Vancouver Canucks trade defenceman Shane O'Brien to the Nashville Predators
The Vancouver Canucks and the Nashville Predators have decided to swap defenceman by exchanging Shane O'Brien for Ryan Parent.
The move is seen as an attempt on the part of the Canucks to lower their salaries in order to get themselves under the cap.
The Canucks have also sent winger Dan Gendur to the Predators, and have brought in forward Jonas Andersson.
Jonas Andersson played last season in the KHL with Dynamo Minsk, while Dan Gendur split his time between two minor league teams of the ECHL, the Victoria Salmon Kings and Johnstown Chiefs.
It has been reported that Parent has already been waived by the Canucks, according to
USA today. If he clears waivers, he will likely be sent to play for the Manitoba Moose
– Vancouver's AHL affiliate.
Ryan Parent, who is only 23 years old, played in 48 games for the Philadelphia Flyers last season, before being traded to the Predators (the team which initially drafted him) in the deal that sent Dan Hamhuis' negotiating rights to the Flyers. Hamhuis eventually
signed as a free agent with the Vancouver Canucks.
O'Brien was out of favour with head coach Alain Vigneault for much of his two seasons in Vancouver, after numerous weight infractions and for his much publicized enjoyment of the Vancouver nightlife. It is unclear what the Predator head coach will do with
a player with well-documented discipline problems like O'Brien.
The 26-year-old defenceman, who was drafted 250th overall in the 2003 draft by the Anaheim Ducks, finished last season with two goals and six assists, and was tops in the Canucks in hits, with a +15 rating. O'Brien also added one goal and two assists on
the Canucks depleted blue line during last season's play-offs.
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