Leafs trade Perrott for a draft pick

Idle winger hopes to get playing time with Dallas Stars Berg’s injured knee will be re-evaluated today

WASHINGTON— Nathan Perrott proved useful to the very end with the Leafs. The hard-working enforcer, who never complained about his lack of ice time, was traded to Dallas last night to help the Leafs clear up a numbers crunch on their roster. With Perrott out of the fold — he appeared in only three games so far this season — the Leafs spared themselves any further roster moves tomorrow when it’s believed the injured Nik Antropov and Mariusz Czerkawski might attempt to return to action against the visiting Caps.

Perrott, an Owen Sound native who has family and friends in Toronto, was initially shocked by the news.

“Yeah, it caught me by surprise,” he admitted.

“ I grew up with the Leafs and it will be hard to leave the city. But I’m looking at this as an opportunity. For me, it’s a chance to get on the ice and prove myself to be an NHLer.”

Perrott, who hustled and fought his way on to the roster two seasons ago after being discarded by Nashville, was dealt for a conditional pick in the 2006 entry draft. The pick will amount to Dallas’ sixth-round selection, but if Perrott plays in half of the Stars games this season, the pick improves to a fifth- round selection. Toronto could have placed Perrott on waivers for the purpose of sending him to the Marlies for some ice time but he would have had to clear waivers.

It’s not known if the Leafs actually attempted that move, with Dallas placing a claim on Perrott, and thereby prompting HM John Ferguson Jr. to play the trade card.

Either way, it appears Dallas wants Perrott, which gives the personable winger at least a shot at ice time he wasn’t receiving in Toronto.

“ There were other ways to go about it,” Ferguson acknowledged.

“ But we felt this was a good move for us, and it continues the asset we had in Nathan.”

Several Leafs players doing post- game interviews last night credited Perrott as a hard worker and valuable teammate.

In the meantime, the Leafs are hoping the news about defenceman Aki Berg’s injured knee is not bad news.

“It’s a sprain, but we don’t know how serious it is . . . he’ll be re- evaluated ( today),” coach Pat Quinn said.

Berg suffered the injury in the first period last night and did not return to the game. Wade Belak, who was moved to forward after spending the first 12 games as a defenceman, will likely be returned to the blue line to fill in for Berg.

If Berg’s injury proves to be more serious and long- term, the Leafs may recall either Carlo Colaiacovo or Andy Wozniewski from the Marlies.