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Bolts Get Right Wing Tukonen; Give Up Hutchinson
Posted By Beth Gaddis at Nov 30, 2008 at 12:37 PM
Updated Nov 30, 2008 at 12:39 PM

The Tampa Bay Lightning announced this trade Sunday at 12:10 p.m. Here is the team’s news release with the details:

The Tampa Bay Lightning have acquired right wing Lauri Tukonen from the Dallas Stars in exchange for defenseman Andrew Hutchinson, it was announced by Executive Vice President & General Manager Brian Lawton.

Tukonen, a 6-foot-2, 198-pound native of Hyvinkaa, Finland, has skated in 22 games with Lukko Rauma of Finland this season, tallying five goals, eight assists and 22 penalty minutes. Originally drafted 11th overall by Los Angeles at the 2004 NHL Entry Draft, Tukonen, 22, has skated in five career games with the Kings (2006-07 and 2007-08). He appeared in 185 career American Hockey League games with Manchester, tallying 36 goals, 103 points and 74 penalty minutes.

Tukonen skated in three World Junior Championships for Finland from 2004-2006, collecting Bronze Medals in 2004 and 2006. In 2006 he finished third in tournament scoring with three goals and 10 points in seven games. On July 21 he was traded to Dallas by Los Angeles in exchange for Richard Clune.

Hutchinson, 6-foot-2 and 200 pounds, skated in two games with the Lightning this season, averaging 14:43 of ice time. Signed as a free agent by the Lightning prior to the season, he appeared in 20 games with Norfolk this season, recording a goal, 13 assists and 14 penalty minutes. The 28-year-old native of Evanston, Illinois has appeared in 97 career NHL games with Tampa Bay, Carolina and Nashville. He has accumulated 10 goals, 33 points and six power-play goals.

Send Us Your Comments

Posted by Mitchell Margolis, tampa on 12/01 at 11:11 AM

sorry about my first post, i thought (was hoping) malik was put on injured reserve. And i really want to see Smaby or Mihalik up here and play.

Posted by Mitchell Margolis, tampa on 12/01 at 10:38 AM

how is this not a good trade?
hutchinson was terrible, we have 3 monster prospect defenseman in the minors. we don’t need hutchinson, im guessing they were probably told that if they put him back on waivers that someone was going to pick him up.
So they got a prospect for basically nothing, and they got rid of a 1 way contract not playing for them anyway.

Posted by Will Schur, NPR on 11/30 at 10:09 PM

We all know what is left of the Lions now tha Millen is gone. I shudder on the thought that Lawton is looking more and more like a Millen, with one key difference, Millen was one hell of a player of which Lawton was not. Perish the thought that Lawton will do worse. But maybe he will. Fire Brian Lawton! Fire Brian Lawton! Fire Brian Lawton! Fire Brian Lawton! Fire Brian Lawton Now before it gets worse!

Posted by HockeyFLA, Tampa on 11/30 at 09:34 PM

Maybe as paying fans, we can do the same thing that Lion fans did in Detroit...have a Fire Brian Lawton movement. If that does not send a loud and strong message to the OK people, then I do not know what will. If Lawton continues on this approach, the Bolts will be like a Mike Keenan GM’d team (Blues and Panthers). Keenan is a heck of a short term coach but a very lousy GM. Lawton was a lousy player and he is turning into a lousier GM. If he continues on this track, he can easily be the Matt Millen of hockey....funny last year they considered Millen as the Keenan of football. Fire Brian Lawton! movement can be started by the next home game!

Posted by Bill, Blairsville Ga on 11/30 at 09:21 PM

BOLTS season is OVER!!! Trade anyone for next year!!! We had Season tickets from day one until they WON THE CUP and moved to North Georgia Mountains and have NHL package on Direct TV, this TEAM will not try as hard as the FIRST FEW YEARS that Crispy was the Coach and the PLAYERS listen to him and they WON with a OK TEAM!! He was the difference!! PLEASE KEEP YOUR FAITH AND PLAY HARD!!! GO BOLTS!!!!

Posted by Thunderstruck, Lakeland, FL on 11/30 at 08:52 PM

NOTE TO OWNERSHIP:

The best way to fix this team is to go out and find a real GM with a proven track record of success, can your boy Lawton, provide the new fella with a budget so he knows what he has to work with, and then GET THE HELL OUT OF HIS WAY!!!

By the way, I have no faith that Lenny & Squiggy would have the nads to do this. Somebody needs to inform them that you only run a team like this in fantasy hockey. I’d almost say Torts was right, but I wouldn’t want to insult the real cowboys out there.

Posted by Andy R, Tampa on 11/30 at 05:50 PM

This is it!!! This is the move we’ve been waiting for. This is the deal that is going to turn this mess around. Since we’re good for only 20 decent minutes, Tukonen will insight our boys to play hard for 60 by throwing his body around like all our other Euros. Maybe he can score in a shootout, too. By the way, I got to have my Thanksgiving dinner for a second time. Yes, after watching this weekends games, it all came back up. Nice job, boys.

Posted by Matt, St. Pete on 11/30 at 03:13 PM

Does Lawron actually have a clue. Tukonen was rated a 7D as a prospect. It is amazing that he makes all these trades which does not make the team any better. Tukonen is not that kind of player that takes the body of bangs in the corners. Not a lot of Finish players do. The last thing the Bolts need is a finesse player. Does Lawton even know that the Bolts are rated last in terms of organizational depth and farm system prospects. What a disaster.

Posted by Mitchell Margolis, tampa on 11/30 at 12:54 PM

this is a good depth trade, hutchinson was going no where in this organization and tukonen has never really gotten a shot. plus he is only 22. i think down the road this good be a great trade for the lightning, but hey right now im really hoping.

And im no expert on the injured reserve system but doesn’t malik have to miss 3 games so the lightning would be forced to bring up some 6 foot 5 physical defenseman who can play with “grit”? just asking.