This post is quite obviously and April Fools joke. Brandon Prust was not traded.
According to TSN Insider Darren Dreger, Marc Bergevin has made a shocking move this morning, trading versatile forward Brandon Prust one-dimensional bruiser Colton Orr and a 3rd round pick.
Brandon Prust was Bergevin’s prize free agent signing this past summer, so this move comes as a complete shock. Not to mention that with how Prust has played, trading him for a face puncher is an extremely backwards move headed into the playoffs.
Bergevin has been working meticulously throughout the year to clear cap space in the future though, and that could be what this deal is really about. When Prust was signed Bergevin didn’t know that the cap would be going down, so his mindset may have changed.
Even so, as someone who was critical of the Prust signing last summer, this is a brutal move. Orr adds nothing to the Canadiens for the playoffs and will either affect them negatively or be a healthy scratch.
The move isn’t official yet, as the Canadiens have made no comment.
UPDATE, it’s official:
PRESS RELEASE
MONTRÉAL – Montreal Canadiens general manager Marc Bergevin announced Monday the acquisition of right winger Colton Orr and the third round draft pick in 2013 from the Toronto Maple Leafs, in return for left winger Brandon Prust.
Now 31, Orr played 33 games with the Leafs this season recording 4 points (1-3-4) and a +3 differential. The right winger served one hundred twelve penalty minutes and had 11 shots on opposing goaltenders while averaging 6:16 of ice time.
A native of Winnipeg, Manitoba, went undrafted but was signed to to a deal by the Boston Bruins in 2001. Orr is on pace for a career year in points.
The 6’3”, 222 lbs. forward has played 410 regular season games in the NHL, suiting up with the Boston Bruins, New York Rangers, and Toronto Maple Leafs, making the Canadiens the 4th original six team he’s played for, and recording a career total of 24 points (12 goals and 12 assists). Orr also has a -31 differential, with 1033 penalty minutes, and 4 game-winning goals.
Signed as a free agent by the Canadiens on July 1, 2012, Prust played 26 games this season with the Canadiens registering nine points (four goals, five assists). He served 81 penalty minutes and shows a +13 plus/minus differential, with 62 hits and 27 shots on goal, playing an average of 13 minutes and 45 seconds per game.
Since joining the NHL, Prust has recorded 72 points (28 goals and 44 helpers) and maintained a +16 plus/minus ratio in 304 NHL regular season games.
