It has been some time since but still, whoa, that was some trade JD pulled off. I am still surprised because I had no idea that anything like this was possible. I suppose I am not ready to be GM yet. As for my opinion, I have to say I completely disagree with your take on it.
First of all the trade was motivated by money but more so on the Anaheim side. They needed to dump some salary so they could sign Neidermeyer for the remainder of the season. JD just took advantage of the situation.
I also disagree that McDonald is marginally better than Weight. It hurts to say it but Weight is done. I think if you could have been at the game in Chicago with me earlier in the season you would agree. In that game he looked like he didn't deserve to be playing in the NHL. He was slow and pushed around all over the ice. His career is over and I am surprised that Anaheim would take him. I suppose they figure they get to dump some money and get a fourth line center who has won a cup before (Carolina '06). Meanwhile McDonald is 6 years younger and can still skate, unlike Weight. He has played with Kariya before too and they seem to have some chemistry.
It sucks to see him go but this move was like pulling the band-aid off fast instead of slowly watching Weight disintegrate into nothing for the rest of the year. It has been painful watching him lumber around the ice this year. I was beginning to think that he was some kind of a charity case. We are lucky to have a decent center in return.
Nevertheless I wish Weight all the best. Here's a tall frosty one to number 39. It was fun while it lasted. Cheers!
Your point about JD/Pleau is a good one though. Exactly how are the duties delegated between them? It is beginning to look more like JD is full GM but who knows? I wonder if Pleau is on the sidelines because of his wife's condition. Perhaps he is just a mentor or something for JD. I would like to find out. By the way, I think if the Blues were covered by actual journalists this wouldn't be a question, but I digress.
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Anaheim was motivated to make their team better. It was about the salary cap, not money. For the Blues, it was about avoiding paying a FA next summer. In the process, they completely alienated Doug Weight.
Like I said in other posts, DW is horribly slow but he still has great hands and an ability to 'see the ice'. Look at what Doug did when he played on the top line. Four goals in three games. We'll see how good McDonald is without Selanne.
Oh yeah, I love how you completely destroy Doug Weight only to make it all better by 'wishing him good luck.'
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