Bolts and Canucks Swap Four

The Lightning and Canucks participated in a trade on Monday, seeing four players swap locations.

		2007-2008 Stats		2009	Point Projections
To Vancouver	Age	GP	Points	Cap Hit	THN	HTM	Score
Michel Ouellet, F	26	64	36	$1.25 million	N/A	40	N/A
Shane O'Brien, D	24	77	21	$950,000	N/A	20	18
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To Tampa Bay	Age	GP	Points	Cap Hit	THN	HTM	Score
Juraj Simek, F	21	0	0	$550,000	N/A	N/A	N/A
Lukas Krajicek, D	25	39	11	$1.1 million	N/A	N/A	25

The Canucks receive two tested NHL players, although both O'Brien and Ouellet could have fallen out with the coaching staff in Tampa Bay. O'Brien was scratched in the Lightning's second game against New York, while Ouellet cleared waivers and was sent down to Norfolk of the AHL. In O'Brien, the Canucks get a defenseman who is quite physical and is able to provide some production on the offensive end from time to time. Ouellet has shown flashes of good offensive talent, but has been moved twice in the past couple seasons and likely needs a good pair of linemates and some consistency to be effective.

The Canucks do give up Krajicek, who was part of the blueline injury parade last season with the Canucks and hadn't seen much time on the ice during the pre-season. Krajicek does have a lot of offensive upside, but is a small defenseman that doesn't use his size too well. Simek has been in the Canucks system for a little while, but has done little to push towards a spot on the big club, so a new set of surroundings may help his cause a little.