Predators Acquire Belanger In Exchange For Vasicek

[Smerri1029]

Nashville Predators Executive Vice President/General Manager David Poile announced Friday that the club has acquired center Eric Belanger (AIR-ihk buh-LAWN-zhay) from the Carolina Hurricanes for center Josef Vasicek (YOH-zehf VAHSH-ih-chehk).

Belanger, 29 (12/16/77), has posted 20 points (8g-12a) in 56 games this season for Carolina. The 6-0, 195-pound Sherbrooke, Que. native ranks second on the Hurricanes in face-off winning percentage (368-321, 53.4%). He was acquired by the ‘Canes in a training-camp deal on Sept. 29, 2006 (along with Tim Gleason) from Los Angeles for Oleg Tverdovsky and Jack Johnson.

Originally a fourth-round selection (96th overall) of the Los Angeles Kings in the 1996 NHL Entry Draft, Belanger played his first five NHL seasons (2000-2006) with Los Angeles. He netted career-highs in goals (17), assists (20) and points (37) last season with the Kings, and led L.A. in face-off winning percentage in each of his first four NHL campaigns. In 379 career NHL games, he has recorded 71 goals and 99 assists (71g-99a-170pts).

Vasicek, 26 (9/12/80), netted 13 points (4g-9a) in 38 games with the Predators this season. After being acquired from the Hurricanes by Nashville for forward Scott Walker on July 18, 2006, he returns to Carolina, where he played 316 NHL games from 2001-2006.

[DaleHunter32]

so when the smoke clears and all is said and done

Vasicek and Walker
for
Belanger


Boy, NSH really fleeced them on this deal

[rondo]

Good pick up by Nashville. Belanger is a very good skater and can check the other teams top center's. Also is a very good face off man.

[Smashing Machine]

Ken Belanger !

[Smerri1029]

Originally Posted by Smashing Machine

Ken Belanger !

I miss Bam Bam Belanger

[Smashing Machine]

Originally Posted by Smerri1029

I miss Bam Bam Belanger

haha me too. He was always invloved against the Thrashers in the early years...seemed like he and Lambert fought a lot. Or tried to fight a lot.

Mostly known for the extremely over blown win against an unwilling Probert.

[FlyersEnforcer]

Originally Posted by Smashing Machine

haha me too. He was always invloved against the Thrashers in the early years...seemed like he and Lambert fought a lot. Or tried to fight a lot.

Mostly known for the extremely over blown win against an unwilling Probert.

haha denny lambert? i havent heard that name in a while

[Smashing Machine]

Originally Posted by FlyersEnforcer

haha denny lambert? i havent heard that name in a while

yeah way back in 1999 a player like Denny Lambert would be the 2nd or 3rd fighter on a team. He was awful, but he'd fight anyone. Our stupid announcers always called him "Chief" and I always felt that was Berube's nickname.

[Smerri1029]

Originally Posted by Smashing Machine

haha me too. He was always invloved against the Thrashers in the early years...seemed like he and Lambert fought a lot. Or tried to fight a lot.

Mostly known for the extremely over blown win against an unwilling Probert.

Now that I think about it, it was probably the tag-team of Baumgartner + Belanger here in Boston that really got me to start paying attention to hockey fights.

[Isles4life]

Seems weird that they reacquired Vasicek like that. Belanger may be a better fit with the Predators though.

[kirk lesko]

i cant believe the preds gave up walks for this piece of bugeyed sh*t.walks should be their captain right now.they got hosed in every way.this trade tops the rat ronning trade for worst in preds history.i dont give a damn who they got for vasicek, but belanger will have a tough time cracking their lineup.its good to hear you talk about lambert.ihe was at least an entertaining fighter and a former pred.

[majew17]

speaking of walker........he totally should have got an instigator vs. alberts.................vasicek............whats he gonna do..........just another gentle giant

[Bear]

This seemed like an odd trade for me but Belanger and Vasicek are both struggling this year. From the Canes perspective, they realized that Belanger can't really handle 1st or 2nd line responsibilities in the event that Staal or Brind'Amour go down to injury. Vasicek was their leading scorer before the lockout and is capable of handling those duties if needed. Of course this would be assuming he has the hunger in him to do it, which is a big if.
About the only thing Belanger has really done well for the Canes this year has been in the faceoff circle. Otherwise he wasn't anything spectacular and was a minor disappointment.

[Blouin]

Originally Posted by DaleHunter32

so when the smoke clears and all is said and done

Vasicek and Walker
for
Belanger


Boy, NSH really fleeced them on this deal

actually, when all is said and done the final trade looks like Oleg Tverdosky and Jack Johnson for Scott Walker

[Smashing Machine]

Originally Posted by Smerri1029

Now that I think about it, it was probably the tag-team of Baumgartner + Belanger here in Boston that really got me to start paying attention to hockey fights.

I know I enjoyed the games vs the Bruins, you guys even had Rob DiMiao.
99' was the first year I had a team of my own to cheer for, so playing the B's was always an antcipated game, because the B's would fight us.
Of course Matt Johnson as a Thrasher was not the Kings or Wild version..he sucked as a Thrasher, most times Kelly Buchberger was our acting muscle.