Vancouver, BC - The Vancouver Canucks recently pulled the trigger on two seperate trades with the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim. The first deal sent speedy sparkplug Brandon Reid along with Brandon Nolan to the Ducks for BC boy Rob Niedermeyer who grew up in Cranbrook. The 30 year old Niedermeyer will add valuable experience and leadership to a relatively young Canuck team. Niedermeyer is expected to center the 4th line, he currently makes 2.1 million and is set to become a UFA at the season's end.
"I am thrilled to become a Vancouver Canuck and I look forward to what the future will hold for me here. It is certainly nice to be wanted by your hometown team and it's just great. Now if I could just get Scott (Niedermeyer) to come here!" said Niedermeyer in regards to becoming a Canuck.
Turgeon Joins Canucks Too
Shortly after the Niedermeyer deal went down, another deal was struck between Canucks GM Greg Byron and Ducks GM Olivier Racine. This one sent the Ducks a 3rd and a 4th round pick in the 2005 entry draft for veteran Pierre Turgeon. Byron had long been in the hunt for a decent second line left winger and it looks like Turgeon will fill that role. However Turgeon is not the player he was 2-3 years ago and comes at a steep price, 7.5 million per year.
"Turgeon's contract is not that much of a problem for us really as we can afford it. We are excited to get him in a Canuck uniform and we hope that he will work out well on the second line for us." stated GM Byron.
One thing is for sure, the Canucks have become a deeper, more experienced team with these additions and that should bode well down the road.
- THE PROVINCE -