Lynx: Deal is made to help playoff push

Things just got a little more interesting in the Augusta Lynx's push for a playoff berth.

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The ECHL approved a trade Wednesday that sent forward Matt Schmidt and future considerations to the Las Vegas Wranglers for defenseman Regan Darby and center Doug Wright.

The trade should bolster Augusta's lines (19-24-7, 45 points) as it enters the weekend trailing Mississippi (25-19-4, 54 points) by nine points for the American Conference's final playoff spot.

Drulia said Darby (6-foot-2, 200 pounds) provides leadership and experience to a defense that has been decimated by injuries this year.

"That's something we need, a guy who can step up and settle things down," Drulia said.

The 24-year-old Darby was part of the Kelly Cup Champion Idaho Steelheads last year. This year, he has three points, a minus-2 rating and 155 penalty minutes in 41 games with Las Vegas.

Drulia compared Wright, 24, to versatile Lynx forward Todd Bennett, who has 13 goals and 21 assists for Augusta this year.

"He can be thrust into a lot of different roles," Drulia said.

Wright (6-foot-2, 190 pounds) has seven goals and 12 points in 36 games for Las Vegas. Last year, he scored 20 goals and had 18 assists for the Wranglers.

Schmidt scored one goal and eight points in 46 games for the Lynx.

Drulia expected Darby and Wright to arrive in Augusta Wednesday night and to play this weekend. The Lynx will be without all-star forward Ken Magowan, who was called up to the AHL's Albany River Rats on Sunday.

Magowan scored a goal and had an assist Monday and Drulia said he will be with Albany at least through the weekend.

Reach Kristy Shonka at (706) 823-3216 or kristy.shonka@augustachronicle.com.