The Sharks snared some much-needed grit, acquiring edgy forward Ben Eager from the Atlanta Thrashers in exchange for a fifth round pick in the 2011 NHL Entry Draft.
In 34 games played this season, Eager has three goals and seven assists with 77 penalty minutes. The 26-year-old lead the NHL in penalty minutes in the 2006-07 season when playing for the Philadelphia Flyers.
Eager was part of the Chicago Blackhawks Stanley Cup championship team last season that defeated the Sharks in the Western Conference Finals. He scored a game-winning goal in Game Two of the Cup Finals against his former team the Flyers.
Eager will join the Sharks in Vancouver where they are facing the Canucks on Thursday. He is coming off a four-game suspension for a fighting incident against Toronto where he punched the Maple Leafs' Colby Armstrong in the eye.
The Ottawa, Ontario native has 30 goals, 32 assists, and 698 penalty minutes in 289 NHL games.
