Radim Vrbata traded back to Phoenix For Fedoruk, Hale (Updated)

by John Fontana on Jul 21, 2009 4:21 PM EDT in Lightning Team News

Just breaking now, the Lightning have traded disappointing winger Radim Vrbata to the Phoenix Coyotes (the team that he left to sign with TB as a free agent last year). This has been confirmed (the fact a deal is in place) the team's official Twitter account.

No word yet on what the Lightning are to receive in the deal...

You may recall that Vrbata bolted from the Lightning in December of 2008, returning to his native Czech Republic. He recently stated that he was "100% certain" he would play in the NHL again this upcoming season. Brian Lawton gave Vrbata's agent, Rich Evants, permission to seek a new team for Radim.

And in this case, Vrbata is going back to his old team.

[UPDATE 4:25 PM EDT] Damian Cristordero of the St. Petersburg Times blogged that:

The names of the two players coming back were not immediately available

Two player is much more than I expected in return for the services of Radim Vrbata, even if the players end up being RFA's or European players who have no intention of playing in the NHL.

[Update x2] TheTampa Bay Lightning have announced the players coming back in the deal are Defenseman David Hale and LW Todd Fedoruk. The glut on defense continues to grow.

Hale has bounced around from New Jersey to Calgary to Phoenix. A stay-at-home defenseman, Hale has played 263 career NHL games and amassed 211 penalty minutes with a career plus/minus of +6 and 20 points.

Todd Fedoruk, on the other hand, is an enforcer.With 495 NHL games under his belt, Fedoruk has earned nearly 1000 penalty minutes while also chipping in points here and there. He played a career high 76 Games with the Anaheim Ducks in 2005-06 and should be looked at as additional machismo to compliment Evgeny Artyukhin as a wing ready to help (or physically hurt someone) at will.

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Anyone want to voice concern over the Bolts picking up more defense here?

The team needed an enforcer… But Hale joining the squad seems like an overkill on the blue line.

The Raw Charge -- the Tampa Bay Lightning weblog at SB Nation.

by John Fontana on Jul 21, 2009 5:15 PM EDT reply actions

Window Dressing

I’m not sure “enforcer” is the right word. Fedoruk rarely drops the gloves anymore. Will he even make the team?

Another defenseman? What a waste. There isn’t room for Hale! Lawton just wanted to say he got two NHLers for Vrbata. Window dressing, I guess.

WB Philp

by LightningShout on Jul 21, 2009 7:01 PM EDT reply actions

Tocchet would want a Fedoruk type

…so that I can understand. Hale? I can’t. Not unless Hale is going to be shipped elsewhere again OR sent to AHL Norfolk.

What type of message does this send Smaby and his agent (and the other RFA’s)?

The Raw Charge -- the Tampa Bay Lightning weblog at SB Nation.

by John Fontana on Jul 21, 2009 8:27 PM EDT up reply actions

Lets be honest here

No way in hell Hale ever touches Tampa ice.

by BrokeBearMountain on Jul 22, 2009 1:35 PM EDT reply actions

That’s what I was thinking – definitely a minor-leaguer.

Cassie
Raw Charge, an SBN Tampa Bay Lightning Blog. It's what's for dinner.

by Cassie McClellan on Jul 22, 2009 1:42 PM EDT up reply actions

I think that's been confirmed

Hale was what we had to take on in the salary dump… Now we have to get rid of him. Either he is AHL depth or he’s waiver fodder / traded for considerations.

The Raw Charge -- the Tampa Bay Lightning weblog at SB Nation.

by John Fontana on Jul 22, 2009 4:25 PM EDT up reply actions