View Full Version : Ouellet and SOB to The Nucks for Lukas Krajicek and Juraj Simek
http://canucks.nhl.com/team/app/?service=page&page=NewsPage&articleid=385125
Well, it's good to see they gave Shane O'Brien so much time to come around for Coach Melrose.
:thumb:
Remind me again why I'm supposed to be patient? These guys certainly aren't.
I hate this deal. With a passion.
I don't mind it. Ouellet was going to be in the AHL all year and SOB wasn't ever really given a chance with either regime. I would have liked to see him get more than one game, but that's the business.
Krajicek is a big improvement over OB as far as I'm concerned and the Simek for Ouellet is pretty much a wash. Ouellet wasn't going to play for Tampa, and Simek probably won't ever make it out of the AHL, but he'll provide some scoring punch for Norfolk.
Ouellet was going to be in the AHL all year
Doesn't mean he's an AHL talent. How quickly we all forget how well Michel played in the second half last season.
And O'Brien still has the potential to be a beast in this league. Krajicek? Ah, not so much. You traded a guy who played 21 minutes a night last season and an NHL forward for a guy who played 18 minutes a night and a mediocre prospect, and all you really got out of it, intangible wise, is a $1.5M or so salary dump.
I certainly never said he was AHL talent, but the fact is, with the exception of a string of injuries, he wasn't going to play in Tampa, NHL forward or not.
I guess I'm just not as down on this team as everyone else seems to be.
There's a reason SOB was sat by Tortarella (who many would still like to see as the coach, so assuming he stayed coach, OB would probably STILL be sitting) last year, and there's a reason he was sat after one game. He was eaten alive by the Rangers. Granted the D as a whole wasn't overly impressive, but Mihalik did a much better job in his first real NHL game than SOB did. That shouldn't happen.
Krajicek:
ASSETS: Is an efficient, reliable defender who limits his mistakes. Can put up points and also log loads of ice time in all game situations.
FLAWS: Must better handle the physical style of the NHL game. Needs more bulk for his 6-2 frame, and needs to start avoiding the injury bug.
CAREER POTENTIAL: Top four defenseman.
(Missed the last 31 games last year)
Key stat: 207 NHL games played.
That first rounder for SOB is looking GREAT right now.
If there were panther fans, it'd be nice for Krajicek to come back and have a brilliant career in their faces - but there aren't.
Maybe they're clearing salary for Rhett Warrener, who was just waived by Calgary.
If there were panther fans, it'd be nice for Krajicek to come back and have a brilliant career in their faces - but there aren't.
I love it! :happydance:
For as much as Dudley love Russians, Lawton better be careful with this little streak of former Czecheslovakians.
PEIBolt
10-06-2008, 01:30 PM
That first rounder for SOB is looking GREAT right now.
Exactly what I was thinking. I'm beginning to wonder when this team coaxes Yashin back to North America.
I'm beginning to wonder when this team coaxes Yashin back to North America.
Bite yer tongue. It'll be Jagr.
Odd that they value experience where it matters the least (3rd and 4th lines).
PEIBolt
10-06-2008, 01:51 PM
Could be worse. This could be Long Island or Sunrise where ownership/management sends the franchise players packing. Somewhere Hab fans are salivating.
Donnie D
10-06-2008, 02:31 PM
I was out of town for a couple of weeks. Is Dudley back and I missed it?
:rolleyes::rolleyes:
Is Dudley back and I missed it?
The fact that joke can even be made is a really ominous sign.
bolts37205
10-06-2008, 02:36 PM
and that brings hope that somewhere out there is a GM who wants to give us that veteran Dman who is a physical presence but can no longer afford to keep on his current team. Nothing jumps off the page for that to happen but maybe somewhere there is just such a deal waiting for the right phone call. Doubt that it will be Czech or Slovakian but maybe a Len B backyardigan? I would have thought SOB was gonna be just that with the adjecive tough thrown in for Melrose, really not a move that I like to have given up on the kid so soon. The curse of potential strikes again.
