The Vancouver Canucks have traded forward Curtis Lazar to the New Jersey Devils for a fourth-round pick in 2024.
New Jersey will be the sixth NHL stop for Lazar, 28, who has also suited up for Ottawa, Calgary, Buffalo, and Boston over the course of his nine years in the league.
The depth forward signed a three-year, $3-million pact with the Canucks last July and now has a shot to contend with a Devils club finally emerging from its rebuild. Lazar brings to New Jersey a reputation for being a strong face-off man — his 51.9 per cent win percentage ranked second among his Vancouver teammates this year — and plays a physical game. He led the Bruins in hits (186) in the 2021-22 regular season and blocked more shots (51) than any other forward on the squad while also posting a career-high eight goals.
"I want to win in this league, I had a taste of it a little bit in Boston there," Lazar told the Hockey Central panel. "To get a chance now to be back in a playoff picture, it's great."
In 45 games with the Canucks this season, Lazar has registered three goals and five points.
The Canucks have been busy in the days leading up to the deadline. In the last week, they've acquired Vitali Kravtsov from the New York Rangers and Filip Hronek from Detroit while also sending veteran defenceman Luke Schenn to the Maple Leafs.
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