March 15, 2002

OTTAWA (TICKER) -- Criticized for their lack of toughness, the Ottawa Senators on Friday sent enforcer Andre Roy and a draft pick to the Tampa Bay Lightning for center Juha Ylonen.

Roy, 27, was second on the team in penalty minutes with 148. He also had six goals and eight assists in 56 games.

Chris Neil has a team-high 165 penalty minutes for the Senators, who have been one of the best teams in the Eastern Conference the past few seasons but have been pushed around in the playoffs.

Ylonen is a defensive center that can kill penalties. He had just three goals and 10 assists in 65 games for the Lightning, who acquired him from Phoenix in June.

The Finn goes from one of the worst teams in the league to a club fighting for a high seed in the Eastern Conference playoffs. The Senators are fifth, just five points behind East-leading Philadelphia.

The Lightning are 13th in the East and all but eliminated from the postseason, but general manager Jay Feaster still was thrilled with the acquisition.

"Andre Roy is a big, physical power forward who has excellent hands and can play," Feaster said. "He brings us a dimension that we have lacked throughout the season in terms of toughness."

Chris Dingman, acquired earlier this season, leads the Lightning with 92 penalty minutes.