Ballard

Oreskovich

Vancouver, B.C. - Vancouver Canucks President & General Manager Mike Gillis announced today that the Canucks have acquired defenceman Keith Ballard and forward Victor Oreskovich from the Florida Panthers in exchange for Vancouver’s 25th overall selection in the 2010 NHL Entry Draft and forwards Steve Bernier and Michael Grabner.

Ballard, 27, finished second among Panthers defencemen in scoring, recording eight goals, 20 assists (8-20-28) and 88 penalty minutes in 82 games with the Panthers in 2009-10. Ballard made his NHL debut in 2005-06 with the Phoenix Coyotes where he collected 39 points (8-31-39) in his rookie season. In 397 NHL games with the Phoenix Coyotes and Florida Panthers he has collected 149 points (33-116-149) and 403 penalty minutes.

The 5’11” defenceman led all NHL defencemen in shorthanded goals with three in 2005-06. He has represented USA at the World Championships on three occasions, 2004 (bronze medal), 2007 and 2008, and at the World Junior Championships in 2001. The Baudette, MN native was originally selected 11th overall by the Buffalo Sabres in the 2002 NHL Entry Draft.

Oreskovich, 23, played 50 games in his rookie season with the Panthers in 2009-10, recording six points (2-4-6) and 26 penalty minutes. The Whitby, ON native was originally selected 55th overall in the 2004 NHL Entry Draft.

Season	Team	GP	G	A	P	+/-	PIM	PP	SH	GW	S	S%
1999-2000	U.S. Nat'l Team Dev. Program-U-18	6	1	1	2		4
1999-2000	U.S. Nat'l Team Dev. Program-USHL	58	12	21	33		119
2000-2001	Omaha Lancers-USHL	56	22	29	51		168
2001-2002	University of Minnesota-WCHA	41	10	13	23		42
2001-2002	United States-WJC-A	7	1	1	2		4
2002-2003	University of Minnesota-WCHA	41	12	29	41		78
2003-2004	University of Minnesota-WCHA	37	11	25	36		83
2003-2004	United States-WC-A	8	1	0	1		2
2004-2005	Utah Grizzlies-AHL	60	2	18	20	-29	88	2	0	0
2005-2006	Coyotes	82	8	31	39	-18	99	1	3	1	102	7.8
2006-2007	Coyotes	69	5	22	27	-7	59	2	0	0	79	6.3
2006-2007	United States-WC-A	7	0	3	3		16
2007-2008	Coyotes	82	6	15	21	7	85	2	1	1	105	5.7
2007-2008	United States-WC-A	5	0	2	2		16
2008-2009	Panthers	82	6	28	34	14	72	1	0	1	106	5.7
2009-2010	Panthers	82	8	20	28	-7	88	1	0	1	90	8.9
	NHL Totals	397	33	116	149	-11	403	7	4	4	482	6.8

Season	Team	GP	G	A	P	+/-	PIM	PP	SH	GW	S	S%
2002-2003	Milton IceHawks-OPJHL	49	28	46	74		51
2003-2004	Green Bay Gamblers-USHL	58	11	26	37	3	33	2	0	2
2004-2005	University of Notre Dame-CCHA	37	1	2	3		69
2005-2006	University of Notre Dame-CCHA	10	2	1	3		8
2005-2006	Kitchener Rangers-OHL	19	6	10	16	-1	16	4	0
2006-2007	Kitchener Rangers-OHL	62	28	32	60	15	48	14	0
2009-2010	Panthers	50	2	4	6	-8	26	0	0	0	55	3.6
	NHL Totals	50	2	4	6	-8	26	0	0	0	55	3.6

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