I'm not Joshing, Gorges has been traded

San Jose Sharks Executive Vice President and General Manager Doug Wilson announced today that the club has acquired defenseman Craig Rivet, along with a fifth round selection in the 2008 NHL Entry Draft from the Montreal Canadiens in exchange for defenseman Josh Gorges and San Jose’s first round selection in the 2007 NHL Entry Draft.

Rivet has played 12 NHL seasons with the Canadiens and is currently fourth among Montreal defensemen in scoring with 16 points (six goals, 10 assists) in 54 games this season, along with 57 penalty minutes. He played in his 600th NHL game on Oct. 6, 2006 at Buffalo and is fourth on the team in blocked shots (95).

Last season, he posted career highs in points (34 [seven goals, 27 assists]), assists, power play goals (5), shots on goal (122) and penalty minutes (109). He also led the team in blocked shots (135) playing in all 82 games.

The six-foot-two, 210-pound Rivet was the longest current-tenured Montreal player with 692 regular season and playoff games. In 653 regular season games (27th in Canadiens history), he registered 151 points (39 goals, 112 assists) and 795 penalty minutes (16th in Montreal team history). He has also appeared in 39 Stanley Cup Playoff games, notching 11 points (one goal, ten assists) and 24 penalty minutes.

The North Bay, Ontario native was originally selected by Montreal in the third round (68th overall) of the 1992 NHL Entry Draft.

Gorges was signed by San Jose as a free agent on Sept. 20, 2002. This season, he had four points (one goal, three assists) in 47 games. In 96 NHL games, all with San Jose, Gorges registered ten points (one goal, nine assists).