CTLightning26
10-06-2008, 02:51 PM
It all depends on Krajicek..Just don't remember much about him from the many Vancouver games I've watched.
If he becomes a reliable guy in the top four with Ranger back, Carle and Mez, it is worth it plus the money we save.
I was always an OB guy, but his progress hasn't been quick enough. As many have said, he keeps making the same mistakes. I dunno. If Krajicek is steadier, this is a plus. the other pieces in the deal are meaningless
We;ll see what happens..
timothy
10-06-2008, 03:02 PM
Claim Rhett Warrener off waivers and there's your people-mover and PK shutdown guy. Kinda expensive, but it moves Heward/Mihalik to Norfolk. IMO, Krajicek + Warrener is an upgrade over O'Brien.
Don't fail to notice that OK/LB is systematically acquiring former 1st round draft choices for the blueline: Carle, Wishart, Meszaros, Krajicek, Heward, and both Jackson and Hutchinson were high 2nd round guys. The prospect that *made* the team, Mihalik, is a 1st round Tampa pick.
Jester47
10-06-2008, 03:14 PM
I know I'm coming in late on this one but let me just say, with all of my hockey insite and knowledge...
This trade sucks balls.....
:pullhair:
Care to elaborate? I honestly don't see the loss of OB as anything devastating to the team. He's lost his game since coming to Tampa. Ouellet was a goner.
This one really stings considering how great Shane looked when he first got here. Though I guess it's kinda not nice to think, I hope he's truly beyond repair and we sold at the right time.
Can we have Picard back? :/
jaydeedub
10-06-2008, 03:20 PM
This trade sucks balls.....
:pullhair:
Not for the Nucks. :puke:
At least try to get a 2nd rounder thrown in there, a 3rd maybe?
Posted on the Times now: "Youth Traded for veteran defenseman" (http://blogs.tampabay.com/lightning/2008/10/youth-traded-fo.html) I guess 207 games would make you a vet D-man on Tampa...
“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.”
EE on the trade (http://www.tboblogs.com/index.php/sports/comments/lightning-trade-obrien-ouellet-to-vancouver/)
gwf82
10-06-2008, 03:24 PM
OB's loss isnt devestating but Krajicek isnt an upgrade in the least. Guy cant stay healthy and is another not-so-great-in-his-zone defenseman at this point in his career.
Does this mean Heward stays? I'm considering giving my tickets for the season away if I have to watch him play 20 minutes a night haha
PEIBolt
10-06-2008, 04:02 PM
Spector's analysis:
With the new NHL season beginning this week teams continue to adjust their rosters via waivers and trades.
The Tampa Bay Lightning and Vancouver Canucks went the latter route, engaging in a four-player swap on Monday, with the Lightning shipping forward Michel Ouellet and defenseman Shane O'Brien to the Canucks for defenseman Lukas Krajicek and winger Jaraj Simek.
Ouellet had been rumored on the trade block throughout the off-season and O'Brien's name had appeared in the mill over the weekend after a poor performance in the Lightning's season opener against the NY Rangers saw him scratched from the second game on Sunday.
It was believed the Cqanucks would shop a defenseman for scoring depth at forward and Krajicek had been rumored as one of those blueliners who could be moved. Simek has yet to play a game in the NHL.
One of the concerns for the Lighting was a lack of experienced depth on the blueline but while Krajicek could be considered an upgrade over O'Brien he's only 25 and has played only two NHL seasons where he's played more than 67 games due to injury, which also limited him to 39 games last season.
O'Brien appeared to be a key part of the Lightning's defense corps, racking up 21 points and 154 PIMs in 77 games last season but struggled under new Lightning head coach Barry Melrose and told the St. Petersburg Times that he saw this move coming.
He should provide the Canucks with a strong physical presence and shouldn't have much difficulty fitting into the defensive system of Vancouver head coach Alain Vigneault.
Ouellet has a reputation as a high-energy winger with a decent scoring touch, which has earned him second and third line playing time. He had 48 points in 73 games with the Penguins in 2006-07 and 36 points in 64 games with the Lightning last season.
