Canucks & Beyond
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Canucks Trade for Steve Bernier (and Sign Mark Cullen)
by Alanah McGinley on 07/04/08 at 02:08 PM ET
Comments (6)
via the Vancouver Canucks:
Vancouver Canucks General Manager Mike Gillis announced today that the club has acquired right wing, Steve Bernier from the Buffalo Sabres in exchange for a second round Draft pick in 2010 and third round pick (Los Angeles’ selection) in 2009.
“Steve Bernier is a highly regarded young player who’s enjoyed success early in his career,” said Gillis. “With his right-handed shot he will be a great addition to our top six forward group and an asset to our power play.”
Thanks to nrbreitkreuz for the tip.
Updates 11:45am PT: The Steve Bernier Scoring Highlight Reel, and other trivia…
Update 3:26pm PT: Canucks sign Mark Cullen.
Update July 8th -- Blues offer sheet on Bernier.
Steve Bernier video:
And apparently Mr. Bernier is ever-so-trustworthy, as well. Over at Sabretooth’s House they consider this question:
You’re drunk and stranded in downtown Buffalo and your friends have deserted you. You only have enough battery to call one of these people. Whom do you trust to not take advantage of you in your drunken state, but secretly hope that they will?
Jason Pominville
Steve Bernier
Pat Kaleta
Mike Ryan
Nathan Paetsch
Anne’s personal choice was Bernier.
So there you go. A man of character (good for the team), hotness (good for the puck bunnies) and he can score a few goals (good for everyone who has to watch a Canucks game next year).
So… everyone wins. Except TSN, who posted this gem (thanks to a KK member for sending this screenshot!):
Filed in: vancouver canucks | Canucks and Beyond | Permalink
Tags: steve+bernier,
Comments
This move is curious by the Sabres. Bernier was a guy I expected them to try and keep in the fold due to his size and relatively reasonable salary, so to let him go and get nobody in return doesn’t make sense. Given their need for D-men you’d have thought that they would have at least tried to get a warm body, although maybe Vancouver threatened to extend an offer sheet...who knows.
The only way this makes sense is if Buffalo is going to try to extend an offer sheet themselves and needed a third round pick in next year’s draft to supplement the third rounder they might lose if they get the guy. Unlikely, though.
Posted by Dan from Pittsburgh on 07/04/08 at 01:50 PM ET
Follow-up to my previous thought: is the third round pick for 2009 Buffalo’s original pick, that they traded to LA at the draft to move to move up to get Meyers? If so, given the rule that you have to use your own draft picks in offers to RFAs, then this may be a case of Buffalo re-acquiring its own pick so they can make an offer. Again seems unlikely, but if it is in fact used this way then this trade starts to make more sense. If not, then color me confused.
Posted by Dan from Pittsburgh on 07/04/08 at 02:22 PM ET
I’m a bit confused, too—other than their desire to free up a wee bit of cap space, I haven’t got any idea why they’d trade Bernier.
Bfloblog is confused, too. Dave’s post title is simple “WTF?” and proposes this:
The ONLY thing this can mean is that Darcy’s going to turn around and use these picks in another move….. right?
Posted by Alanah McGinley from British Columbia on 07/04/08 at 02:29 PM ET
They sold Bernier in Buffalo as a good young player to grow along with their core - that was how they justified trading away Campbell. He had a fabulous first game, but it aften takes trades a full training camp to really get used to their new teammates, so I figured he’d be very solid for them this season.
WTF, indeed.
Posted by Baroque from Michigan on 07/04/08 at 02:49 PM ET
Some words from Bernier today, speaking on the media conference call:
“When I got the call I was shocked. Right now the only thing I am thinking about is getting in shape and having a chance to improve myself with the Vancouver Canucks.
“I didn’t see this coming. I got traded last year in February. I thought I was going to stay there (Buffalo) for a little while. It took me by surprise but it’s part of the job. I’m going to Vancouver and it’s tough not to be happy.
“Sometimes you get down and sometimes you get up,” he said. “What I am going to try and do is always be at the same level, always play at the highest level I can play.
“Maybe I was up and down too much. I want to change that and be a very effective player for 82 games.”
Posted by Alanah McGinley from British Columbia on 07/04/08 at 04:14 PM ET
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About Canucks & Beyond
Alanah McGinley has been blogging hockey since 2003, sharing opinions, rants and not-so-deep thoughts with anyone who will listen. In addition to writing Canucks & Beyond and helping manage Kukla’s Korner, Alanah is one of the founders and co-hosts of The Crazy Canucks Podcast, as featured at Canucks.com.
She has contributed pieces to FoxSports.com and the New York Times Slapshot blog, as well as other stray destinations in cyberspace.
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