Evgeny Artyukhin sent to Ducks as Tampa Bay Lightning acquires Drew Miller and a third-round draft pick (updated)

The Tampa Bay Lightning on Thursday picked up left wing Drew Miller and a third-round pick in next year's draft in exchange for wing Evgeny Artyukhin.

Miller, 25, a 6-foot-2, 185-pound left wing is the brother of Sabres goaltender Ryan Miller. He had four goals, six assists and 17 penalty minutes in 27 games last season, including four goals and four assists in his last 18 games. He is considered a hard worker and a defensively responsible player. The word out of Anaheim is he never got the chance he deserved.

Figure him a third- or fourth-line player if he sticks with the team. More immediate for the Lightning is that Miller gives them even more payroll flexibility. Artyukhin is scheduled to make $1 million next season. Miller is scheduled to make $525,000. Better yet for Tampa Bay, Miller is on a two-way contract, which means that the team has one less player on a one-way deal to complicate putting together the final roster. It also means if Miller starts the season in the minors, the deal will save $1 million off its payroll and salary cap.

Miller would have to clear waivers to get to the minors, but because his minor-league salary would be $105,000, he would not need waivers to come back up. The $105,000 is the limit of what a player can make in the minors and not require re-entry waivers.

Getting rid of Artyukhin, 26, will be a disappointment for Lightning fans who loved his free-wheeling style and his crunching body checks that rattled teeth as well as the boards. But Artyukhin, a 6-foot-5, 254-pounder, was not considered asmart hockey player. Coach Rick Tocchet said several times at the end of last season that one of Artyukhin's goals this summer was to get hockey smart. In other words, he had to better learn how to play the game. 

This is what I will always remember about Artyukhin: a great end-to-end rush down right wing only to watch the puck dribble off his stick as he tried to make a move as he approached the net. That is not to say Artyukhin does not have tons of potential. But given his salary and the number of mistakes he made last season, and the constraints on payroll for the financially troubled Lightning, the move should not be a complete surprise. 

Here is the announcement from the team:

The Tampa Bay Lightning has acquired left wing Drew Miller and a third-round draft choice in the 2010 NHL Entry Draft from the Anaheim Ducks in exchange for right wing Evgeny Artyukhin today, Lightning Executive Vice President and General Manager Brian Lawton announced.

"In acquiring Drew Miller today, we were able to add a character individual, a versatile player with good size and the ability to kill penalties," said Lawton upon making the announcement. "Drew finished the season nicely in Anaheim a year ago and he has played well for the Ducks in the postseason over his career. We'd like to thank Evgeny for his hard work in Tampa Bay and his diligence to improve as a player. We wish him all the best moving forward."

Miller, 6-foot-2, 185 pounds, has played in 53 NHL games in his career, all with the Ducks.   He has recorded six goals and 15 points in those games.   Miller made his NHL regular season debut on October 6, 2007 and netted his first NHL goal on October 17, 2007.   He has played in 16 career Stanley Cup Playoff games with Anaheim, recording two goals and three points.   He made his playoff debut in the 2007 NHL Playoffs, including Games 1 and 2 of the Stanley Cup Finals against Ottawa as Anaheim went on to win the Stanley Cup.

A native of Dover, New Jersey, Miller played in 27 games with the Ducks in 2008-09, recording four goals and 10 points.   He appeared in a career high 13 playoff games, recording two goals and three points.   He also spent 53 games with the Iowa Chops of the American Hockey League, recording 23 goals and 38 points.   He was tied for the team lead in goals and was fourth in points.

Miller has played in 163 career AHL games with Iowa and the Portland Pirates, recording 55 goals and 110 points.   In 2007-08 he helped Portland to the Eastern Conference Finals by registering a goal and eight points in 16 games.   Miller made his professional hockey debut with the Pirates in 2006-07, finishing tied for first on the team in rookie scoring and tied for third in overall scoring.

