The Checkers had a hand in a trade involving a familiar name on Monday.
The team’s ECHL affiliate, the Florida Everblades, has sent forward Matt Beca to the South Carolina Stingrays in exchange for former Charlotte forward Matt Pistilli. Beca is on an AHL contract with Charlotte, while Pistilli’s ECHL deal transfers to the Everblades.
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Technically, the trade brings Pistilli back to the organization, so to speak, which could potentially increase his chances of a recall to the Checkers at some point. However, it should be noted that Charlotte was free to call on Pistilli even prior to the trade, as his AHL rights have been and remain up for grabs since he left the organization as a free agent over the summer.
Pistilli, 24, had 23 points (8g, 15a) in 35 games to rank third on the Stingrays in scoring this season. In 164 career AHL games with Albany and Charlotte, he posted 52 points (25g, 27a) and had career bests in goals (12), assists (13) and points (25) in 72 Checkers games last season.
Pistilli originally signed with the Hurricanes as an undrafted free agent out of the Quebec Major Junior league in 2009.
Even after Monday’s trade, the Checkers retain the AHL rights to Beca, a 26-year-old who signed an AHL deal with the team for the third consecutive season this past summer, and could still recall him at any time. Beca ranked fourth on the Everblades in scoring with 23 points (7g, 16a) in 31 games.
Beca has played 12 career AHL games, recording one assist in his first seven appearances with the Checkers last season.
