Lightning Strikes Five-Player Deal

The Chicago Blackhawks traded wingers Rich Sutter and Paul Ysebaert to the Tampa Bay Lightning for winger Jim Cummins and defensemen Jeff Buchanan and Tom Tilley on Wednesday.

Chicago gave up two players who combined for 61 points last season.

This season, Ysebaert has four goals and five assists in 15 games, while Sutter has no points in 15 games.

Ysebaert has his lowest production of his career after being acquired from Winnipeg. Claimed on waivers from St. Louis last season, Sutter joined his brothers, coach Darryl and center Brent in Chicago.

Apparently, Cummins, who has 190 penalty minutes in 44 NHL games, is the enforcer the Blackhawks have been looking for while Bob Probert continues his rehabilitation from substance abuse.

Cummins, 24, was the 67th overall pick in the 1989 entry draft out of Michigan State by the New York Rangers. He was traded from the Rangers to the Detroit Red Wings in 1991, played in his first NHL game in 1991-92 season and was traded to the Philadelphia Flyers in 1993. He split the 1993-94 season between the Flyers and AHL Hershey before being sent to Tampa Bay a year ago.

Buchanan, 23, has never played an NHL game.

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