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Carolina Hurricanes general manager Jim Rutherford hinted to the Raleigh News & Observer he might make a deal to bolster his defense and move out a surplus forward after claiming forward Troy Bodie off waivers from Anaheim.

Rutherford today made good on his hint, shipping defenseman Anton Babchuk and forward Tom Kostopoulos to the Calgary Flames in exchange for blueliner Ian White and forward Brett Sutter.

It remains to be seen if this is an improvement for the Hurricanes defense. White (16 GP, 2-4-6, -10) and Babchuk (17 GP, 3-5-8, -4) have nearly identical stats. 

The Flames get additional veteran depth on their checking lines with Kostopoulos but he won't do anything to address their offensive woes. 

Sutter, 23, played only four games this season with the Flames and was shipped to the minors last week in the wake of a report he struck a cab driver outside a club in Arizona.

Given Rutherford was carrying too many forwards prior to the trade Sutter will likely remain in the minors for the time being.

The Hurricanes GM also said in his earlier interview he was hoping to avoid adding salary if he made a trade but with this deal he takes on White's $2.999 million salary for this season as well as Sutter's $500K NHL salary if he should be recalled this season.

In return he shipped out a combined $2.316 million in Babchuk ($1.4 million) and Kostopoulos($916K).  

Perhaps in the long run this move could benefit the Hurricanes if White can be re-signed (he's eligible for UFA status next summer) and if Brett Sutter can rise to the same level as his cousin Brandon, who has become a key member of the Hurricanes.

As for the Flames, they pare down some payroll which will provide them with valuable cap space later in the season. 

The Carolina Hurricanes on Tuesday made a move to add more toughness to their lineup, claiming forward Troy Bodie off waivers from the Anaheim Ducks. 

Bodie, 25, saw action in nine games with the Ducks this season, with one point, a plus minus of -3, and 7 PIMs. 

Last season he played in 44 games, with five goals, seven points, 80 PIMs and a plus-minus of -8. His salary for this season is a league-minimum $500K.

The move also left the Hurricanes with a surplus of forwards, which GM Jim Rutherford recently admitted in an interview with the Raleigh News & Observer, hinting he might have to move out another forward, although whether that's via trade or waivers remains to be seen.