Mike Chen's Hockey Blog
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I’ve Been Traded to SBN
by Mike Chen on 01/22/10 at 12:20 PM ET
Comments (13)
There are times when a superstar player leaves a team for greener pastures, and that team looks to fill the void by trading for a second-line player while promoting within the organ-i-zation. And it’s happened once again, as Hart Trophy candidate James Mirtle has left SBN’s From The Rink to go to the Cup-contending Globe & Mail. To take his roster spot, the following trade has been made:
To SBN’s From The Rink: Mike Chen
To Kukla’s Korner: Draft picks, cap space, and a few rolls of hockey tape.
(Anyone got the E number on that one?)
Now, there’s no way that I could take Mirtle’s spot by myself—I’m just a two-way forward, not a 50-goal guy. That’s why SBN will be calling up some talent from within the organ-i-zation, and I’ll be acting as the editor/manager overseeing a team of several bloggers. Our continuing mission: to provide new content and new opinion, to boldly go where no hockey blog has gone before. We’ll be doing a variety of things and we’ve got some very talented writers on board. All of that starts on Monday with the new iteration of From The Rink, so please swing by and check out the new digs when you turn on the computer Monday morning.
Now, this is the first part of the press conference, where I make my teary farewell to my old team before going to SBN’s arena and putting on the new jersey.
(Sniff, sniff—I promised Mess I wouldn’t do this.)
First off, I can’t thank Paul Kukla enough for this opportunity. Not only is Paul a consummate professional, he’s easy to work with, open-minded, and always supportive. There’s a reason why KK is the hockey site I visited most before I joined, and it’ll be the same way after I’ve left. I think just about any hockey person knows Kukla’s Korner, and to be associated with it for the past few seasons has been a privilege and an honor. I’ll miss being part of such an eclectic group of voices and opinions, and I hope to still inspire the occasional incredible rant by the Chief.
A big thanks to KK’s ridiculously huge readership and those that have taken the time to comment on my posts. We may not have always agreed, but at least you read them, and that’s all I can ask for. I’ll keep writing the same stuff on FTR, though you may see less of it over the first week or two as I try to get my hands around coordinating a bunch of bloggers and creating regular features. It’s been a hectic week to say the least.
With that, I’ll quietly exit stage left and allow Paul’s cap space to be made available for another blogger free agent. Good night, and good luck...and as Peter Venkman once said to Ray Stantz, “See you on the other side.”
Filed in: Blog Stuff | Mike Chen's Hockey Blog | Permalink
Comments
Congratulations on following the dream, Mike, I’m sure you won’t disappoint.
Posted by SENShobo from Waterloo, ON on 01/22/10 at 02:55 PM ET
Best of luck taking over the helm of “From the Rink” from the mighty Mirtle. You’ve got big shoes to fill (the man took a size 13, from what I hear!) but you’re certainly up to the task, Mike. You were a great part of the Kukla team and I wish you great success at SBN.
Posted by Lyle Richardson from Charlottetown, PEI, Canada on 01/22/10 at 03:00 PM ET
Best of luck, Mike! We’ll miss having you on our team!
Posted by Patrick Hoffman from Stamford, CT on 01/22/10 at 03:03 PM ET
Wait, I heard it was a three-way trade.
To BoC: a conditional round of draft beer.
Congrats, Mike! Best of luck with FTR.
Posted by Earl Sleek from Anaheim, CA on 01/22/10 at 03:14 PM ET
Best of luck, Mike. You’ll be missed around these parts.
Posted by MarkK from Maryland on 01/22/10 at 03:18 PM ET
It’s like I told James—I feel like the Marco Sturm piece in the Joe Thornton trade.
Posted by Mike Chen on 01/22/10 at 03:30 PM ET
You sure you’re not Wayne Primeau? 
. Just kidding. I look forward to reading you over at SBN, From the Rink is already a feed I watch, so I don’t even have to do anything! Win-win.
Posted by mepex on 01/22/10 at 03:43 PM ET
Congrats and best wishes for continued success. In spite of your obvious shortcomings (i.e., rooting for Team Teal), I’ve always enjoyed reading your insights at KK.
With the news of Mirtle leaving, I’d kind of written off SBN, but now I’ll have to check it out again.
Posted by YzermanZetterberg on 01/22/10 at 06:30 PM ET
Good luck, Mike. All the best at SBN.
I look forward to following your posts in your new home.
Posted by VooX from Behind the Bar in the Hasek Club Car on 01/22/10 at 06:54 PM ET
Cheers, Mike, be sure to drop by every now and then! Best of luck!
Posted by Hippy Dave from San Francisco by way of Detroit on 01/23/10 at 04:26 PM ET
Best to you, Mike. For the record, we’re getting shafted in this trade.
Posted by David Lee from Greensboro, NC on 01/29/10 at 09:41 PM ET
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About Mike Chen’s Hockey Blog
Mike Chen prides himself in being the only hockey writer integrating puck discussion with both Morrissey quotes and Star Wars references. Since 2004, he’s blogged about all things hockey and currently contributes to FoxSports.com, the Battle of California, and RotoRob.
Questions? Comments? Hate mail? Contact Mike here.
Sorry to see you go Mike, but congrats nonetheless.... SBN has some good eggs over there as well.....
Posted by Tony from Virginia Beach, VA on 01/22/10 at 01:45 PM ET