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The Lightning returned home from Prague, Czech Republic early this morning, and wasted no time conducting some business. This afternoon, the team announced it traded defenseman Shane O’Brien and right wing Michel Ouellet to Vancouver in exchange for defenseman Lukas Krajicek and left wing Juraj Simek.
Here is the team’s news release:
TAMPA BAY – The Tampa Bay Lightning have acquired defenseman Lukas Krajicek (LOO-cuss CRY-check) and left wing Juraj Simek (your-AYE SEE-meck) from the Vancouver Canucks in exchange for defenseman Shane O’Brien and right wing Michel Ouellet, executive vice president of hockey operations Brian Lawton announced today.
“Lukas is a proven NHL performer who can sure up our blue line and help with our transitional game,” Lawton said. “With the addition of Juraj, we feel we have added to our depth at forward and we look forward to seeing what he can do in our organization this year.”
Krajicek, a 6-foot-2, 196-pound native of Prostejov, Czech Republic, played in 39 games with the Canucks last season, recording two goals and 11 points with one power-play goal. He missed the majority of the season due to a shoulder injury, finishing the campaign on the injured reserve.
The 25-year-old has played in 207 career NHL games with Vancouver and the Florida Panthers. Krajicek has registered eight career goals and 50 points with five power play goals and two game-winning goals. He scored a career-high three goals and tied his career best with 16 points in 2006-07 with the Canucks. He was traded to Vancouver as part of the move that also sent goaltender Roberto Luongo from Florida to the Canucks. Krajicek made his NHL debut with the Panthers as an 18-year-old during the 2001-02 season. He has played in 12 career Stanley Cup Playoff games, all with Vancouver in 2006-07, recording two assists.
Krajicek has also played in 135 career AHL games with the San Antonio Rampage, tallying seven goals and 42 points over the course of three seasons. He also played in 168 games with the Peterborough Petes of the Ontario Hockey League during his junior career. He amassed 29 goals and 130 points in three seasons with Peterborough. He was named the best skater, fastest skater and best offensive defenseman in the OHL Eastern Conference in the coaches poll for the 2002-03 season and was voted a finalist as the OHL Eastern Conference’s best skater in the 2001 Coaches Poll.
He as originally drafted by Florida in the first-round, 24th overall, at the 2001 NHL Entry Draft. He was traded to Vancouver with Luongo and a sixth-round pick in 2006 in exchange for Bryan Allen, Alex Auld and Todd Bertuzzi on June 23, 2006.
Simek, a 6-1, 189-pound native of Presov, Slovakia, made his professional debut in 66 games with the Manitoba Moose of the AHL last season, recording seven goals and 17 assists. He made his North American debut in 2006-07 with the Brandon Wheat Kings of the Western Hockey League, playing in 58 games. He ranked fifth on Brandon with 28 goals and in points with 57. He also ranked fourth on the team in power play goals with 17.
The 21-year-old was originally draft by Vancouver in the sixth round, 167th overall, in the 2006 NHL Entry Draft.
Posted by Goalman, Sarasota on 10/06 at 08:42 PM
Hey Mike,
Are you still glad we got rid of Dan Boyle. I wasn’t and am not. Can’t turn the clock back on that one. This trade looks like a big nothing. I respect your hockey knowledge,but still think we made a mistake with Danny
Posted by Brian, Palm Harbor Fl on 10/06 at 08:18 PM
I think this trade is ok. If you look at last year, O’brien wasn’t good at all. He took a lot of stupid penalties. Now Ouellet, I felt he step it up after the trade deadline last season. I think he is a smart player. Tampa will miss him.
Posted by Leroy Blugh, Vancouver on 10/06 at 07:02 PM
Sorry guys, but you were screwed in this deal. Basically it works out to O
Brien for Krajicek. Having watched Krajicek for 2 seasons since he came over from Florida, I can tell you everbody in Vancouver is saying good riddance. His best quality is his skating, which is great, but that is usually because he is trying to get away from anybody coming near him. He is as soft as they come. He looks like he should be a good offensive defenseman, but he never gets any points. He has the wheels, but no hands and is easily intimidated… O’Brien may not be the best defenseman, but at least he is tough and can fight. We saw him when he was with Anaheim, and it is something useful in the West….
