Vancouver, (BC) - One of Vancouver's only hometown boys has been dealt. Center Rob Niedermayer who was acquired earlier in the year from Anaheim, has now been sent back to Disneyland. Early on in the season the Canucks dealt prospects Brandon Nolan and Brandon Reid for Nidermayer and now centerman Curtis Brown is coming to the Canucks in exchange for 'Nieds. Sort of a bizarre move really but perhaps Niedermayer missed Splashdown Mountain or Pirates Of The Carribean or maybe he just liked all the ladies walking around in bikinis.
In any case, Niedermayer was not working out here in Vancouver. In his limited ice time he put up 8 points in 50 games and was a dissapointing -11, not what you hope from your fourth line center. The Canucks do believe they have acquired a more defensively responsible player who can also be used on the penalty kill. Brown in 63 games this year has had 25 points and is just -2. Brown is expected to play with veteran Mike Keane on his right wing and either newly acquired Rob Zamuner on the left or Jarkko Ruutu.
- The Province -