NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- The Nashville Predators made a move Wednesday trying to improve at goaltender while Pekka Rinne continues recovering from hip surgery that has kept him out since late October.
The Predators traded forward Matt Hendricks to Edmonton for Oilers goaltender Devan Dubnyk.
Nashville general manager David Poile said he wanted to make it clear the trade had nothing to do with Rinne's status and that the Predators still have no timetable of when the two-time Vezina Trophy finalist is going to come back. The Predators have used Carter Hutton and rookie Marek Mazanec since Rinne had surgery Oct. 24 for an infection in his hip.
"Dubnyk gives us a chance to be a little bit better, going with the guy that's clearly had a lot more experience, clearly been a number one, has won a lot of big games in his career," Poile said. "It's a chance if you will, it's an opportunity if you will, to try to improve our hockey club at this time."
The Predators currently are 20-21-7 and eight points out of the final wild card spot in the Western Conference.
The 6-foot-6 Dubnyk is 11-17-2 this season for the Oilers, and he ranks fourth in the NHL in goals allowed with 94 in 32 games. Dubnyk, 27, has a .894 save percentage and 3.66 goals-against average. Now 27, Dubnyk was the 14th draft selection overall in 2004 and has played in 171 career NHL games with a 2.88 goals-against average and eight shutouts.
Poile said he really believes Rinne is coming back and working hard right now. But the Predators do not have a date for his return having played 48 games already this season, and Rinne was cleared to start weight-bearing exercises only late last week.
"If there is any setback in any way, shape, or form, I think we've clearly got ourselves an insurance policy for someone that could be here next year," Poile said of Dubnyk. "If you want to think worst case scenario, he is a number one. If you want to think he could be part of the package for a 1-2 combination next year, maybe we are getting a head start on that."
The trade also helped the Predators get rid of the four-year contract they signed Hendricks to last July for $7.4 million. Hendricks, 32, played in 44 games for Nashville this season but had only four points.