McNeill Sent to Nashville, O'Brien & Kelleher Join Stars

Feb 3, 2018

FRISCO, Texas - Dallas Stars General Manager Jim Nill announced today that the club has acquired defenseman Andrew O'Brien from the Nashville Predators in exchange for forward Mark McNeill.

O'Brien, 25, has posted three points (0-3=3) and 27 penalty minutes in 21 games played for Milwaukee of the American Hockey League (AHL) this season. Playing in parts of five seasons with Norfolk, San Diego and Milwaukee, he has appeared in 188 career AHL regular-season games posting 43 points (12-31=43) and 243 penalty minutes. Additionally, he has appeared in three career Calder Cup playoff contests, including two against the Texas Stars, Dallas' top development affiliate in the AHL, in 2016 while with San Diego.

The 6-foot-4, 220-pound native of Hamilton, Ont. was originally selected by Anaheim in the fourth round (108th overall) of the 2012 NHL Draft. He will report to Texas.

McNeill, 24, has posted six points (5-1=6) in 18 games played for Texas this season. In parts of two seasons with Texas, he recorded 17 points (8-9=17) in 38 regular-season games played. He also made one appearance for Dallas last season, registering one shot on net.

The 6-foot-2, 214-pound native of Langley, B.C. was acquired by Dallas along with a fourth-round selection in the 2018 NHL Draft from Chicago in exchange for defenseman Johnny Oduya.  

The Texas Stars also acquired forward Tyler Kelleher from the Milwaukee Admirals in exchange for future considerations.

Kelleher, 23, has appeared in 26 games this season for the Admirals with 12 points (7-5=12). The 5-foot-6, 168-pound native of Longmeadow, Mass. is currently in his rookie AHL season after competing for four years at the University of New Hampshire from 2013-2017.