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Shane
O'Brien blurts it out FEBRUARY 4, 2009 -- In light of the still-unsettled matter of Steve Moore vs. Todd Bertuzzi et al, the words that came out of Shane O'Brien's mouth will surely serve to shuffle the young defenseman out of Vancouver as soon as possible. O'Brien, 25, responded to a recent benching by blurting out some closed-door information, the kind that no club likes to see repeated publicly. “[Gillis] just said fight more and be more physical,” said the 6-foot-3, 225-pound defenseman, who has recorded 132 penalty minutes this season, good for second overall, including six fighting majors. Mike Gillis kept a stiff upper lip, and spit out a generic denial. “In no uncertain terms was he told he had to fight,” Gillis said, according to the Toronto Globe and Mail. “How he ever got that message is unbeknownst to me. He clearly misinterpreted the message that we were trying to send, that each player has to be accountable and work hard individually.” How come I'm not buying a word of this? Because it's straight-up policy-speak from the mouth of a lawyer. You can be sure that in light of what happened when former Canuck Todd Bertuzzi assaulted former Avalanche Moore during a 2004 game, Canuck brass will go to any length to rid itself of O'Brien. O'Brien once yielded the Anaheim Ducks a first-round pick in trade (Tampa), but now, with Gillis needing to swat O'Brien away like a gnat, it'll likely be a sixth-round pick or the proverbial bag-o-pucks. Funny. Current Duck enforcer George Parros told Hockeytalk Audio Features in 2007 that O'Brien was the most vocal member of the team in the locker room during his tenure in Anaheim. Loose lips, great hilarity. Thanks, Shane, for spicing up the season! The ball's in your court, Mike. Might want to keep mum in future meetings. A wink will do, next time. Gillis is a rookie GM; he'll learn. The Alexei Yashin Award You remember Alexei Yashin, the guy who landed the huge deal from the Islanders and then proceeded to flame out on his way to a buyout. Not a bad player, but money always came first for Alex. In these depressed, recessed times, who can blame him? Welcome to this year's totally freaking overpaid list. Guys who signed for big bucks, but now deliver only big yucks. The Alexei Yashin Award is hereby announced, as a tribute to those who swim in dead presidents while their sticks go limp. Ahem. WINNER:
After eight seasons in Buffalo, he managed three twenty- goal seasons and another with 17. In 2007-08, he dipped to ten goals (28 points in 56 games). This season, he's shattered all lowered expectations, crashing and burning, managing just two goals and ten assists for twelve points in 34 games. Afinogenov will earn $3.33M this season. He suffered a groin injury early in January, and in the 11 games he’d missed entering Monday’s action, the team is 7-4 without him. God knows Lindy Ruff has been a saint, giving Max a steady shift, hoping that he’d get himself out of this funk, but it was not to be, and regardless whether he returns from his current injury, he’s delivered the least bang for the buck in this season’s version of the “New” NHL. Dishonorable Mention:
2009 Western
Hockey
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MORE QUICK SHOTS: 2008-09 Season - December 9,
2008 Nov. 24-31 2008 Off-Season: July 29: Teemu Selanne: Shoe on
the Other Finn
July 19: Ironically, Russia
Proves that Capitalism Works
July 3: Grading the Free Agent
Signings
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Maxim Afinogenov, Buffalo Sabres. This proud
soldier sure can skate and skate and skate. And turn the puck over. And
make ill-advised passes. And score big playoff goals. A vexing creature,
this Afinogenov.
Mathieu Schneider, Atlanta Thrashers. It pains
me to type these words about a class act. But at $5.625M, it's getting
hard to justify Don Waddell's title as GM of the Thrashers. Waddell
brought on the 20-year veteran in a deal that echoed Brian Burke's
fleecing of then-Jackets’ GM Doug MacLean in the Sergei Fedorov swap.
Fedorov's deal at $6M, became a millstone around the franchise's neck, and
it's likely that Waddell will have to ship Schneider out of Atlanta at the
trade deadline.
