The short trade freeze was lifted and the 30 teams in the OTHL where given the go ahead to start trading, and early this morning the first trade went trough the league office and was announced by the two teams. The Vancouver Canucks and the Phoenix Coyotes where the two teams that made the first ever trade. Vancouver traded Artem Chubarov (C), Marek Malik (D) and Bryan Allen (D) to the Coyotes in exchange for Derek Morris (D).
The trade should benefit both clubs, as Phoenix gets three players all able to step in right away and contribute. Giving the desert team some depth on vital positions. The Canucks one of the teams looking like they could contend for the cup, gets one of the games premier young defenders, a player that give them one more weapon on the blueline. A blue line already filled with solid players like Mattias Öhlund, Ed Jovanovski, Brent Sopel and Sami Salo.
"I must admit its a surprise to be traded this first day of the league so to speak. I was preparing for a season with the Coyotes, and was preprared to help them fight for the playoffs. But then I got a call this morning, saying I was traded to Vancouver. Its going to be interesting, they (Vancouver) have a very soild team with great players like Markus Näslund, Todd Bertuzzi, Mattias Öhlund and so on. I think its a team that can fight for the cup this season." - A surprised Derek Morris (25) told the press this morning.
Marek Malik (29) was just as surprised when he was given the news from the Canucksgeneral manager Greg Byron. "Its always a surprise when you get traded. But at the same time, its part of the game and I think most players are prepared to be traded. Its going to be fun to play for Phoenix. They have a young team with a management that is building for the future. I am looking forward to the season."