By Ken Wiebe /

Quite simply, Michel Ouellet fell victim to the numbers game.

Despite producing 17 goals and 36 points in 63 games with the Tampa Bay Lightning last season, Ouellet found himself on the outside looking in when new owners and management opted to put their own stamp on the hockey club.

A new beginning came on Oct. 6 in the form of a trade to the Vancouver Canucks, along with defenceman Shane O’Brien for defenceman Lukas Krajicek and minor-league forward 
Juraj Simek.

Ouellet, 26, had a three-game cameo with the Canucks in early November, but has spent the bulk of the season on the farm with the Moose and is producing at roughly a point-per-game pace.

During his first three NHL seasons, Ouellet was surrounded by many star players — from Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin with the Pittsburgh Penguins to Vincent Lecavalier, Martin St. Louis and Brad Richards with the Lightning.

One of his biggest thrills was being on the same team as Hall of Famer Mario Lemieux during the 2005/06 season.

“It was impressive watching Mario play,” said Ouellet, who has 52 goals and 116 points in 190 NHL games. “I would be on the bench thinking ‘oh, my gosh. I used to watch these guys on TV.’
It was exciting. It was fun to be part of that experience. My first NHL goal actually came in Mario’s last game. Not that I wanted it to be that way, but it’s something I’ll always remember.”

Moose head coach Scott Arniel believes Ouellet is at his best when he combines physical play with his offensive talents.

“He’s a big man and he’s hard to knock off the puck when he has it,” said Arniel. “He does a good job when he moves his feet and gets in and knocks people around. It creates room for him and his linemates. More than anything, I think it gets him in the game. Instead of being one of those snipers who just coasts around, it gets him involved.”

Moose centre Jason Krog, a frequent linemate of Ouellet’s this season, appreciates what the sniper brings to the table.

“He’s good at both ends of the ice, he’s just a complete player,” said Krog. “He sees the ice well and, on top of that, he’s got that goal-scoring ability, a good shot and natural touch around the net.”

MOOSE NOTES
After missing nine games with a concussion, speedy left-winger Michael Grabner returned to the lineup in style by recording his first professional hat-trick against the Iowa Chops on Jan. 9...Forward Jason Jaffray was sent back to the Moose on Jan. 10 after producing two goals and four points in 14 games with the Canucks...The Moose added some toughness when they acquired former Medicine Hat Tigers winger Tommy Maxwell from the Hershey Bears for future considerations on Jan. 8. Maxwell had nine points and 83 penalty minutes with the South Carolina Stingrays of the ECHL before making his Moose debut against the Chops on Jan. 9...Goalie Cory Schneider was 2-4-1 with a 3.38 goals-against average in eight games with the Canucks before he was re-assigned on Jan. 5. Schneider will be the starting goalie for Planet USA at the AHL All-Star Classic in Worcester, Mass. Krog will suit up for Team Canada.