It's not looking good for Shane O'Brien. What a shame -- his plus/minus is one of the best on the team, and he's the kind of gritty competitor you want during the punishing playoffs.
I've said it before, and I'll say it again: SAVE SHANE O-BRIEN!!!
Sounding off from defensive depths
Deadline Deals? O'Brien wary of Wednesday as team pads back end in advance
Ben Kuzma
The Province
Tuesday, March 03, 2009
CREDIT: Jeff Vinnick file
Shane O'Brien
Shane O'Brien wanted to sound optimistic. He wanted to sound like his postal code isn't about to change and that he can plant firmer roots in Vancouver.
However, the Canucks defenceman sounded solemn prior to the NHL trade deadline Wednesday.
Maybe it's because he was a healthy scratch four times this season after figuring management wanted him to fight more. Maybe it's because he's emotional. Maybe it's because the club is still carrying eight defencemen after placing Lawrence Nycholat on waivers Monday and everybody knows something has to give.
"It's been a roller-coaster year," admitted O'Brien. "Hopefully, I can look back at it and in two or three years I'm still in this league and a top-four defenceman somewhere and playing on a good team. Maybe this was one of those things that helps you realize what kind of player you are and what you need to do -- to be mentally tough.
"It's just hard to play when you're on a short leash," added O'Brien. "It's a fast game and there are bad bounces and things are going to happen. You can't play perfect. But it's tougher when you know they have no problem taking you out of the lineup."
The Canucks are expected to move a blueliner before the deadline and have options.
Rob Davison, 28, hasn't played in nine games and has logged just 23 this season. He could be dangled for a late-round draft pick, but may not have as much market value as O'Brien.
With Ossi Vaananen, 28, claimed off waivers Friday from Philadelphia, the Canucks could land a higher pick in exchange for O'Brien, 25, who has a bigger upside and is a restricted free agent next season.
Two years ago, Tampa Bay traded Gerald Coleman and a first-round draft pick to Anaheim for O'Brien and a third-round draft pick. The Canucks could also package O'Brien with Mason Raymond in pursuit of a more name player. Then again, the Canucks could keep O'Brien, who has nine assists in 55 games, is a plus-10 and leads the club with 162 penalty minutes.
"Anybody say we're giving up on him?" asked coach Alain Vigneault. "He's trying to be a little more physical, which we need him to be. He's working on his gap control and with the puck, he's doing more [high] percentage plays."
Davison was moved from San Jose to the Islanders at the trade deadline last year for a seventh-round draft pick.
He's hopeful the Canucks will conclude you can't have enough depth and that winning 10 of the last 12 games will mean a minor move or two. Or none.
"I don't know if much is going to happen," said Davison. "We're happy with the team we have and we're a confident group. But if they're going to make a move, they're going to make a move."
Kevin Bieksa's name regularly surfaces in trade rumours because of his ability and age (27), and the cost certainty of a contract that has a salary cap hit of $3.75 million US the next two seasons. He was even rumoured in an Erik Cole swap last summer.
"I've had my name swirling around, so I've kind of learned to deal with it," said Bieksa. "As long as we keep winning in here, there shouldn't be much reason for major change. When we're on top of our game, we can play with anybody in the league."
Maybe Vigneault put it best when trying to keep the silly season in perspective. One report Monday had the Canucks supposedly chasing Ryan Smyth of Colorado, who has a $6.25 million cap hit the next three seasons.
"I like our team," said Vigneault. "But there's tons of speculation and who knows what is true and what isn't. And who knows what truth is a stretch."
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