Posted on HockeyBuzz by Andy Strickland who was the first one to report the firing on Mike Kitchen and hiring of Andy Murray

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Interesting trade...Both of them make roughly 3.5 million next year, Weight is UFA next year so they accomplish the tagging and free up the room for Niedermayer to be activated..

as a hockey trade it seems pretty even too, as both players have struggled this year from their previous year..

I think its a good trade for both

I hate it. I hate it a lot. I wanted to see dougie stay with us for at least a few more years.

Chances are he'll be back soon

Sad to see Andy Mac go especially as a lifelong Duck. Unfortunately he's looked really lost this year and the whispers that his production were a product of Selanne were probably getting louder. I always liked him, but this is best for the team long term for sure. Unfortunately Perry's FA status comes up while the Ducks are still in Pronger/Niedermayer salary tie up mode as opposed to a year or two later so the timing is just tough to keep everyone. When the Ducks have like their entire team at FA status in a few years the only guys worth keeping are Beauchemin, Huskins and Pahlsson so they should be fine.

How the hell could Burke give Bertuzzi a 2 year deal???

Out of pity?

Am I the only one who thinks McDonald > Weight?

I guess this means Scotty is playing in half an hour? Hope so, be nice to watch!

I think Macdonald is way better than weight, however he is just not playing well at all this year...Maybe playing with Kariya, Tkachuk and Boyes will do the trick

Damn, I was hoping the Blackhawks were going to pull of a trade for Schneider.

Short answer: No.

Medium answer: Fuck no.

Long answer: Andy McDonald + Paul Kariya + Brad Boyes is one hell of a top line, and should go a long way towards securing my bet with Dale over whether or not St. Louis makes the playoffs this season. Big upgrade for the Blues.

yeah I mean, six years younger and similar production nowadays. I can admit that weight doesn't have much left in the tank, but I still like the guy for sentimental reasons. I really do hope he comes back, even if he commands a bloated salary for his return...

IMO, at this point, McDonald >>>> Weight.

agree. it's just sad. see: stl blog with quotes

by the way, gruven, please find out what happened for me? I'm really, really curious.

Of course...however S.Niedermayer + Perry long term + Weight > McDonald

I didn't even realize Dougy was still playing. He has to be 90-years-old by now.

I'm sorry, but I find it hard to believe this was a move that HAD to be done. There was no other way/asset to get for McDonald.
Clear some space for Nieds, ok, fairly easy, move 1million.
And if McDonald had to be moved, are you telling me this is the best you can get? Maybe Im watching the wrong Doug Weight, but the one I have seen the last 2 years has been horrible.

Im a big Burke fan, but this one has me puzzled. Along with the Bert signing, I think these are his worst moves so far in Anaheim.

I'll be the first one to admit it if Im wrong, but I think Bertuzzi+Weight will be a terrible combo.

Yes, which is the only reason Anaheim made the trade at all. From their POV, Weight vs McDonald is basically a wash, but his upside on the top line in St. Louis (assuming he clicks with Kariya) is much, much higher than it was in Anaheim without Teemu (playing between Bertuzzi and Geoff Platt and their three goals between them...all Bertuzzi).

It's a great move for both teams, you don't get to say that too often.

And if McDonald had to be moved, are you telling me this is the best you can get? Maybe Im watching the wrong Doug Weight, but the one I have seen the last 2 years has been horrible.

The salary being freed up is necessary for next season, when all of Doug Weight's $3.5 million will go directly into Corey Perry's bank account. They probably could have gotten a better player for McDonald, but not necessarily one that just happens to be a UFA after this season.

I guess there is no way for us to know that, one way or the other. Personally, I gotta believe there were, or would soon be available come the deadline, better free agents to be. I say this not based on any knowledge of who is going to be available, but on how little I think of Doug Weight at this point in his career. He was great a few years ago, but I see nothing in his game that tells me he will help this team. And I also think Andy MacDonald is much better than Weight, and would have some decent value as trade bait around the league.

And as far as a playoff warrior regarding Weight? Last time he was in the playoffs, 2yrs ago with Carolina, he was brutal. He couldn't keep up. Im guessing he didnt get any faster.

I dont mean to totally bash Weight, I just think his time has come and gone.

on another point, why do they have to free up the Perry salary right now/this year? If I thought MacDonald was better than Weight, I would just hold onto to Macdonald, and then trade him when the season was over for a draft pick. You still move the salary in time to sign Perry and at least you get a pick for it, and you kept the better player during the season. Done.
If you agree MacD is the better player, why not do this?

Drop Hnidy or whoever if you need to get under for Niedermayer now though.

yeah, it's burke. try not to put too much thought into it... he didn't either.

I'm not so sure McDonald is a better fit on the Ducks than Weight is honestly. McDonald's a better player but he had zero chemistry with anyone not named Teemu.
At least Weight can cycle the puck. The only thing that scares me now is that we have multiple d-men who are great in transition playing with a bunch of cycling forwards, it's odd.

Good trade for both. Maybe a new line will shake Macdonald up, ditto Weight, he's been a good servant for the Blues but needs the change. He'll probably be back in the offseason like last time anyway.

So this means Scott Neidermeyer will be back, wonderful news (sw).

That Pronger/Neidermeyer combo was very, very good. I had hopes for the Sharks when he quit, they're crumbling now...

Alright, only from one source, and I'm not sure if this is gospel or not... I only had time to make one phone call.... putting up the Christmas tree today...

The Blues approached the Ducks to see if they wanted to unload someone to clear cap space. They offered up Weight, and had the structure of a deal. Weight refused to waive his NTC. The Blues told him if he refused the trade, he would be put on waivers, and be thrown to the wind to be claimed. Weight took this as a personal insult from a team he felt was part of his character.
I'll try to follow up to see if this is actually true...

Wow, okay. So he won't be back then. What a giant slap in the face...

That's heavy!

More importantly did you get the tree up?

Did you know that, if one light goes out.... THEY ALL GO OUT???????????????????????

I have converted.... Happy Kwanza...

Not if you have the right (good) lights.