Mon, Oct 6, 2008 at 6:00pm

LIGHTNING-CANUCKS MAKE A SWAP

The Vancouver Canucks acquired defenseman Shane O'Brien and right wing Michel Ouellet from the Tampa Bay Lightning for defenseman Lukas Krajicek and winger Juraj Simek.

What does it give the Vancouver Canucks
Krajicek was a little redundant in Vancouver, since young Alexander Edler had surpassed him on the power-play depth chart. Therefore, the team gets a little meaner and bigger on the back end with the acquisition of O'Brien. As for Ouellet, he's more proven than Simek, especially at the minor-league level, but has far less upside.

What does it give the Tampa Bay Lightning
The Bolts continue to tinker with their blueline. Krajicek should play more in Tampa Bay than his projected role in Vancouver, and will see more minutes than O'Brien--who was scratched for the team's second game in Europe to open the regular campaign. Krajicek may even see time on the power play with the Bolts. Simek is a project with good scoring potential.

Fantasy impact