Blue Jackets Acquire Vermette For Leclaire, Pick
 

COLUMBUS, OHIO – The Columbus Blue Jackets have acquired center Antoine Vermette from the Ottawa Senators in exchange for goaltender Pascal Leclaire and a second round pick in the 2009 NHL Entry Draft, club General Manager Scott Howson announced March 4.

Vermette, 26, has tallied nine goals and 19 assists for 28 points with 42 penalty minutes in 62 games with the Senators this season and currently ranks fifth in the NHL in face-off percentage at 58.4 percent. In 359 career NHL games all with Ottawa, he has registered 80-87-167, 205 penalty minutes, a cumulative plus/minus rating of +11, nine power play goals, 13 shorthanded goals and nine game-winning goals. He has added 4-4-8 and 18 penalty minutes in 38 career playoff games and helped the Senators reach the 2007 Stanley Cup Finals.

The St. Agapit, Quebec native averaged 21 goals, 20 assists and 41 points per season from 2005-08. He recorded 24-29-53, 51 penalty minutes and was +3 in 81 games with the Senators in 2007-08, setting career highs in goals, assists and points. He also ranked sixth in the NHL in face-off percentage at 56.7 percent last year. He collected 19-20-39 and 52 penalty minutes in 77 games in 2006-07 and added 2-3-5 and six penalty minutes in 20 Stanley Cup Playoff games. In 2005-06, he notched 21-12-33 and 44 penalty minutes with a career-high +17 plus/minus rating in 82 contests.

Ottawa's third pick, 55th overall, in the 2000 Entry Draft, he played four seasons with Quebec and Victoriaville in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League from 1998-02. In 203 games, he notched 96-122-218 and 227 penalty minutes. He racked up 57-62-119 and 102 penalty minutes in 71 games in 2000-01 before missing most of the 2001-02 season due to an injury suffered at Canada's national junior team evaluation camp. He returned to collect 10-16-26 and 10 penalty minutes in 22 playoff games, helping Victoriaville reach the Memorial Cup championship game.

Makes sence. Mason has stole the #1 role in Columbus. Vermette fits in well. Good deal for both teams IMO.

TSN just added Ottawa gets a 2nd round pick. TSN analysts seem to like this.

Ottawa also gets a 2nd round pick

2nd rouder goes to sens too

does this move mean Elliot is gone to Bingo?

ha i called this one yesterday as one of the first deals done today. good deal if vermette performs like he can.

This blows they could have done alot better then vermette!!!

Does this move put Columbus into a position where they need a goaltender to backup Mason? Or do they go with what they got??

where's Norrena? hurt? europe?

Leclaire has said on both the Fan 590(in Toronto) and TSN that he does'nt expect to play this year but should be good to go next year. Very good pickup for the Sens. If healthy, he can be the answer to the Sens goaltending woes.:B)

nope. norrena is in europe somewhere and they have wade dubielewicz that they claimed off waivers from the isles whent they tried to bring him back from russia.

So chilly....does Columbus ride it out with Mason and Duby....or do they try to secure a solid backup for Mason?? Duby has proven he's a capable backup....but...the analysts on Sportsnet and TSN pointed to the fact that this move may make Columbus look for another goaltender.

I like the trade for both teams - Columbus solves their crowded crease problem and gets some more offensive depth, while the Sens, once he's healthy, will finally have a decent, number one goalie to build around. I like it for both clubs.

Good trade for both teams. LaCosta is capable in net as well although I think the CBJ would prefer a more experienced backup.