RALEIGH, N.C. (CP) - The Carolina Hurricanes acquired defenceman Dennis Seidenberg from the Phoenix Coyotes in exchange for centre Kevyn Adams on Monday.

The Hurricanes were looking for help on the blue-line after losing veteran Bret Hedican to injury last week, joining the likes of Frantisek Kaberle and Tim Gleason on the sidelines and leaving Carolina short-handed.

''With some uncertainly concerning when our injured defencemen will be able to return, we needed to make this move now,'' said Hurricanes GM Jim Rutherford. ''Dennis will be a good fit for us on defence. We thank Kevyn for his good service during his years in Carolina.''

Seidenberg, 25, had been a healthy scratch in recent games with the Coyotes. With Nick Boynton set to come back Tuesday night for the Coyotes after missing six weeks with a broken foot, Phoenix needed to move a blue-liner.

''Dennis Seidenberg is a valuable NHL defenceman, he's young, and I'm sure has a lot of good years ahead of him,'' Coyotes GM Mike Barnett said Monday. ''But if there's anywhere where we have any depth it's on the blue-line and it wasn't serving us any purpose having to pay him and make him a healthy scratch. And it wasn't helping his career, either.''





Seidenberg had one goal and one assist in 32 games with the Coyotes this season. The German has 33 points (8-25) and 56 penalty minutes in 158 career NHL games with Philadelphia and Phoenix.

Adams, a checking centre, had 72 points (38-34) in 300 games with the Hurricanes over the past five years.

''Being in Carolina a number of years, winning a Stanley Cup and going through those things, it was an incredible experience and an incredible organization to play for,'' Adams told The Canadian Press during a break between flights. ''But I'm very excited.

''I traded calls with Wayne Gretzky today and spoke to Mike Barnett and I'm just really excited to go to Phoenix. I think I can go in there and help them, on and off the ice.

''I'm just thrilled about it.''

The gritty centre, a solid penalty killer, has two goals and two assists in 35 games this season.

''Kevyn Adams was a piece that was instrumental in Carolina winning the Stanley Cup last year,'' said Barnett. ''He's a veteran, an aggressive, hungry forward that will bring more leadership to our group. And he's very versatile.''

Are you serious?  Rod Brind'amour is the canes captain....he's also one of the best captains in the league.  Surprised you didn't know that.  Adams was the second assistant captain.  Cory Stillman will be getting his "A" now as he was always the first alternate.