The 25-year-old played his college hockey at Michigan State University, where he was the 10th member of his family to play for the Spartans, including brother Ryan Miller of the Buffalo Sabres.   He amassed 39 goals and 86 points in 125 career games with the Spartans.   Miller served as team captain during his junior year while leading the club in scoring with 18 goals and 43 points.   He was also named Michigan State’s Most Valuable Player and was honored as the CCHA’s Best Defensive Forward.   He was recognized as the CCHA’s 2006 Illitch Humanitarian Award winner and was nominated for the Hockey Humanitarian Award in 2005 and 2006.

Comments

[Randy C]

Don,

The Bolts got better acquiring Miller. Miller's scouting report has him as a potential top 6 forward. Not many of our players last season would have been able to crack the Duck lineup. Miller also kills penalties and has an excellent work ethic. If he adds 10 - 20 lbs the trade is a steal for us and we get a top 90 pick. A much better player now, overall, from my research. Arty gets a fresh start in a new system with a coach who is less tolerant than Tocc. He will have to perform there or he'll be gone in a short amount of time. Miller will get the best look of his career here in camp and has a chance to compete for top 6 minutes. The more I look at this the more I like it! I hope R2kn the best of luck, his tenacious forecheck could be a boost for the Ducks.

[MarkLV]

I just checked out the Lightning website to see if they had any more info on Miller. The video clip they attached to the page was a replay of an open net goal. Now, I'm sure this guy has scored more than an open net goal, and I wish they had posted a more relevant look at the new guy. I guess we will see him in action soon enough.

I'm glad to see the penalty machine make his way out of here. Seems like this will be a good trade both teams, and like most everyone else, I hope it sets up Tanguay signing.

[hyjyljyj]

G the question isn't who got the better deal between the Lightning and Artyukhin, it's between the Lightning and their trading partner. Obviously any player getting traded from a cellar dweller to a Cup contender in an even BETTER warm climate is going to notice he's a happier camper; nothing personal but your point is unclear to me. The reason people are saying the Lightning got the better deal than Anaheim is because of what they feel we got in return for Artyukhin vs. what the Ducks got in return for Miller and the pick.

IMHO however a good trade for the NHL and for hockey in general is one that's good for both teams. It's a good trade for both teams when the new players fit their respective new surroundings and systems better, and it could be argued that's what happened here

[Don in St. Pete]

Ryan, To say R2KN was worthless or to intimate he didn't bring anything to the table is a case of denial. While I'll agree Srty never lived up to expectations, and likely never will, it was a smart gamble by the Bolts. They getr back a 3rd round pick ( R2KN was a 3rd rounder ) and a LW with the potential to develop into a top six forward. Seems like a pretty good return for a guy some are intimating was worthless. We will be a lot softer team with the trade of Arty but I'm hoping the new additions can pick up the slack.

[Ryan]

Arty was a dirty player (remember his knee hit on ville peltonen). He couldnt do anything right, couldnt score, couldnt pass, couldnt hit 95% of the time without taking a penalty. Good riddence. Go back and watch a game, whenever Arty got the puck he tries to take it coast to coast by himself and eventually loses the puck.

Im tired of the cops getting called on me cause im too loud, because im yelling at the TV. lol (true story)

[goldenbolt]

I'm sorry to see him go. We will miss the other teams 'd' looking over there shoulder for where he was when he was on the ice.

However, I understand from a decent source he was never interested in learning, being coached, would never stay and work on shots, stick work and did not communicate with his teammates. He was only interested in the 'ME' never good in a team sport. good Luck with the ducks. Bring on Tangaray!!!!!

Go Bolts

[G]

I can agree that Arty needed time to develop on his hockey smarts and skills, but he has only played one full season in the NHL, which is a different level than playing in Russia which did not help him at all. But what I can't understand is how can people say that the Lightning got the better deal when Arty was traded to a team that knocked out San Jose and went pretty far in the playoffs and has a pretty good chance of winning the Stanley Cup this year. Or he could have stayed on a team that was horrible last year and still needs to build up to be a playoff contender. So my question is... who got the better of the deal? ARTYUKHIN... he is going to have a great year next year with the type of rugged style that Anaheim and the western conference plays. Good Job Lawton, Barry, and Koules... another great move!

