The Columbus Blue Jackets have acquired center Antoine Vermette from the Ottawa Senators in exchange for goaltender Pascal Leclaire and a second round pick in the 2009 NHL Entry Draft, club General Manager Scott Howson announced today. Vermette, 26, has tallied nine goals and 19 assists for 28 points with 42 penalty minutes in 62 games with the Senators this season and currently ranks fifth in the NHL in face-off percentage at 58.4 percent. In 359 career NHL games all with Ottawa, he has registered 80-87-167, 205 penalty minutes, a cumulative plus/minus rating of +11, nine power play goals, 13 shorthanded goals and nine game-winning goals. He has added 4-4-8 and 18 penalty minutes in 38 career playoff games and helped the Senators reach the 2007 Stanley Cup Finals. "Antoine Vermette is a versatile player who is not only a proven 20-goal scorer in the NHL, but one of the league?s best in the faceoff circle and we are excited to add a player of his caliber to our group of forwards," said Howson. "Pascal is an outstanding goaltender and has been a tremendous contributor to our organization. We thank him for all he has done for the Blue Jackets and wish him well." Leclaire, 26, was Columbus? first pick, eighth overall, in the 2001 Entry Draft. He compiled a 45-55-12 record with a 2.82 goals-against average, .907 save percentage and 10 shutouts in 125 games with the club. He was 4-6-1 with a 3.83 goals-against average and .867 save percentage in 12 games this season and underwent surgery on an injured ankle on January 23. Last year, he was 24-17-6 with a 2.25 goals-against average, .919 save percentage and nine shutouts in 54 games. His nine shutouts were a franchise record and ranked second in the NHL.