Given the concerns over the Canucks offensive depth Ouellet could get an opportunity for more playing time on the second line but his versatility should make him a good addition to their checking lines too.
timothy
10-06-2008, 04:21 PM
Does Ouellet have to pass through re-entry waivers in order for the Canucks to bring him up to Vancouver? If so, at 1/2 salary (650k), Ouellet may never put a Canuck sweater on.
Re: Simek -- Ranked #12 prospect by the HF-VAN. Forecaster has this scouting report:
ASSETS: A natural goal-scorer with nice hands and instincts. Owns a good frame that projects well to the wing position in the NHL. Not afraid to mix it up a bit.
FLAWS: Must show he can bring the focus needed to improve his game. His lanky frame needs some filling out. Could stand to pass the puck more often.
CAREER POTENTIAL: Goal-scoring depth forward.
Bolthed
10-06-2008, 05:03 PM
It's not that bad, but like others here, I am PRAYING we dump Heward and pluck Warrener off waivers. Just a much better fit as a veteran defenseman, a guy with real clout and the right defensive, physical approach for our needs.
Looking at the trade, let's take the previous trade of a 1st rounder out of this equation. The fact is that SOB never did for us what he did for Anaheim. Blame our two offensive systems, blame him, blame the coaches ... whatever. He looked like a nice, young, tough-as-hell dman with top-4 potential when we got him and then he looked like a mistake-prone, bottom-pair guy. Let's hope Krajicek fits better and move on.
Ouellet may be worth more, but he was caught in a numbers game and got waived. I'm thrilled we got anything for him, and yes, Vancouver could lose him whenever they try to bring him up because his salary will be very, very affordable. If I were Altanta, Florida, Toronto, the Isles or any other bottom-feeder, I'd be salivating.
My biggest problem here is the continued subtraction of toughness and strength from our defense. But again, that could easily be fixed by Rhett Warrener. PLEASE GET HIM!
RSchmitz
10-06-2008, 05:54 PM
I haven't seen Karjicek play so I don't know what to think of this deal. But I will miss OB's game from when he was playing well, thats for sure
Kowalski
10-06-2008, 07:34 PM
Once again, I'll take a wait and see approach here. If Krajcek is more of a positionally sound, smart defensive player, I like the trade. He just needs to fill passing lanes and occasionally make a nice play or two. Nothing fancy, just steady.
timothy
10-06-2008, 10:04 PM
Quote from Ouellet in the National Post:
“The coach and GM in Tampa told me I impressed them but they had so many guys I would have needed to score five goals a game to make the team,” Ouellet said. “So it was not a fit for me there.”
Pretty much what it comes down to. He isn't able to produce well enough to keep a spot.
I'm not sure anyone can meet those expectations. I realize it was pure hyperbole, but Jokinen didn't meet those either.
I don't like that kind of pressure on a kid at all.
I wish - since they were out choosing dmen - that they would have picked up a righty.
aapbolt
10-07-2008, 09:19 AM
Wow, lots of pressure on Oullett, how many goals did Roberts or Recchi score during preseason? It is too bad about Oullett, he would have helped the bottom lines a lot. Making the team may just depend on who signed you not how hard you played.
Kracijek never impressed me as a stay at home type of rugged d-man. He is soft but can make a good first pass, and he appears to be injury prone. so we have to wait and see about him. At first glance this does not look like a good deal for us. By the way don't the nucks need scoring and if Juraj is a really good prospect why wasn't he called up to help the nucks? Odd deal.
why is Melrose calling out his top two lines in the paper already? It seems a bit early for that and it smells to me personally. that should be the last thing you do at this juncture, put more pressure on the players, when they are probably putting that pressure and more on themselves. Perhaps someone needs to call-out the coach. when you work with young talent you have to give them structure and help them learn when to freelance and how to work their game into the team concept. right now it appears there is no team concept, no structure to the defense and there is no plan of attack.