[Sunking1]

For anyone who has seen Artyukhin play, you know that the guy is big, skates like the wind and lays some crushing body checks. However, if you have watched him you also know the guy has no hands, can't finish with the puck and is the first to skate away from the scum, leaving his teammates to clean up his mess. His also is a bit of a penalty magnet for the ref's. All in all, I think the Bolts did great to get a 3rd or 4th line player (all that Artyukhin is himself) AND a 3rd round pick for this guy. The Lightning wins this exchange.

[PD]

Whilst on the topic of Russian unmotivated, enigmatic hockey players, great take by Doug McClean on Zherdev when he had him in Columbus:

"Of greater interest was MacLean’s take on Nikolai Zherdev. Zherdev, is the reason MacLean got fired. At least, according to MacLean. The contract situation and the fallout from it got him canned.

MacLean said that he should have known that Zherdev was going to be a handful when he asked him at the draft after he picked him at 18 years of age what car Zherdev drove and the response was “a Mercedes”. It was interesting that when MacLean told that story, there was silence after the “punch line”.
Nikolai Zherdev, according to MacLean is one of the most talented kids he has ever seen. He is also one of the biggest enigmas. MacLean said that he tried literally everything to motivate Zherdev and instill a work ethic in him. He even signed Sergei Federov whom MacLean considers the greatest Russian born NHLer of all time. MacLean took lots of lumps for signing Sergei, but thought if only he could get through to Zherdev… One day Federov came to MacLean and pretty much gave up. Federov said that he couldn’t talk to Zherdev anymore, that Zherdev simply didn’t want to listen.
Then MacLean out a real gem. He said that when he went to Zherdev’s place after he was gone, the landord of Zherdev’s place said that he was called to change the locks on Zherdev’s apartment 6 times in the one season he played there! The guys asked MacLean if perhaps Zherdev was guilty of poor judgement, MacLean just laughed and said “ohhhh the book I could write!”

[hyjyljyj]

Anyone who can post "Guess they wear skirts this year. I hope Arty takes out the precious V4 when they play them" absolutely fails to qualify to use the words "Bolts Fan" in his signature... unless preceded by the words "Troll Masquerading as a".

Back under the bridge

[karma]

Got to weigh in here. I think this is a good move. While I loved his checking ability, that's all he's brought to the game, other than the possibility of potential. "Possibility" because he never really proved that he has potential. Fast? Absolutely? Ability to change direction when coming down the right wing with a puck on his stick? Not in this life time.

I know nothing of the kid we're getting, but I know that he saves the team serious money while eliminating an uncoachable player (and his bs agent). I also think that skp has a good point about this making a Tanguay signing more likely...Even if just speculation, it's a good point.

[hyjyljyj]

Final words of the article linked by Flasher: "Team Tocchet. I like the sound of that."

Man, I'll second the hell out of that one. Bye-bye to the lukewarm Euros. It's about time teams started to dread seeing Tampa Bay next on the schedule. Anyone who never got to see Rick Tocchet play hockey, you have my sympathy. He combined some of the best elements of a Rod Brind'Amour, Marty St. Louis, Dave Andreychuk, Dino Ciccarelli, Ryan Malone, Cam Neely...an iron-toothed crocodile in front of the net with an unflinching work ethic who toiled every game as if it were a Cup Final and his last. Left nothing on the ice, every guy on the team knows it, so he has earned the respect--and right to expect nothing less from his players. You listening, Melrose?

Didn't think so. You're back to being just another talking head, no game plan to develop, practices to design or players to teach, no real responsibility. So...plenty of time for shopping....you can always use another dozen cheap pimp-suits, and a couple cases of hair gel for next week, you pathetic poser

Hey, that was refreshing...have a great weekend everyone :)

[Hockey Chic]

Morning Peeps,

I hate to see Arty go but I agree with many posts in that he has had several chances to make a change in his game and simply did not deliver.

