Goaltender Pascal Leclaire has been traded to the Ottawa Senators as well as a 2009 second-round pick for Antoine Vermette. Leclaire, who was drafted eighth overall by the Blue Jackets in 2001, will get the opportunity to start in front Brian Elliot. It will be sad to see Leclaire go because he was a fun guy to interview and to be around. I saw him yesterday after the game and said hey to him as he was going into the locker room. It was the first time I had seen him at a Blue Jackets game in more than a month. Maybe he knew ahead of time that he was likely to get moved.
Antoine Vermette is a player who fits Hitchcock's style of hard skating and the ability to work with others, specifically Rick Nash. He is 26-years old, stands 6'0" and 199 pounds and shoots left. The last time Vermette missed a game was October 27, 2007, when he missed one game with back spasms. This year has not been the year for Vermette, who totals nine goals and 19 assists and a -12. Even those numbers do not stand out one bit, especially for someone who is supposed to be the number one center for the Blue Jackets. But think of when Jason Williams came from Atlanta. Williams now has 5 goals and 7 assists during his 21 games with Columbus. I expect Vermette to have a similar boost of numbers.
Overall, I like the trade. You remove a player who has a lot of history with injuries and you solidify a need at center. Good job, Mr. Howson.
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