The Ottawa Senators continue their busy morning as they have shipped forward Antoine Vermette to the Columbus Blue Jackets in exchange for goaltender Pascal Leclaire and a second round draft pick in the upcoming NHL entry draft.
The 26-year old Vermette had long been a part of the trade rumour mills in Ottawa. He had 9 goals and 19 assists in 62 games this season for the Senators, after scoring 24 goals last year.
The native of St-Agapit, Quebec was chosen by Ottawa in the third round of the 2000 entry draft. He is signed through next season, where he will make $3 million before he becomes eligible for unrestricted free agency in the summer of 2010.
"Antoine Vermette is a versatile player who is not only a proven 20-goal scorer in the NHL, but one of the league's best in the faceoff circle and we are excited to add a player of his caliber to our group of forwards," Blue Jackets general manager Scott Howson said.
Vermette is an excellent penalty killer with great speed and could easily fit into the Jackets top-six forwards. He could end up centering the Jackets top line between Rick Nash and Kristian Huselius.
"Obviously, it's difficult and disappointing to have go give up Vermette. He's been here for quite some time and a good player," general manager Bryan Murray said on Wednesday afternoon. "But I think the first thing we had to try to accomplish here was to get better in one particular area and that's goaltending."
Meanwhile Leclaire found himself the odd man out in Columbus thanks to the emergence of rookie netminder Steve Mason.
The 26-year old Leclaire signed a three-year, $11.4 million contract with the Blue Jackets this past summer after enjoying a breakout season last year. He is sidelined for the remainder of the season following surgery to repair an ankle injury.
"It's a great opportunity to come back close to home," Leclaire told TSN moments after the deal was consumated. "I knew it might happen. The rumors with me and Antoine were running all around here. It's cool for me and my family."
In 12 games for the Jackets this season, the Repentigny, Quebec native has posted a 4-6-1 record with a .867 save percentage and a 3.83 goals against average. He should be able to compete for the number one goaltender slot with rookie Brian Elliot next season. He is set to earn $3.6 million next season then $4.8 in the 2010-11 season.
One of the biggest criticisms of the Senators over the past decade has been that the team has never had elite-level goaltending to go along with their offensive firepower. Leclaire hopes he can be the missing piece to eventually push the Senators over the top.
"I don't see myself as a savior," Leclaire told TSN. "They already have a pretty good team there. I just want to mix in and do my part."
Leclaire was drafted in the first round, 8th overall by the Blue Jackets in the 2001 NHL entry draft.
Earlier in the day the Senators also signed defenceman Filip Kuba to a three-year, $3.7 million contract keeping the power play specialist in the Nation's Capital.