The week before free agency begins was a busy one for the American Hockey League. Several trades were made that involved AHL players, as well as rule changes for next season. Here’s an update from around the AHL.

Monsters-Bruins Swap Players

The Colorado Avalanche and Providence Bruins announced Wednesday that they have traded a pair of minor leagues. The Avalanche acquired center Matt Hendricks from the Bruins in exchange for defensemen Johnny Boychuk.

Hendricks appeared in 67 games for the Providence Bruins last season, setting career bests with 22 goals, 30 assists, and 52 points. Hendricks also appeared in 10 playoff games for Providence.

Boychuk appeared in 60 games for the Lake Erie Monsters, registering eight goals and 18 assists for 26 points. Boychuk also appeared in four games for the Avalanche, recording zero points.

Phantoms-Admirals Swap Players

The Philadelphia Flyers and Nashville Predators announced on Wednesday that they have traded a pair of minor leaguers. The Flyers acquired defensemen Janne Niskala from the Predators in exchange for Triston Grant.

Niskala recorded 19 goals, 25 assists, and 44 points in 80 regular season games for Milwaukee in 2007-08; He led the Admirals defensemen in goals and points. Niskala also appeared in six playoff games for Milwaukee, registering one point.

Grant set season highs in 2007-08 with 10 goals, 11 assists, and 21 points in 72 games for the Phantoms. He also added two assists in 12 playoffs games. Grant is more known for his toughness and has 570 penalty minutes in 197 career AHL games.

AHL Announces Rule Changes

The AHL Board of Governors concluded their annual summer meetings Friday with an announcement of a few rule changes for the upcoming season. The annual meetings resulted in the following announcements:

The Board approved an increase in AHL playing rosters during the regular season to 18 skaters and two goaltenders (up from 17 and two).

At the request of NHL general managers, the AHL has implemented one-minute minor penalties during overtime in the regular season.

In order to bring the AHL rule book closer in line to the NHL’s, the Board approved the following rules changes:

Rule 60.3 (“High-Sticking”) now calls for a double-minor penalty (rather than a major) in the event of a high-sticking infraction that causes injury, whether accidental or careless, in the opinion of the referee.

Rule 63.2 (“Delaying the Game”) now calls for an automatic minor penalty when any player or goalkeeper, while in his defending zone, shoots the puck directly out of the playing surface, except where there is no glass.

A change to Rule 81.1 (“Icing”) states that “Any contact between opposing players while pursuing the puck on an icing must be for the sole purpose of playing the puck and not for eliminating the opponent from playing the puck. Unnecessary or dangerous contact could result in penalties being assessed to the offending player.”

A change to Rule 85.5 (“Face-Off Location”) provides that if a puck is shot off the goal frame, goal post or crossbar, the subsequent face-off will remain in the end zone where the puck went out of play.

The Board approved the transfer of ownership of the Peoria Rivermen franchise from Rivermen II, Ltd., to the St. Louis Blues hockey club.

The Board approved the transfer of ownership of the inactive Edmonton AHL franchise to Rexall Sports Corp., following last week’s NHL approval of the sale of the Edmonton Oilers to the same group.