Canucks Swing a Pair of Deals

The Vancouver Canucks reacquired former Canuck Brent Sopel from the Los Angeles Kings in exchange for a 2nd and 4th round draft pick.

In addition Vancouver added veteran centre Bryan Smolinski from the Chicago Blackhawks for a conditional 2nd round pick.

Canucks: Add a 50-point, second-line player and a 35-point rearguard. They needed another veteran on the back end and they need secondary scoring. Sopel solves the former problem, but Smolinski doesn't cut it for the latter issue.

Fantasy Players Impacted: The Kings know that they will likely have Jack Johnson filling Sopel's spot in about five weeks and they are already out of the playoffs so this deal made a lot of sense. Sopel will not hurt Kevin Bieksa's production at all, nor will he impact Mattias Ohlund's. Smolinski will be tried on the wing, unless of course the Canucks brought him in to make Brendan Morrison expendable. Hmmmm…