Jay Leach

Newark, NJ – The New Jersey Devils today completed an American Hockey League trade with the San Jose Sharks, acquiring defenseman Jay Leach and center Steve Zalewski in exchange for right wing Patrick Davis and center Michael Swift. The announcement was made by Devils’ President/CEO/General Manager Lou Lamoriello.
 
Leach, 31, has one goal and four assists for five points and 45 penalty minutes in 50 games with Worcester (AHL) this season. He re-joins the Devils’ organization, where he spent time with New Jersey and Lowell in 2008-09 and 2009-10.  Leach has one goal and two assists for three points and 53 penalty minutes in 63 career National Hockey League games with Boston, Tampa Bay, New Jersey, Montreal, and San Jose.

The 6-4, 220-lb. defenseman was originally signed by the organization as a free agent on July 17, 2008. Leach’s ten-season pro career includes stops in both the AHL and ECHL. He was Phoenix’s fifth choice and 115th overall selection in the 1998 NHL Entry Draft. Leach played four seasons at Providence College (HE) from 1997-98 through 2000-01. He was born September 2, 1979 in Syracuse, NY.
 
Zalewski, 24, was sixth on Worcester (AHL) in scoring with 21 points (4g-17a) in 50 games this season. The 6-0, 195-lb. forward was in his third season as a pro and with the Sharks’ organization. He made his NHL debut by appearing in three contests with San Jose last season. Zalewski has combined for 41 goals and 87 assists for 128 points and 60 penalty minutes in 210 career games for the AHL Sharks. Born August 20, 1986 in Utica, NY, he played four seasons at Clarkson (ECAC) and was named to the league’s First All-Star Team in 2007-08.  Zalewski was San Jose’s fifth choice and 153rd overall selection in the 2004 Entry Draft.
 
Davis was in his fifth season with the Devils’ organization. He totaled nine NHL appearances during the 2008-09 and 2009-10 seasons. Swift spent the past two-plus seasons with the Devils’ AHL affiliates in Lowell and Albany.