Adam Hall is a player and works hard, I am really impressed with him but he looks wasted on the 4th line.
sandwichestime
10-07-2008, 10:01 AM
Wow, lots of pressure on Oullett, how many goals did Roberts or Recchi score during preseason? It is too bad about Oullett, he would have helped the bottom lines a lot. Making the team may just depend on who signed you not how hard you played.
it wasn't pressure, they were just using that analogy to convey the fact that ouellet basically didn't have a chance to make the team. as in, if you would have scored 5 goals a game, as was said this is obvious hyperbole, then we would have had to find a place for you.
he had no chance to make the team, and the respectable numbers he put up hopefully will help him find a job in the nhl.
Adam Hall is a player and works hard, I am really impressed with him but he looks wasted on the 4th line.
adam hall is a good player, but he's a good fourth line player. what i call a role player. he simply wouldn't work on any other line but the third/fourth energy line where the expectations are to wear out your opponent and puck possession, rather than goalscoring (although the occasional plus statistic is great, as it was on sunday).
timothy
10-07-2008, 10:29 AM
Wow, lots of pressure on Oullett, how many goals did Roberts or Recchi score during preseason? It is too bad about Oullett, he would have helped the bottom lines a lot. Making the team may just depend on who signed you not how hard you played.
Not a Roberts or Recchi fan, but Roberts and Recchi clearly have a purpose on the team with the new ownership. Ouellet did not have a purpose on the team with the new ownership. And, Ouellet would certainly not help the lower lines. He is not a tenacious forechecker, he's not an energy guy, he doesn't play physical, the can't protect and possess the puck, he can't kill penalties, and he continually gets dominated on the boards. He's has no role outside of a #6 forward and 2nd line power-play guy. He'll be in Manitoba the entire 2008-09 season, and next summer as a UFA try to somehow get a one-way contract.
Kracijek never impressed me as a stay at home type of rugged d-man. He is soft but can make a good first pass, and he appears to be injury prone. so we have to wait and see about him.
That's not the role Kracijek was acquired for. Don't try to put a square peg in a round hole. Kracijek was explicitly acquired because he is a great skating defenseman (O'Brien couldn't skate) and he can move the puck out of the zone. Kracijek is a poor-man's Meszaros. He'll never be as good as Meszaros at anything, but he's a notch below him in everything. A good 2nd pair puck-mover. I agree, staying healthy is the key for him.
At first glance this does not look like a good deal for us. By the way don't the nucks need scoring and if Juraj is a really good prospect why wasn't he called up to help the nucks? Odd deal.
Don't get too excited about Simek. He supposedly has great hands and a goal-scorer's nose. Supposedly he's a great puck-handler, especially in tight areas and in traffic. He's a decent skater and has a big frame. But he has alot of other areas to work in order to make the leap to the NHL. His play away from the puck and his work along the boards has a long way to go. He needs to bulk up some too. He's a project that needs a few more years of minor leagues. From some research I've done, my first thought is he's like Radek Smolenak about two years ago. But, he may never see NHL ice. Guys like this are hard to predict if they put it all together.
Adam Hall is a player and works hard, I am really impressed with him but he looks wasted on the 4th line.
When Roberts goes down with an injury, you'll see Hall getting steady 3rd line time. Simmer down and sit tight. It's called depth. It's a good thing.
the_narrow_way
10-07-2008, 11:19 AM
Roberts and Recchi were picked up to help Melrose and company with the kiddies and to help take some of the workload from Melrose until he shakes the rust off.
aapbolt
10-07-2008, 03:10 PM
thanks for the post tim. I do understand about depth and like the fact that we have it this year. I like Adam Hall, you gave me the heads-up on him originally when i asked about his signing, you were/are right about the guy. I am not to sure about Simek, because I have never seen him play and almost always question HF rankings, but can understand a project...maybe he will find himself with our organization or maybe not. so Kracijek is a poor man's Mez...well I guess we will see and if so hope he stays healthy, somebody has to make a great first pass out of the zone. yeah you and I do agree about roberts and while I like recchi understand his limitations. However, I would like to see Ryan Craig get some playing time and still do not understand why Ward is still part of the popcorn servers here.
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