I will also say that at a time when we needed something to look forward to with the fiasco of the mullet and all, Arty brought back some familiarity that we all needed.

I wish him well and hope that one day he realizes what a fabulous opportunity he has to make a big splash in this league. If he ever puts the physicality with the skating and spends time making his physical conditioning a priority he can make his mark (and not on my head)lol.

Question is will he? I say Lawton did another good move. Although, I know one person at the SPTF that will not be to happy.

Now lets get the party started.

Ps By the way the inaugural game and tournament for the Brandon Hockey Chicks will be on the weekend of Sept 11th in Brandon at ISF hope to see some of my peeps there.

Go Bolts!!!

[Patrick]

Flasher,

Definitely agree on the JJ article. His analysis of the players they've added really gets me excited.

Here is a question and answer session with Ranger I thought was interesting as well. Seems like a heady guy. He talks about his ability to make passes out of the zone and how he likes forwards that get open... sounds like some insight into why he was sometimes making questionable decisions with the puck the last season or two. Also talks about shoulder rehab.

http://lightning.nhl.com/team/app?articleid=469985&page=NewsPage&service=page

[Boltflasher]

Great article on the Lightning...

http://www.hockeybuzz.com/blog/Jon-Jordan/Lightning-Roster-Built-in-the-Image-of-a-Familiar-Face/90/22529

[ajax]

The jury is in...not many of us will miss Arty...the thing I will remember the most of Arty??...my "in" connection, who works for the Lightning telling me Arty was a world class drinker...could really pound the shots....Maybe that is why he was in such a fog the whole time he was on the ice....From a pure hockey sense, his biggest short coming to me was his total in ability to sustain a 40 second shift game in and game out....great physcial specimen who I never got the feeling had a clue about "hockey" I personally love when we get a 3rd line guy from a top flight team....common sense tells me if he could get 15 minutes in Anaheim he might just get 20...EASILY....here..I hope....Arty literally might of led the league in penalty minutes per on ice minutes....lots of bad penalties and for sure the league kept an eye on him to the point of being unfair...but that is reality....he was a target and the Lightning paid many a short handed situations because of Arty....No way any coach could trust playing Arty in the last 5 minutes of a game...that alone tells you good riddance....

[Don in St. Pete]

I'm going to agree with Randy here. As much as I liked R2 it's about the team. their success and where you finish in the standings, not how many bodies you lay to waste. Teams on the west coast will take notice. There will be some hell to pay if Arty takes a shot at someone.

[Randy C]

The R2kn debate will come to an end with to many evaluating him as a potential top 6 player. He was a 3rd or 4th line player who was a plus 1 on the 2nd to last place team in the league. A fan favorite. A real bone head at times, an officials automatic penalty, infraction or not. What did we get in return? Miller, tall and thin waiting to add some pounds to be a difference. A solid point per game player in the AHL, finished the year strong with the Ducks as a defensive forward also a plus player. By the way we also get a top 90 pick in the draft. Camp will be very interesting as Miller could be a nice surprise. Lawton wins another!

[hyjyljyj]

Cap & salary dump. Never been so divided on a trade though. The practical side says there's not much room in the post-Lightning Stanley Cup Championship era ;) (or "New NHL" for short) for a forward who's a good skater for a big man but who at season's end can show you his point totals without removing his skates. Then the impractical, irrational side says it sure will miss having a guy whom the entire league has to worry about, rush their passes, and look over their shoulder preparing to be hospitalized by, with a perfectly timed & delivered (and most often, perfectly legal) bone-bending body check that can be heard out in the street and must feel like some kind of floating freight train. He makes even the most violent hits just seem so effortless, it's amazing

He had two chances to make it here but somehow didn't show up ready to play every night. Apparently that doesn't fly with Rick Tocchet, and who could expect otherwise.

