Lawrence Nycholat Lawrence Nycholat ( born May 7 , 1979 ) is a Canadian professional ice hockey player . Nycholat currently is a member of the Krefeld Pinguine of the Deutsche Eishockey Liga ( DEL ) . Playing career . After playing midget hockey with the Notre Dame Hounds of the Saskatchewan Midget Hockey League , he joined the Swift Current Broncos of the Western Hockey League for a four - year tenure , beginning in 1996 – 97 . In his final year with the Broncos , 1999 – 2000 , he recorded a junior career - high 80 points in 70 games . Undrafted , Nycholat signed with the Minnesota Wild in August 2000 . He played the following three seasons in Minnesota ' s farm system with the Jackson Bandits of the East Coast Hockey League ( ECHL ) , the Cleveland Lumberjacks of the International Hockey League ( IHL ) and the Houston Aeros of the American Hockey League ( lL ) . After scoring 11 goals and 39 points through 66 games with Houston in 2002 – 03 , he was traded in March 2003 to the New York Rangers . Joining the Rangers ' AHL affiliate , the Hartford Wolfpack , he completed the season with 11 points in 15 games . The following year , in 2003 – 04 , Nycholat made his NHL debut with the Rangers , appearing in 9 games . He remained with the Rangers organization in Hartford until the end of the 2004 – 05 season . In August 2005 , he signed with the Washington Capitals as a free agent . He played the entirety of the 2005 – 06 season in the AHL with the Capitals ' affiliate , the Hershey Bears , scoring an AHL career - high 57 points in 73 games . He added 14 points in 16 playoff games as the Bears captured the 2006 Calder Cup . In 2006 – 07 , Nycholat appeared in 18 games for the Capitals and recorded his first NHL goal against Martin Brodeur of the New Jersey Devils on December 29 , 2006 . Serving as team captain with the Bears in the AHL , he was named as a starter for Team Canada at the 2007 AHL All - Star Classic . On February 26 , 2007 , just before the 2006 – 07 NHL trade deadline , Nycholat was traded from Washington to the Ottawa Senators . In the off - season , Nycholat was re - signed to a multi - year contract by the Senators . He played two seasons with the Senators ' organization , primarily in Binghamton . He recorded 49 points in 77 games with the Binghamton Senators , Ottawa ' s AHL affiliate , in 2007 – 08 . Just prior to the 2008 – 09 season , he was traded once more , this time to the Vancouver Canucks . Nycholat was used primarily as a depth defenceman for the Canucks in 2008 – 09 , playing in only 14 games before being placed on waivers . Picked up by his hometown team , the Calgary Flames on March 3 , 2009 , he was traded the next day to the Colorado Avalanche . Nycholat played in 5 games with the Avalanche before his season ended after suffering a concussion in a 3 - 1 loss to the San Jose Sharks on March 22 , 2009 . On July 2 , 2009 , Nycholat returned to the Vancouver Canucks , signing a one - year contract . He again linked up with the Canucks AHL affiliate , the Manitoba Moose , to provide a veteran presence . He scored 22 points in 37 games in an injury affected season before he was recalled to the Canucks to cover as an extra defenseman during the 2010 playoffs . On July 8 , 2010 Nycholat signed a one - year American Hockey League contract to return to the team he previously captained in 2006 – 07 , the Hershey Bears . Personal life . Brother Dan plays hockey at Dartmouth College . Like Lawrence , Dan is a defenseman . Lawrence also has three sisters .