Hurricanes, Lightning complete trade

The Tampa Bay Lightning, NHL parent club of the Norfolk Admirals, have acquired left wing Wade Brookbank, defenseman Josef Melichar and a fourth-round pick in the 2009 NHL Entry Draft from the Carolina Hurricanes in exchange for left wing Jussi Jokinen.

Melichar is expected to join the Admirals tomorrow.

Melichar, a 6-foot-2, 222-pound native of Ceske Budjovice, Czech Republic, has played in 15 games with the Hurricanes this season, recording four assists. He has also appeared in 25 games with Albany of the AHL, recording a goal and five points.

In his seventh NHL season, Melichar has played in 325 career NHL games with the Pittsburgh Penguins and Carolina. He has recorded seven goals and 44 points, including one shorthanded goal, during his career. Melichar has also played in 151 career AHL games with the River Rats and Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, recording six goals and 24 points.

Melichar was drafted by Pittsburgh in the third round, 71st overall, in the 1997 NHL Entry Draft

Brookbank, 6-foot-4, 225 pounds, has played in 27 games with Carolina this season, scoring one goal and ranking tied for third on the team in penalty minutes with 40. He is a veteran of 127 career NHL games with Nashville, Vancouver, Boston and the Hurricanes. He has amassed six goals and nine points with a 345 penalty minutes in his career. Brookbank also has a career plus-5 rating.

A native of Lanigan, Saskatchewan, Brookbank has also played in 25 games with the American Hockey League’s Albany River Rats this season, recording two assists and 28 penalty minutes. He has played in 231 career AHL games with Albany, Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, Providence, Manitoba, Binghamton, Milwaukee and Grand Rapids. He has registered two goals, 20 points and 858 penalty minutes in his AHL career. He has also played in 17 career Calder Cup Playoff games.

Brookbank was undrafted and began his professional career with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton in 1999-2000.