TSN is reporting that the Bruins have traded Mark Stuart and Blake Wheeler to the Atlanta Thrashers for Rich Peverley and Boris Valabik. Peverley has 14 goals in 59 games this season. Valabik hasn't played this season due to an injury, because he's playing in the AHL right now (49 games, 0 goals, 9 assists, and 165 PIMs). Imagine if Zdeno Chara and 6'7" Valabik played as a pair on defense? That's two huge towers to get by.
Valabik seems like a throw-in, but can Julien work with him to improve his game? Hopefully the Bruins can re-sign him to a cheap deal in the offseason. Remember Valabik said that he looked up to Chara and they even fought in 2008. Valabik also beat Shawn Thornton in a fight.
A Tomas Kaberle trade is said to be coming as well, it's not final just yet.
Peverly is under contract through next season at $1.325 million a year, while Valabik makes $762,000 and will be an unrestricted free agent.
Peverley is a 28-year-old center with 14 goals and 20 assists for Atlanta this season. He posted 22-33-55 totals last year in his first full season in Atlanta. Prior to that, he spent parts of two and a half seasons with Nashville before getting traded to the Thrashers.
Valabik, a 24-year-old defenseman, has zero career goals in 80 games but has 210 penalty minutes. At 6-foot-7, 255 pounds, he's an imposing figure, and his plus-2 rating has him tied for third among Atlanta defensemen this season.
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Valabik seems like a throw-in, but can Julien work with him to improve his game? Hopefully the Bruins can re-sign him to a cheap deal in the offseason. Remember Valabik said that he looked up to Chara and they even fought in 2008. Valabik also beat Shawn Thornton in a fight.
A Tomas Kaberle trade is said to be coming as well, it's not final just yet.
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