AHL Norfolk Admirals

Lightning Acquire D Lukas Krajicek, LW Juraj Simek

Published on October 6, 2008 under American Hockey League (AHL)
Norfolk Admirals News Release


TAMPA BAY, FL The Tampa Bay Lightning, NHL parent club of the Norfolk Admirals, have acquired defenseman Lukas Krajicek (LOO-cuss CRY-check) and left wing Juraj Simek (your-AYE SEE-meck) from the Vancouver Canucks in exchange for defenseman Shane O'Brien and right wing Michel Ouellet, executive vice president of hockey operations Brian Lawton announced today. Simek will report to the Admirals.

"Lukas is a proven NHL performer who can sure up our blue line and help with our transitional game," Lawton said. "With the addition of Juraj, we feel we have added to our depth at forward and we look forward to seeing what he can do in our organization this year."

Krajicek, a 6-foot-2, 196-pound native of Prostejov, Czech Republic, played in 39 games with the Canucks last season, recording two goals and 11 points with one power-play goal. He missed the majority of the season due to a shoulder injury, finishing the campaign on the injured reserve.

The 25-year-old has played in 207 career NHL games with Vancouver and the Florida Panthers. Krajicek has registered eight career goals and 50 points with five power play goals and two game-winning goals. He scored a career-high three goals and tied his career best with 16 points in 2006-07 with the Canucks. He was traded to Vancouver as part of the move that also sent goaltender Roberto Luongo from Florida to the Canucks. Krajicek made his NHL debut with the Panthers as an 18-year-old during the 2001-02 season. He has played in 12 career Stanley Cup Playoff games, all with Vancouver in 2006-07, recording two assists.

Krajicek has also played in 135 career AHL games with the San Antonio Rampage, tallying seven goals and 42 points over the course of three seasons. He also played in 168 games with the Peterborough Petes of the Ontario Hockey League during his junior career. He amassed 29 goals and 130 points in three seasons with Peterborough. He was named the best skater, fastest skater and best offensive defenseman in the OHL Eastern Conference in the coaches poll for the 2002-03 season and was voted a finalist as the OHL Eastern Conference's best skater in the 2001 Coaches Poll.

He as originally drafted by Florida in the first-round, 24th overall, at the 2001 NHL Entry Draft. He was traded to Vancouver with Luongo and a sixth-round pick in 2006 in exchange for Bryan Allen, Alex Auld and Todd Bertuzzi on June 23, 2006.

Simek, a 6-1, 189-pound native of Presov, Slovakia, made his professional debut in 66 games with the Manitoba Moose of the AHL last season, recording seven goals and 17 assists. He made his North American debut in 2006-07 with the Brandon Wheat Kings of the Western Hockey League, playing in 58 games. He ranked fifth on Brandon with 28 goals and in points with 57. He also ranked fourth on the team in power play goals with 17.

The 21-year-old was originally draft by Vancouver in the sixth round, 167th overall, in the 2006 NHL Entry Draft.

The 20th season of Admirals hockey officially kicks off on Friday and Saturday at Scope against the Hershey Bears.

To purchase tickets to any Admirals game, you may visit the Scope Box Office weekdays from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., visit any Ticketmaster outlet, call Ticketmaster at (757) 671-8100 or visit Ticketmaster online at www.ticketmaster.com. Don't miss a minute of the action by purchasing your 2008-09 season tickets today. Stop by the Admirals' Administrative Offices at Scope, call (757) 640-1212 weekdays from 9:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. or visit norfolkadmirals.com anytime!

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American Hockey League Stories from October 6, 2008


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