Thunder acquires another defender

Tim Graham

Friday, March 27, 1998 | 10:51 a.m.

The Las Vegas Thunder continued taking blue-line injections by acquiring its fifth defenseman in six days.

J.P. Davis was signed Wednesday, the same day he was awarded the Sullivan Trophy, annually presented to the top player in the Canadian Interuniversity Athletic Union, the organizational equivalent of the NCAA.

"He's ready to step in and contribute immediately," Thunder general manager Bob Strumm said. "He's a real talented guy. He's a great skater, moves the puck real well."

Strumm said the 6-foot, 195-pound Davis will help fill the blue-line scoring void created by Monday's trade of Steve Bancroft and Justin Kurtz. They were dealt to the Calgary Flames organization for defensemen Sami Helenius and Keith McCambridge and forward Paxton Schulte.

The Thunder also signed veteran NHL defenseman Brian Curran on Monday, three days after obtaining Jason Mansoff on loan from the Detroit Vipers.

Center Rob Pattison was sent tp the Vipers on Wednesday to complete the trade.

Davis, 26, played five years at the University of Guelph in Ontario after his junior hockey career. He recorded three goals and 23 assists in 23 games this season. In 1996-97, he had seven goals and 25 assists in 25 games.

Thunderbolts

* SHAW UNCERTAINTY: The Las Vegas Thunder is close to writing off David Shaw. After several futile attempts to reach Shaw's agent, general manager Bob Strumm remained uncertain Wednesday when or where the defenseman will be asked to report. Shaw, whose rights are owned by the Tampa Bay Lightning, was traded to the San Jose Sharks Tuesday. He could be summoned to San Jose or sent to Kentucky, the Sharks' American Hockey League affiliate. Shaw was loaned to the Thunder on Jan. 20 and quickly became a major force. But his home life fell under duress, and he flew to Florida last week to be near his estranged wife and two daughters. His stats are on hold at six goals, 13 assists and 28 penalty minutes in 26 games. ... Another Las Vegas defenseman, Ilya Byakin, was released prior to Tuesday's 2-1 victory over Michigan. In 52 games with the Thunder, Byakin recorded three goals, seven assists and 40 penalty minutes. Defenseman Rodrigo Lavinsh was sent to Tacoma of the West Coast Hockey League.