The Tampa Bay Lightning have traded forward James Wright and defenceman Michael Vernace to the Florida Panthers in exchange for defencemen Mike Kostka and Evan Oberg.
Wright, 21, is a fourth round (117th overall) selection of the Lightning in 2008. Last season, the Saskatoon native only played one game with the Bolts, registering zero points. He played 48 games with the Bolts in the 2009-10 season, posting two goals and three assissts with a minus- nine rating.
Vernace, 25, is a seventh round (201st overall) draft pick of the San Jose Sharks in 2004. The Sharks traded him to the Colorado Avalanche in 2006 for a sixth round draft selection before he signed with the Atlanta Thrashers as an unrestricted free agent in 2009. The following year he was traded back to the Sharks before signing with the Lightning as an unrestricted free agent in 2010. Vernace had one assist to his credit through 10 games with the Lightning last season.
Kostka, 26, has appeared in 18 games with the San Antonio Rampage of the American Hockey League this season, recording two goals and six points. He was signed as an undrafted free agent by the Buffalo Sabres on March 23, 2008.
Oberg, 23, played in 12 games with the Rampage this season, notching two assists with 14 penalty minutes. A native of Forestburg, Alberta, Oberg has played in four career NHL games with the Vancouver Canucks. He was signed as an undrafted free agent by Vancouver on April 10, 2009. Oberg was then acquired by Florida with the Canucks' third-round choice in 2013 in exchange for Christopher Higgins on February 28, 2011.