Ultra glad he's going way out west...any game vs. the Ducks where he happens to crack the lineup, our teeth are on edge every time the puck goes into a corner. I have a better idea. He's not the strongest guy on the stick when it comes to puck protection out there. So the new motto for 29 teams playing the Ducks will be "Save your hide, step aside." That's right, just give him the puck...then take it right back from him, pass it, and duck >:^D)

[Joe]

Don in St. Pete,

Could not agree with you more.I liked Arty but it was time for him and the bolts to move on. Dont know much about Miller but from what ive been reading seems like he is average player that wont hurt you on a 3rd or 4th line. So not a terrible pick up.

As far as the financials of the trade thats just part of the business. If this deal was in part to save some money I have no problem with that.

It sounds like there is going to be some good competition in camp. Which never hurt any team.

[Herb]

Goalman, that was a magnificent post and you said in a nutshell what I thought as well about the penalty magnet that is/was Arty. The last sentence was pure poetry. NFC, you need to drop the Bolts fan from your handle with the stupid comment like that about taking out Vinny. What a stupid remark from a so called "Bolts fan".

[Casper]

Frankly, I enjoyed watching Lurch play. From what I have learned about Miller, he is not much of a player. Top 6? You gotta be kidding!!!

The move frees up cap space. Period.

[RICK L]

while we're on the subject of acquiring forwards, i think lawton could/should sign prospal to about 800k contract and if i'm right he's already making 1.6 buyout he would still make 2.4 but maybe the 800k is too much in todays nhl. maybe prospal and tanguay eh? i really can't see any team in hockey paying prospal more than 1 mil ?

[RICK L]

arty wouldn't fight? are the imposters out tonight?

[RICK L]

i liked arty and at times it seemed he had taken the game over i thought he would get this year to prove himself its hard to find a guy with his physical presence on the ice that has a little offensive ability and can skate ! miller has playoff expierience and is young can't be a bad thing, its not like he came from the worst team in hockey !

[brendan]

Goalman, very well said

[brendan]

NCF Bolts fan, if you are a lightning fan, why do you want Vinny taken out? The only way that Artyukhin could take out Vinny is with one of his patetend cheap shots. If they went toe to toe, man to man, I would put my money on Vinny, instead of some shield wearing slug.

[Goalman]

The Tukin was a scary sight bringing that frame up the ice at a million miles per hour. Unfortunately,he couldn't bring the puck with him. Sure he banged people around ,but can anyone remember him sticking up for his teammates ,or for that matter,himself. The reason you don't remember is because he never did. The guy lived on potential. He couldn't score, he couldn't play defense,he couln't check, he wouldn't fight.
I say goodbye and don't let the penalty box door hit you on the way out.

[RICK L]

yeah don, its called do the math 27gms X3 it would not be hard to project a 25 year old on what MAY happen with a fresh start !

[don at orlando]

Smaby and Fedoruk it kill's me that you can even think smaby is man enough to put a hurt on someone and dont ask fedoruk about boogaard he might cry. i will tell u what Don at st.pete u love smaby so much u can find some videos of him doing anything u think he can do i might think he is good enough for the echl

[Don in St. Pete]

As Brendan and others may note, I've defended Arty many times on this blog, and probably for too long. We will miss his jam and his tenacity on the forecheck. We won't miss the lack of strength on the puck, the lack of hockey sense or the cheap penalties. If as someone suggested Miller can net 15 goals and 40 points, we're way ahead of the game and a 3rd round pick is not a throw away. We will miss Arty's ability to animate the home crowd more than anything. When we play the Flyers we'll be wishing we had him back. At least we still have Downie as an agitator and guys like Smaby, Veilleux, Hall and Fedoruk will be busting some bodies out there. It's a little easier and cheaper to find grit than it is scoring, so this has the potential to be a solid trade for us. If Miller doesn't deliver, we've lost an overpaid forechecker with a ton of hitting power.

[2WayCenter]

Flasher hits it on the head. The guy did not show up for every game nor every shift. Toc would wind him up an he would be fast and mean for a shift or two then back to gliding.