Posted by Vickie, tampa, fl on 10/06 at 04:03 PM
uh people what about matt carle. we got killedon the boyle trade, too. this guy stinks.
Posted by Dan, Miami on 10/06 at 03:48 PM
Suddenly everyones an Ouellet fan? Sorry he was gonna be in the AHL all year. And Krajicek is a step up from OB’s dumb penalties and poor play. We could go on and on about the weak first weekend. But it was just that the FIRST weekend. Theres 80 games left. The Lightning traded a scrath and minor leaguer for an NHL d-man and a prospect. I see no harm in that. Rumors are the want Warrener or Berard. That with Rangers return and Krajicek isn’t bad. They are better now than they were this morning.
Posted by Seth C, Georgia on 10/06 at 03:48 PM
I can’t find Simak’s salary numbers, but Krajicek will make 1.1M each of the next two years. So assuming Simak makes a standard minor-league fare, they likely shed around .75M from the salary figure with this move, which is clearly the main focus of it, as I doubt anybody is particularly excited to see either of these two coming in.
...And then there were two. (Defensemen that played for the Lightning last year)
Posted by Bill, Sarasota on 10/06 at 03:35 PM
I understand trading O.B. and M.O. as they were just not performing up to snuff. However, why take 2 additional players when cap space is important. I could understand trading for draft picks. The team needs greater cap space just incase some one Really exceptional comes along.
Posted by Justin, Tampa on 10/06 at 03:16 PM
....and to add, you probably said we got killed in the Richards trade too.
It’s been 2 games, Smith has been superbly solid and Jokinen does his fair share, Halpern made a splash as soon as he put on a Lightning jersey.
Posted by Justin, Tampa on 10/06 at 03:12 PM
Patrick do you just jump from post to post copy and pasting comments?
If you don’t like it, don’t watch. I’d love to see what you write after the rays get knocked out of the play-offs. Screaming for a firing of Maddon, a trade of Upton, benching of Kazmir…etc
Understand that certain players can or cannot play under a certain system. Maybe this kid can do better. Has anyone watched him play in Vancouver? Right.
Posted by michael j. kostka, essexville mi. on 10/06 at 02:45 PM
Every once in a while a player has to be moved for a one reason or another. Such is the case with this move with the Canucks. The biggest thing the Lighting will face this year is jelling as a team because just about everyone is new. Mike
Posted by Patrick, St. Pete on 10/06 at 02:25 PM
We got killed on this trade, even though I know nothing about Juraj Simek.
But as someone who watched Krajicek for years while living in South Florida, we’ve only become softer.
Screw this hockey club. They don’t have the slightest idea what they’re doing.
Posted by Chris C, Lakeland on 10/06 at 02:23 PM
Are they both making the team or going to Norfolk?
Good luck to O.B. maybe a fresh start will do him well
Posted by BOLTS RULE !!!!, tampa on 10/06 at 01:54 PM
I was hoping Oullet would stay. I guess that is the way it works in Hockeybay, they said if you dont do well they will put someone in who will, and Oullet hasnt had a good preseason. I think we will regret letting him go.
Again we got yet another young defensemen.
gonna be a different team this year that last,
Over half werent on the team last year. Then again we didnt do too well last year either. I guess you gotta try something new when the team does that bad.
Posted by Mike Joyce, Bangkok, Thailand on 10/06 at 01:51 PM
Sorry to say that Ouellet’s name isn’t Michael. How would you like to be called Wilma?
His nickname might be Mike, but that doesn’t automatically mean that his name is Michael.
Posted by Bill Berg, Blairsville Ga. on 10/06 at 01:46 PM
How does the Trade effect the Cap Space? It was a good trade for both parties as Michael was in minors and replaced him with younger less paid forward and OB just did not work out for the Bolts. Hope the D has improved with this move. GO BOLTS!!!
Posted by Mike Joyce, Bangkok, Thailand on 10/06 at 01:44 PM
Good luck to both. OB has been having difficulty that went back to last year, and Ouellet wasn’t doing much. Let’s hope that this helps our defense, but without desire and energy, there isn’t much that we can hope for.
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Posted by Mike Joyce, Bangkok, Thailand on 10/07 at 01:45 AM
Yep, I’m still happy to see Boyle and Kuba gone. I don’t think that they would have made much difference in what happened over the weekend. Neither one was a physical player, and that’s what is needed.