NHL Draft 2015: Carolina Hurricanes acquire goalie Eddie Lack on Day Two

National Hockey League, NHL.com

SUNRISE, FLA. – The Carolina Hurricanes started trade talk and activity early on Day Two at the 2015 NHL Entry Draft at BB&T Center on Saturday.

Before the draft had resumed, the Hurricanes had acquired goaltender Eddie Lack from the Vancouver Canucks in exchange for Carolina’s 2015 third-round (66th overall) pick, and Carolina’s 2016 seventh-round pick.

“Eddie is a big-bodied goalie who has proven himself on the NHL level in the past two seasons,” Hurricanes executive vice president and general manager Ron Francis said.

Lack, 27, went 18-13-4, with a 2.45 goals-against average and a .921 save percentage in 2014-15, his second complete NHL season with Vancouver.

The Norrtalje, Sweden, native took over the Canucks’ starting job in February when Ryan Miller suffered a knee injury.

Lack went 12-6-2 in 21 appearances from Feb. 24-Apr. 9, and helped Vancouver maintain its playoff position.

The keeper indicated he looked forward to playing alongside Carolina’s longtime franchise and starting goaltender Cam Ward.

“Obviously Cam Ward has been playing great for a lot of years for Carolina,” Lack said during a conference call while on vacation.

“It’s a good place for me I feel like. We’re gonna’ push each other and make some really great results together.”

When asked if he prepared differently to be a starter or a backup, Lack responded, “No, no.”

“Like it’s been for a couple of years for me in Vancouver too – you never really know what to expect of either – I’m always preparing myself to play a lot. I haven’t really had a chance to talk to coach (Bill Peters) yet or anything. I’ll prepare myself like I always do – if it’s 20 or 65 games that I’m going to play – that’s the only time I can tell.”

Indicating that he looked forward to playing in the NHL‘s Eastern Conference against the likes of Sidney Crosby and Alex Ovechkin, Lack still has more to learn about his new team.

Knowing fellow Swede and Hurricanes forward Victor Rask, as the two skate together during the summer, Lack called his fellow countryman to find out a little bit more about Carolina.

“He had very good things to say about the organization,” Lack said.

In two seasons with Vancouver, Lack, at six-foot-four-inches and 187 pounds, posted a 34-30-9 record, with a 2.43 goals-against average and a .917 save percentage in 82 games.

While he made his NHL debut on Oct. 6, 2013, earning a 5-4 overtime win against Calgary, it was against Carolina whom he recorded his first of six career NHL shutouts in a game in Vancouver on Dec. 9, 2013.

Prior to joining the Canucks, Lack played two seasons for Vancouver’s American Hockey League (AHL) affiliates in Manitoba and Chicago.

He was signed as a free agent with the Canucks on Apr. 6, 2010, after his only season with Brynas IF of Sweden’s top division, Elitserien.