The Phoenix Coyotes added some depth for their playoff push on Wednesday with the acquisition of forward Antoine Vermette from the Columbus Blue Jackets in exchange for goaltender Curtis McElhinney and two draft picks.

Columbus will get Phoenix's second-round choice in 2012 (acquired from the Ottawa Senators) and its fifth-rounder in 2015.

“We are extremely pleased to acquire Antoine,” Coyotes general manager Don Maloney said in a statement. “He is a smart, skilled, two-way centre who will be a great addition to our lineup.”

Vermette, 29, has eight goals and 19 assists in 60 games for the Blue Jackets this season. He spent over four years with the Senators before joining Columbus in 2008-09. In 600 career NHL contests, the St. Agapit, Que. native has amassed 141 goals, 171 assists and 317 penalty minutes.

The Coyotes have vaulted themselves into a playoff spot — seventh in the West with 69 points— with a recent 8-1-1 surge over their last 10 games.

McElhinney, a London, Ont. native, has one win in two appearances this season for Phoenix with a 1.67 goals-against average and a .944 save percentage. The 29-year-old began his career in 2007-08 with the Calgary Flames before moving on to the Anaheim Ducks and Senators and is 19-26-4 in 69 games at the NHL level with a 3.09 GAA.

He's currently rehabilitating an abdominal injury and will remain with the AHL's Portland Pirates, where he is 10-13-0 with a 3.04 GAA and .907 save percentage in 25 games this season.