Blue Jackets acquire Antoine Vermette

by Dirk Hoag on Mar 4, 2009 10:18 AM EST

The kickoff to Trade Deadline Day comes from Columbus, where the Blue Jackets have dealt goaltender Pascal Leclaire & a 2nd round pick for forward Antoine Vermette:

	GP	G	A	P	+/-	PIM	PPG	SHG	GWG	GTG	SOG	PCT
2008 - Antoine Vermette	62	9	19	28	-12	42	2	0	0	0	141	6.4

As I wrote the other day, Vermette doesn't excite me at all as a player; there might be flashes of brilliance, but they're spread out between long stretches of mediocrity. It seemed like only yesterday (well, just last season) that Leclaire was the "Goalie of the Future" in Columbus; it just goes to show how quickly things can change.

In terms of hockey value the Blue Jackets appear to have massively overpaid in this deal, but it may well be just as much about clearing Leclaire's salary off the books ($8.4 million over the next two seasons) as anything else.

From the Nashville Predators perspective, this one doesn't scare me, frankly. In the Western Conference arms race, Columbus just added a pea shooter.

Poll

Does the Antoine Vermette deal make Columbus a more dangerous rival in the Western Conference playoff race?

Yes

9 votes

No

13 votes

22 votes | Poll has closed

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Comments

Vermette's not going to make them an offensive powerhouse

But he’s a heck of a good supporting player: Great speed, tremendous penalty-killing, and terrific in the faceoff circle. He can also add some offence to the second or third line, and may make the second powerplay unit a bit stronger. He’s a role player, but he’s a good one.

Still, I think this will favour the Sens, as long as Leclaire can shake his injury problems and deal with the media scrutiny here.

www.silversevensens.com

by Peter Raaymakers on Mar 4, 2009 10:39 AM EST reply actions

My question is, if he had decent offensive production as a supporting player in Ottawa (behind the likes of Alfie, Healtey, and Spezza), will he then take a step backwards on that front playing on Hitchcock’s Columbus team?

More fun than a stick to the face!
On the Forecheck is SB Nation's blog covering the Nashville Predators.

by Dirk Hoag on Mar 4, 2009 11:29 AM EST up reply actions