Capitals Aquire Jurcina From Bruins

The Capitals have made a small trade for a big defenseman. Milan Jurcina, who stands 6 foot 4 and 233 pounds, was traded to the Caps for a fourth-round draft pick in 2008. At 23 years old he will be another young player to add to the developing team who desperately needed help at the defensive position.

(picture courtesy of TSN.ca)

His scouting report from TSN:

Assets	Is a natural when shooting the puck from the point. Owns a huge frame, sound two-way instincts and all-around upside.
Flaws	Must play with more passion and utilize his tremendous size to his advantage.
Career potential	Top four defenseman.

Talent analysis from Hockey's Future:

Jurcina has the size 6'4 to play in the NHL. He has skating ability and is a solid defensive defenseman. He must continue improving his offensive skills. At his size he must become more aggressive and forceful.

The additional ice time in Providence has proven beneficial to Jurcina’s development. He has made strides in his physical game and is beginning to use his size to his advantage.

Once again, Jurcina made the Boston club right out of camp. After traveling with the team and appearing in one game, he was reassigned to Providence to better acclimate himself to the new rule changes. Jurcina has all the potential to make it back to Boston and could very well be back some time this season. When he returns will depend upon how quickly he adjusts his play.

Career Stats:

Year

Team

League

GP

G

A

Pts

+/-

PIM

Shots

Sh%

2006-07	Boston	NHL	40	2	1	3	-5	20	29	6.90
2005-06	Boston	NHL	51	6	5	11	+3	54	64	9.38
2005-06	Providence	AHL	7	0	3	3	+2	8	-	-
2004-05	Providence	AHL	79	6	17	23	+6	92	120	5.00
2003-04	Providence	AHL	73	5	12	17	-1	52	93	5.38
2002-03	Halifax	QMJHL	51	15	13	28	+28	102	-	-
2001-02	Halifax	QMJHL	61	4	16	20	+36	58	-	-
2000-01	Halifax	QMJHL	68	0	5	5	-3	56	-	-
	Total	NHL	91	8	6	14	-2	74	93	8.60
	Total	AHL	159	11	32	43	+7	152	-	-
	Total	QMJHL	180	19	34	53	+61	216	-	-

An 8th round pick by Boston in 2001 he seems to have all of the tools to be a solid defensive defenseman in the NHL. A quality pickup for a 4th round selection. My only question would be, why would the Bruins trade a young defenseman for a draft pick when they are going nowhere this season and will most likely need to at least partially rebuild? Whatever the cause may be, it's a low risk, high reward type of a deal. Let's hope he can follow in the steps of Shaone Morrisonn and develop into a nice player after coming over from Boston.

The Thrashers and Lightning also made a four player trade this afternoon. All of the players involved are currently in minor leagues. From TSN.ca:

"The Tampa Bay Lightning acquired wingers Kyle Wanvig and Stephen Baby from the Atlanta Thrashers on Thursday in exchange for defenceman Andy Delmore and winger Andre Deveaux.

Wanvig, 26, has five goals and nine assists in 64 career NHL games. This season in the AHL he had 10 goals and 11 assists with the Chicago Wolves.

Baby, 27, had one goal and two assists in eight games with the Wolves this season.

The 30-year-old Delmore had 24 points (12-12) in 47 games with the AHL's Springfield Falcons this season. The former North Bay Centennials junior has 101 points (43-58) in 283 career NHL games with Philadelphia, Nashville, Buffalo and Columbus.

Deveaux, a former Montreal Canadiens sixth-round draft pick in 2002, had one goal and two assists in eight games with the Falcons this season as well as six goals and eight assists in 21 games with the ECHL's Johnstown Chiefs."