Benoit Pouliot headed to Tampa Bay

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The Boston Bruins traded the rights to restricted free agent Benoit Pouliot to the Tampa Bay Lightning on Saturday for forward Michel Ouellet and a 2012 fifth-round pick at the NHL draft in Pittsburgh.

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With the 131st overall pick acquired in the trade, the Bruins selected forward Seth Griffith. With their own fifth-round pick, they drafted forward Cody Payne 145th overall.

Pouliot had 16 goals and a career-high 32 points for the Bruins last season, but it became clear the team would part ways with the enigmatic winger when it didn't make him a qualifying offer.

The Bruins sent qualifying offers to forward Lane MacDermid, defenseman Matt Bartkowski and goalie Tuukka Rask -- all restricted free agents -- ahead of Monday's deadline.

Pouliot had some highlight-reel goals for Boston but was inconsistent while failing to realize the potential that made him the fourth overall pick in the 2005 draft.

Ouellet had 31 points for Norfolk (AHL) last season but has not played in the NHL since the 2008-09 season, when he played three games for the Vancouver Canucks.

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James Murphy

Bruins reporter, ESPNBoston.com

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• Covers Bruins for ESPNBoston.com
• Covered NHL for more than 10 years