add a veteran defenseman who could play in all situations and a proven forward who could move up and down the lineup based on the situation," general manager David Poile said in a statement

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Former NHL defenseman Steve Montador was found dead in his Mississauga, Ontario, home early Sunday morning. He was 35.

Montador made his NHL debut in 2001 with the Calgary Flames and played for six teams in parts of 10 seasons. He had 33 goals and 98 assists in 571 career games.

According to the Mississauga News, a friend of Montador's discovered his body at 2 a.m. and he was pronounced dead just shortly after police arrived. Foul play is not suspected and an autopsy will be conducted, police said.

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The San Jose Sharks activated defenseman Marc-Edouard Vlasic from injured reserve.

Vlasic has been out since Feb. 8 with an upper-body injury. He has six goals and 11 assists in 52 games this season.

The Sharks also reassigned defenseman Dylan DeMelo to the Worcester Sharks of the American Hockey League.

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The Dallas Stars reassigned center Travis Morin to the Texas Stars of the American Hockey League.

Morin, 31, has posted 10 shots and a plus-1 rating in six games for Dallas this season. (Editing by Andrew Both)

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