An Embarassment to Bruins Hockey, Sharks Not Done Dealing, Same with Other Teams

GM Mike O’Connell should be fired.

A forward and an “offensive” defenseman missing in San Jose.

More trades to come?General Manager Mike O’Connell of the Boston Bruins ought to be fired for this trade alone. You are trading a franchise player for a bunch of “okay’s”.

I was about to post a totally different article regarding Luongo. In that article, where I explained in other discussion boards (such as McKeen’sHockey.com), I mentioned that if the Panthers were ever to trade Luongo, it would be for a franchise player. And, my first target was Joe Thornton himself.

Why not? The trade would have worked out well where two franchise players, dubious about their future with their respective teams, would have been swapped, and then the salary structure adjustments would be included in the deal, like Stumpel and Huselius.

That is the kind of level trade that a player like Joe Thornton would be invovled in.

But, MO’C chose to trade Thornton, who most likely wanted to be traded, for a solid 2nd liner in Marco Sturm, a hard working 3rd liner in Waybe Primeau (great gutsy player though), and a struggling offensive defeneman.

What…….the……….hell…….is that?

Bruins fans, I would be furious with this trade, but do not hate the players you received.

I always was a fan of Marco Sturm. He is a smart German player, playes hard and is solid at both ends of the ice. Could be used on the 1st line, on the PP and definitely on the PK. He has good speed and solid checking abilities. Knows how to score when getting chances.

Wayne Primeau is one cool player. Plagued with injuries but he plays as hard as his brother. I recall one goal where he was hit with the puck (offensive zone) on the face, and the guy was in pain. He was really really really in pain. The puck dropped in front of him though and he went to get……held it around a few seconds, and took a great slapshot that resulted in a goal. Went straight to the locker room and came back on the bench with his face half black from the hit. In pain, but worked hard.

Brad Stuart can be looked as the Tom Poti of the West, but smarter defensively. He has offensive potential, but he just cannot get it going. Never scored 40 points….. he has size, but does not use it effectively. I think the Bruins are really looking for offense from the D. They got Leetch, they got Tanabe, and now Stuart. Leetch may be a great mentor to Stuart, and who knows….Brad may finally turn it around.

I think the Sharks made a great statement. This reminds me of the day when the Colorado Avalanche traded Owen Nolan for Sandis Ozolinsh. This trade has The Re-Incarnation of Owen Nolan written all over it. The Sharks lacked that kind of player ever since trading Nolan (and who knows, he may make a comeback later into the season). Even though they made the playoffs after it, they lacked Owen Nolan character.

Thornton should find himself well welcomed in San Jose; his cousin (Scott) playing there. Jonathan Cheechoo may fit in extremely well with Thornton. Great trade for the Sharks…..they regained the status of owning a franchise player.

A forward and a defenseman are missing in the Shark Tank though. Who can the Shark seek?

For defensemen, there is a definite market out there. From Tom Poti, to Janne Niiniima, Pavel Kubina, even Brandon Witt…..though not offensive, he makes a strong presence on defense.

The Sharks still can trade Nils Ekman, Alyn McCauley….even make another big trade. But they are lacking a forward and a defenseman.

Sharks will make another trade. Prime targets?

Tampa Bay Lightning, New York Rangers, Florida Panthers, Montreal Canadiens, and the Edmonton Oilers.

The Sharks can offer for Pavel Kubina and the Bolts may even try to dump Brad Richards, who will not be re-signed in 2006. They are slumping, they are not playing well. A change is needed. The Bolts, Sharks, and another team may even solve a three way deal regarding goaltending, where Nabokov finds himself wearng a Bolts jersey.

Rangers fans thought of a swap between Tom Poti and Brad Stuart, but it was unlikely to happen. Also, Poti was rumored to the Sharks from bloggers such as Eklund. Now, the Sharks may actually find interest in Tom Poti, they may be able to trade. The Rangers should not be looking to make many changes, or any major ones at least. So you may see a minor swap like Poti for Davison.

The Panthers were desperate enough to rid of themselves of Kristian Huselius. Did that work through waivers? No. But, a re-entry waivers will get someone interested. The Sharks should be looking to inquire of Huselius’s services. They lack a defenseman? Why not try out making another big deal?

Joe Thornto and Patrick Marleau give the Sharks a great one-two punch line. But, how will Thornton change life for Marleau? Anything is possible. Though doubtfull anything like that would happen, it would be interesting to see Marleau traded to the Panthers for Olli Jokinen. How about Marleau a Hab? Or a threeway deal with the Panthers, Sharks, and Canadiens?

The Sharks are not done dealing, and neither are the Bruins. Samsonov, Murray, and Raycroft may still be on the block. Thornton is gone, will Murray want out? Possible. The Bruins could still find a way to make a good deal. Again, the Panthers…..or Lightning. Glen Murray, Samsonov, Olli Jokinen….Boumweester, Boynton?

Bob McKenzie was wrong when saying trades won’t happen. Not to brag, but I had a good response to that, saying he was wrong and that more trades would happen. Have they? Yes. Will more come? Yes. The Devils have to think about trading. Elias will come back sooner or later in December, and they are missing out on all the action. The Panthers wanted Mogilny, and they will definitely get him. The Devils may be forced to put him on waivers, or trade him for next to nothing.

The Islanders will be looking for a change. Mad Mike saw O’Connell steal his nickname Mad by trading Thornton. Will the Isle’s pull a deal? You betcha.

All it takes is to have one GM pulling a trade, like Burke with Fedorov, to then have other general managers pull other deals. Expect more to come. The Bruins will be looking for a center. As mentioned before, Olli Jokinen may be a possibility. Brad Richards….Dougie Weight… The Bruins and the Sharks are not done dealing yet.

The other 14 Eastern Conference teams are smiling, but the 14 Western Conference teams are hating this deal. Bertuzzi has been on a goal scoring slump….would Nonis look to be making a swap? I know he disregarded any Bertuzzi trades, but anything is possible.

Mike O’Connell ought to be fired, though. Trading the frachise player, re-signed for three more years. Prior to that, trading Dave Scatchard…. putting McEarchen on waivers, and Colton Orr (though just a goon…..he was well liked). Where is he going with this team? Nowhere… he just paved the way for total disaster in Boston.

Still…..expect more trades to come.

Thanks for reading,

Micki Peroni