The honeymoon was barely over for James Wisniewski and his new bride, Nicole, late last month when:

  1. Wisniewski signed a $3.2 million contract with the NHL's Anaheim Ducks; and

  2. He was traded three days later and 3,000 miles east to the New York Islanders.

  Wisniewski's reaction to the abrupt change of uniforms: It's all good.

  "I understand it's all part of the business of the game," said the 26-year-old Wisniewski, who grew up in Canton and starred for the Ontario Hockey League's Plymouth

Whalers. "They didn't think they could afford me in Anaheim, so they traded me to a team that really wanted me. The Islanders are looking for me to step up and take on an important role."

  Wisniewski married the former Nicole Belt July 10 in San Diego. Among the members of the wedding party were Wisniewski's longtime friends and former Canton baseball teammates Jonny Johnson and Mike Tomasaitis.

  "I married the perfect woman," said Wisniewski. "We went to Maui for six days and Fiji for seven days for our honeymoon, and we had a lot of fun. I couldn't be happier."

  Three days after returning home, Wisniewski was rewarded for a stellar 2009-10 season when the Ducks inked him to a one-year, $3.2 million contract. The hard-nosed defenseman notched a career-best 30 points (three goals and 27 assists) in 69 games while averaging 24.5 minutes per game.

  Later that week, he was traded to the Islanders - his third team in the past 16 months - who will pair him along the blue line with rising star Mark Streit, who registered 11 goals and 38 assists last season in New York.

  The 5-foot-11, 197-pound Wisniewski spent the first two years of his NHL career with the Chicago Blackhawks, who won the Stanley Cup in June.

  "I was very happy for the city," said Wisniewski. "They hadn't won a Cup in 49 years, so the fans deserved it. It was good for the NHL, too, to have an Original Six team win.

  "It was hard to leave, but I was getting a little stagnant there. They kind of stuck me on the back burner in Chicago, so I needed to move on and show what I have. I think I did that in Anaheim this past season, playing over 24 minutes a game."

  While living in Chicago, Wisniewski became fast friends with Minnesota Twins star first baseman Justin Morneau.

  "He's a big hockey fan and I'm a big baseball fan, so we hit it off pretty quickly," said Wisniewski. "I visit him in Phoenix during the winter when we're in town."

  Wisniewski, who was a phenomenal hitter during a brief stint with Canton's baseball team, said he is looking forward to someday joining Morneau for batting practice prior to a Major League game.

  "We haven't been able to make it work yet, but hopefully one of these day," Wisniewski said.

  Wisniewski was back in Canton the first week of August for the second annual Plymouth Whalers Alumni Game at Compuware Arena.

  "It's always fun to come back and see some of the guys I played with," Wisniewski said following his one-goal performance for the Whalers' White squad. "I grew up with a lot of these guys and now some of us are playing in the NHL. We're all grown up and I can see the years kind of sliding by. It's nice to come back here and see all the familiar faces."

  Ed Wright can be reached at (734) 453-1980 or [email protected].

Nicole Belt and James Wisniewski were married July 10 in San Diego.