As much as we all would like to like this trade...

can we really? We have no choice but to accept it and see what Andrew Ference and Chuck Kobesaw can bring to the team. But as a Bruins fan or even just a fan of hockey, this trade simply brings us back to the Joe Thornton trade last season in which we acquired Primeau, Stuart and Marco Sturm for the reigning MVP of the league. Now, the trade looks like this:

Chuck Kobesaw, Marco Sturm and Andrew Ference for the reigning MVP of the league. I don't know if it's much worse now than it was originally. I was beginning to think Stuart was our best defenseman after Chara. He plays hard, hits hard, shoots well, moves the puck effortlessly and has a solid overall game. These are qualities you would expect of the No. 3 overall pick in 1998. Then again, Primeau was the 17th overall pick in 1994, and he isn't much more than a likeable guy and a hard-working third liner.

For quotes from all four players invovled, check out Bish's Blog. Ference and Kobesaw both sound like good character guys with some good stuff to offer. But of course, B's management is going to spin this trade to look as best as possible.

The trade story on the Flames' website reads like this. "The Calgary Flames have nabbed the most coveted defenceman on the market more than two weeks before the NHL trade deadline."

Now that may be a true statement. The Bruins, unfortunately, cannot argue that Andrew Ference, a former 208th overall pick, was among the most coveted defensemen on the market. I recognized the name but barely knew much else. Take a look at the Flames D men. The addition of a talented Brad Stuart just may push them over the top. Overall, they probably have a more talented and if not certainly a tougher group of defensemen than the Ducks. Not to mention the keeper behind them. The good news is that in last night's 7-4 loss to the Red Wings, both Stuart and Primeau were -1 and they combined for three shots. Still, imagine the pairing of Phaneuf with Stuart? Western Conference teams will have a tough time pushing through that duo. More on this trade later.

Now, off to the Beanpot finals. My prediction:

Harvard over Northeastern, 4-2, and BU for another crown over BC, 3-1.