He seemed to have an identity crises. He can skate, and handle the puck, but rarely finished and never dished. Other teams thought he was the enforcer... lol, An enforcer that wore a mask... please! Throw in a few cheap shots and you have a liability. Another dumb move for the Ducks. IMO

[RICK L]

miller over the course of year may produce 15 goals and 40 something points and thats exactly what the lightning need more punch on the 3,4 lines. i liked arty but as noted his penchant for dumb penalties ultimately led to this, at LEAST lawton sent him out west and i'm no lawton fan but its getting scary the guy has so far seemed a little intelligent with offseason transactions !

[Daytona Beach Nate]

NCF Bolts fan- You call yourself a bolts fan but want lecavalier to be taken out by arty? That makes absolutely no sense...

[olin]

...yes, we all will miss arty's crunch, but this was best to be able to get that cap space, and someone who can put it in the net with playoff exp....Nice to see Arturs Irbe back to NHL as goal coach of the cap's. Good article of Halpern, Tack.

[NCF Bolts Fan]

Guess they wear skirts this year. I hope Arty takes out the precious V4 when they play them

[one4isis]

2Way - nice one... gotta feel bad for Anaheim's equipment guy now.

Boltflasher - I'll miss his big hits too, but won't miss the other 95% of his game. I actually think this is a good thing for him, I can see him fitting in better with Anaheim.

I also think we'll see plenty of hits this year from Veilleux, Fedoruk, and some of the new blue liners...especially Walker.

[leo]

Ooook, Skp, I missed your comment earlier. Hmmmm...very interesting.
P.

[leo]

I know Tanguay can vouch for that, Max.
P.

[Boltflasher]

I'll miss the hits and the anticipation as he closed on someone in the corner but not surprised as Tocchet had said repeatedly as with Prospal, that certain guys weren't bringing their best effor every night and now 2 of the culprits are gone...

[2WayCenter]

puts

[2WayCenter]

one4isis - The guy who put the names on the Jerseys is happy;)

[one4isis]

can't say I'm disapointed (or surprised) about this one. too many bad penalties and mistakes. supposedly this miller kid is pretty decent. He had almost as many points as Arty (in only 27 games).

this saves the bolts $$, gives the team some depth, and hopefully puts them in position to sign Tanguay.

Hopefully the tinkering will stop soon and they won't use a thousand different players again this year.

[Max Hunter]

Fine, I know you're all going to laugh at me but... It's not different than any other day in my life.

I think trading Arty was NOT a good idea. Sure, he wasn't a great puck handler, but he was proving himself a guy that the other team had to watch out for. Those bone crushing , steam rolling, ouchies, he was known for giving are going to be missed.

Now I understand it gets rid of some cap, and I don't really care about a 3rd round draft pick?! And I certainly don't think Miller and a throw away pick is worth much.

I liked you Arty, and I'll miss ya.

[Tackleberry]

I liked watching the crunch from Arty and his shootout goal in the 8th rd during a game last year. He needs more skills. Seems like a good move.

Here is a nice article about Halpern:
http://voices.washingtonpost.com/capitalsinsider/earlier-this-week-i-stopped.html?wprss=capitalsinsider

[leo]

Who the heck is Drew Miller?
P.

[TJ]

Can't say I'm surprised. Or upset. He just didn't mesh with what Tocchet was trying to do with this team. I did love to see him steamroll opposing forwards with a big hit, but his penchant for drawing stupid penalties and his lack of consistency were too much of a downside to keep looking at his "potential". Good luck in the West Arty.

[olin]

...great to see wheels turning. Arty's best year was his first, then the ploy year back to homeland, then last year he didn't do squat to earn his mil. Sound's like Miller has the potential. I like the deal, and favoring the cap space and a 3rd rounder to boot. Good job.

[Sean]

Thank You Jesus!!!

I'll be cracking a cold one in celebration tonight.

I Won't miss Arty's stupid/cheap penalties, complete lack of scoring touch, inflated salary, & unwillingness to fight.

Nice work Lawton. I cannot believe another team would actually trade for this guy. Now use the $$$ saved to sign Tanguay.

[brendan]

Tocchet, kudos to you too, sorry you had to put up with this guy last year. He is the complete opposite of what you were as a player.