Oilers trade Ladislav Smid to Flames in four-player deal

Ladislav Smid is considered one of the NHL's best shot-blockers. (Getty Images) The Oilers have traded defenseman Ladislav Smid and goaltender Olivier Roy to

Ladislav Smid is considered one of the NHL's best shot-blockers. (Getty Images)

The Oilers have traded defenseman Ladislav Smid and goaltender Olivier Roy to the Flames for forward Roman Horak and goaltender Laurent Brossoit, the teams announced Friday night.

The trade reportedly is being made to help the Oilers clear enough cap room to sign free agent goalie Ilya Bryzgalov, according to Aaron Ward of TSN.

Smid, the ninth-overall pick by the Ducks in 2004, is the big names in this trade. He's considered one of the NHL's best shot-blocking defensemen and is usually charged with checking the opponent's top offensive players. He has scored two points, while accumulating 16 penalty minutes and a minus-six rating in 17 games this season. He was acquired by Edmonton on July 3, 2006, with Joffrey Lupul and draft picks in exchange for defenseman Chris Pronger. He has played 474 games in the NHL recording 65 points and 391 penalty minutes.

Roy was drafted by the Oilers in the 5th round of the 2009 NHL Entry Draft. He posted a 2.77 GAA and a .902 save percentage in 22 games. He also played nine games with Stockton of the ECHL recording a 1.21 GAA and a .961 save percentage.

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Horak, a 22-year-old center, has been in the Flames organization the past three seasons, amassing 18 points (5G, 13A) and 16 penalty minutes in 82 games with the Flames. He was originally selected by the Rangers in the fifth round of the 2009 NHL Draft.

Brossoit, 20, was the Flames sixth-round pick in the 2011 draft. He has tended goal the past four seasons with the Western Hockey League’s Edmonton Oil Kings, posting a record of 88-34-13 in 146 career WHL games. In 2011-12, he was 42-13-5 while  helped the Oil Kings to the best record in the WHL and was named the WHL’s Playoff MVP.