Nothing feels quite so good as getting rid of something you don’t really want, especially something that has been taking up valuable space in your garage…like that old lawn mower, refrigerator, sofa or overpriced NHL contract to player who doesn’t have the goods any more.
Unfortunately in the NHL world, it’s not quite as easy as posting “free” on Craig’s List or posting your “treasure” to E-Bay in the hope that some other poor schlep will take your problem off your hand.
It’s even worse when your significant other has a penchant for dumpster diving, so that as soon as you get rid of one piece of junk, it’s often filled with another.
Take note Mr Glen Sather, most things you find at the flea market aren’t worth the price that’s written on them.
With the announcement of today’s trade of Donald Brashear and Patrick Rissmiller for Todd White, Sather has basically traded in an old Rock ’em Sock ’em Robot and that sports version of Trivial Pursuit for a Furby.
I mean it’s not like a one armed robot that has a right hook that wouldn’t scare a striped bass let alone an opponent, nor that dated retread of the popular board game are going to be missed. And hey…that Furby is kinda cute.
But really, what have the Rangers gained today in this trade?
They got rid of Brashear’s guaranteed $1.4M or so off the Cap total (thanks to that 35+ contract that he signed last year) and a guy who wasn’t even playing for Hartford and didn’t count against the Cap. In exchange they’ve picked up another $900K or so of Cap hit while White sits on the roster.
Bottom line is that they’re actually technically in a worse position today than they were yesterday, at least until they start sending guys down.
All the while Marc Staal, probably the best RFA defenseman is sitting out there just waiting to be signed to an offer sheet that the Rangers would have difficulty matching.
Meanwhile, the leaden contracts awarded to Wade Redden, Michal Rozsival and Chris Drury remain on the books.
Yeah it feels good to put that old sofa and the fish floor lamp out on the street and have someone come and pick them up, but the appeal of the new plaid recliner is only going to last so long.
CAR
PIT