Did You Hear About That Rob Bordson Trade?

Yes, it is.

But, for real, if you do not live in Canada or follow hockey, then you may not have heard.  In what is being called a blockbuster trade, The Philadelphia Flyers have sent 26 year old captain Mike Richards and 23 year old prospect Rob Bordson to the Los Angeles Kings in exchange for winger Wayne Simmonds, top prospect in hockey Brayden Schenn, and a 2012 2nd round draft pick.  Pretty exciting stuff.  But what of this Bordson fellow?  We shall explore.

If I ain't the worst that you've seen, so go ahead and jump.


Bordson is apparently from Duluth, MN, and is an undrafted free agent that has bounced around in the AHL for the past few years.  So, what are the Kings plans for this exuberant young American?

From Rich Hammond at the LA Kings Insider:

...the Flyers included Bordson in the trade because they already had the maximum number of contracts on their books. Bordson is due to become a restricted free agent on July 1, and the Kings do not intend to tender him a contract. So, Bordson is Kings property at the moment, but won’t be eight days from now, when he will become a free agent. 


Bordson is a 23-year-old center who totaled 22 points in 73 AHL games last season.


Okaaay...awkward...


So, essentially, Bordson was traded as a favor so that the Flyers could just get to the league maximum of contracts.  That's cool, but what happens now that the Kings don't want him?  Ah, the odd life of an expendable minor leaguer.  Now, I'm not one to make fun.  I'm sure Bordson is a pretty quality player, and you would never want to cross him on a dark street corner if you, you know, beat up his sister or something.  But he also does not appear to be the next Gretzky.  What happens to these players, these 'throw in' guys?  Well, typically nothing.  


2010: Chicago Blackhawks-Atlanta Thrashers trade
Primary Players: Dustin Byfuglien, Brent Sopel, Ben Eager, and Marty Reasoner
Throw ins:
*Akim Aliu- 56th overall pick in 2007, from Nigeria so we know why the Thrashers wanted him, broke hand in bar fight in before the 2010-11 season, 9 points in 15 games with Peoria (AHL)
*Joey Crabb- 226th overall pick in 2002, 77 NHL games and 24 NHL points, playing for the Maple Leafs now...

2001: Los Angeles Kings-Colorado Avalanche
Primary Players: Adam Deadmarsh, Rob Blake, Aaron Miller
Throw in:
*Jaren Aulin- 40th overall in 2000, was a 'player to be named later,' 17 total NHL games with 4 total points, all NHL games with the Kings in 2002-03, won Silver at WJC in 2002 with Canada, started playing professionally when he was 16, plays in Sweden now, only 29 so he has time left to get back to the NHL, right...?

1990: Winnepeg Jets-Buffalo Sabres
Primary Players: Phil Housley, Dale Hawerchuk, draft picks (Brad May and Keith Tkachuk)
Throw in:
*Jeff Parker- (see below)

1991: Pittsburgh Penguins-Hartford Whalers
Primary Players: Ron Francis, Ulf Samuelsson
Throw in:
*Jeff Parker- 111th overall in 1982, thrown in two major trades, 141 NHL games with 35 points, retired in 1991

So, what does all of this say.  Well, Rob might make it to the Big Ice Dance eventually, but, yeah, I guess not with the Kings in 2011-12.  He should try to avoid the Jeff Parker route, because after that second trade, he didn't play no mo'.  He may be like a Aulin or Aliu type, still young, still able to prove himself.  He just needs to work hard and yada yada yada...or he can just go to the KHL.  BA-ZING!!!

Anyway, I used to make trades like this on NHL 2010, where I just kind of throw a guy that seems pretty worthless in a trade but has a higher salary or is using a contract or whatever.  They seem to do pretty well for themselves.