Eastside's Hockey Elite Collide

San Jose receives:

C/L Vladimir Ruzicka (50)


Phoenix receives:

L/R Martin Prochazka (68)

Ruzicka's got some skills and a patient GM could develop him into some kind of playmaking genius, but because of his weak defensive game and my preference for physical players, he's been pushed down the depth chart by several incoming prospects. With a lot of players fighting over limited roster space in Portland, I'm happy to get a nice little return like Prochazka as well as clearing some roster space for the incoming 2011 draftees. Phoenix approves this deal; a pleasure as usual, Dan.

I don't know what's up with this trading within the division thing, but it seems to be working.

With Wellwood gone, I'm missing a superstar AHLer - I'm hoping Ruzicka can be that #1 farm C to help players develop faster and maybe do better in the playoffs. He might even pan out as an NHLer, although with his low CON I doubt I'll have the patience to develop him fully.

Prochazka should be a cheap depth player/emergency callup ala David Moss, but I think Blaine Byron will take over that role soon enough, and Ruzicka should be the better scorer at the AHL level.

Nice dealing with you, Parker.

Don't know why I forgot about this...well, yeah, I do.

Approved.

Of course Prochazka just had to have a CON drop. Irritating.

Trade entered.