Wild get Jones in trade with Flames

ST. PAUL, Minn. -- The Minnesota Wild acquired forward David Jones from the Calgary Flames on Monday for goaltender Niklas Backstrom and a sixth-round pick in the 2016 NHL Draft.
Jones has scored 20 goals or more goals twice in nine NHL seasons and has played in 21 Stanley Cup Playoff games.
"David brings really good experience to our team," Wild general manager Chuck Fletcher said. "He has good size. He's a player that has scored over 100 career goals in over 400 games. He's a player that brings versatility. He can move and up down the lineup [and provides] size, experience, and depth."

Jones had nine goals and 15 points in 59 games with the Flames this season. His 115 hits were second on Calgary.
Jones played his first six NHL seasons with the Colorado Avalanche, who drafted him in the ninth round (No. 288) of the 2003 NHL Draft. He signed a four-year, $16 million contract with Colorado prior to the 2012-13 season but was traded to Calgary on June 27, 2013, for forward Alex Tanguay.

Jones, 31, can become an unrestricted free agent July 1.
"I had a great time in Calgary. The playoff run last year was incredible, and for me, I just want to get back there," Jones said. "As much as I love Calgary and my teammates, I think this situation for me is great. I get to go to a team that is going to make a push. I'm excited. I'll miss those guys, but we'll stay in touch."
The trade was announced three hours after the NHL's 3 p.m. ET deadline because of a holdup involving the no-movement clause in Backstrom's contract.
"It was a crazy day," Jones said. "I got called just after 3, just after the deadline. I was chewing my nails thinking that I wasn't going anywhere, but sure enough, they said I was getting traded. It was another three hours before it was confirmed. I'm excited, I can't wait. [I'm] looking forward to joining those guys."
Fletcher said he believes visa issues will prevent Jones from playing against Colorado at Xcel Energy Center on Tuesday. Jones likely will meet his teammates on Thursday before the Wild open a two-game road trip against the Toronto Maple Leafs.

Backstrom, 38, has not played in the NHL since Jan. 13, 2015, the day before Minnesota acquired goaltender Devan Dubnyk in a trade from the Arizona Coyotes.
Dubnyk re-signed with the Wild on June 27, days before he could have become a free agent. With Darcy Kuemper on the roster, Backstrom fell to third on the depth chart and has dressed for a handful of games this season.
Backstrom leaves the Wild as their all-time leader in wins (194), shutouts (28) and games for a goalie (409).
"[He has] won a lot of games for this club and really competed hard for us over the years [and] was very professional this year in trying circumstances," Fletcher said. "I give him a lot of credit for putting the team first and practicing hard every day and being a good teammate. The trade was made in part to help us but also hopefully to give [Backstrom] an opportunity to get some game action this season and hopefully rejuvenate his career."
Backstrom, who signed a three-year, $10.25 million contract prior to the 2013-14 season, can become an unrestricted free agent July 1.