"Toiling on the blue line two hours outside of Vancouver while playing in the minor leagues for the Abbotsford Heat, Brendan Mikkelson waited for his call. When it finally came, it wasn't quite what he was expecting.

Thinking a call-up to Calgary was on the other end of the line the morning of Jan. 6, the 24-year-old instead learned had been traded to Tampa Bay. And it's been with the Lightning that the 6-foot-3, 202-pound defenseman has enjoyed a bit of a revolution in his career.

A former second-round pick of the Anaheim Ducks in 2005, Mikkelson spent two seasons up and down with the Ducks before being waived and claimed by Calgary last season. But since turning pro, Mikkelson has played more games in the AHL (150) than the NHL (96).

A month after the trade to Tampa Bay, however, Mikkelson looks like he has a chance to flip those numbers after a solid showing in 10 games with the Lightning. He has posted a plus-three rating despite not picking up a point and averaged just less than 14 minutes a game.

"For us, we are learning to know him day-by-day, game-by-game and week-by-week really," said assistant coach Dan LaCroix, who runs the defense. "And sometime it's a little early when somebody comes up and plays well early and (then you) see how he does over a long period of time. But right now he's earning those minutes and he's played pretty well.''"