Pre-Game: Phil Kessel vs. Tuukka Rask

Off-Topic: Trade idea

Virgin proposal – be gentle.
Cameron – feel free to suggest a 3-way.

Does Van need to dump salary in off-season? So as not to beat a Kab-Hodgson drum again (although someone else could…), what about:

Shayne O’Brien.
Port Hope kid. 26 years young – still. Contract up at the end of year. Not sure what he’d be asking for but he’s been in and out of the Vigneault doghouse (TSN link: http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/story/?id=316688 )
- rumour of bar-hopping and was late for practice – and is just the guy that Burkie could straighten out (and I think BB drafted him?). Tough, some offensive upside, we get a bit younger and would work a LOT better than Beauch or Finger, IMO. As Beauch won’t likely go til after next year (for previously posted reasons ad nauseum) – we give them Finger and a half-decent prospect or 3rd rd pick as salary dump rather than bury Finger. Finger is good when played more and would work in Van).

to Van: Finger + 3rd 2011 (NOT this year!) or half-decent prospect

to TML: Rights to Shayne O’Brien

We’d still have to sign him, but he’d likely take a “hometown discount” of some minor variety. A friend of mine plays golf with him in the summer in Port Hope and he’d love to play here. New start for him too! Haven’t checked the numbers yet, but something to kick around since a new thread hasn’t started yet (hint hint…)

Everyone enjoying their Easter dinner?
I totally forgot it was Easter…

So THAT’s what all this bunny shit is in room.

After you all stuff your faces, kick around my proposal above:
Dump Finger (cap $$pace on D freed instantly) and acquire younger, cheaper, better, LOCAL boy O’Brien.

@ Keon,
Maybe re-read my trade proposal more closely. My proposal was Finger + for a cheaper O’Brien to get rid of Finger’s contract and bring in a similar defenceman in the 1.75 range (half the cost of Finger, saving cap space).

As for Beauchemin – I would LOVE to see him return to the form he had before his knee surgery, during the Cup run prior to leaving Anaheim (he was INSANE!) but I’m not sure he’s gonna do it. Maybe next year with a few more minutes given to Schenn and Komi and less responsibility. I used to love Beauch but I find it hard to believe he should still be classified as top four with the number of giveaways he makes. He can’t be granted that on past performance alone. Granted the majority of his bone-head plays have been reduced since he realized he didn’t have to do it all, but there are several times each game that he has plain poor judgement, especially given his salary level.
Regardless, I don’t think he’s being traded, as Burkie likes him and doesn’t want to send the wrong signals to UFAs blah blah blah. We could use the cap room though. I still like him, but below Gunnarson on the depth chart next year.

Phaneuf Schenn
Komi Gunnarson
Beauch O’Brien
Aulie/Blacker

And that’s only if Komi returns better than he was this year, cuz when he played he often was worse than Beauch (again trying to do too much + with a shoulder that hasn’t been right since before he left the Habs)