Blockbuster deal

A huge trade in the NHL tonight as Boston trades perennial Art Ross Trophy contender Joe Thornton to San Jose for streaky forward Marco Sturm, steady top four defenceman Brad Stuart and journeyman Wayne Primeau.

If you are a Bruins fan, and thankfully I'm not, this has got to sting. The Bruins just game up one of the best players in the league - not just today but for years to come - for three decent but hardly awe-inspiring players (none of whom are anywhere close to all-star caliber).

Every year for the past fifteen years, when it looks like the Boston franchise is close to stepping up and grabbing that brass ring, they do something that just screws everything up. This is no different. The problem lies in the front office and until they clean that up, Bruins fans will continue to suffer. President Harry Sinden is the Steinbrenner of hockey in terms of ego, refusal to take advice and interference with personnel decisions.

Thornton should thrive out West and may help San Jose repcapture their Western Conference-final form of 2004.

Ray Bourque and Cam Neely, are you guys sure you want to be part of this?