I suspected something was up last night when all the players on the bench went to Ranger and gave him a tap on the pads after the first period. It was different where the entire bench went to him. I found it weird. So this decision was made well before the game last night and Ranger had already knew. Especially since the new kid is already in Hamilton ready to play tonight.
As much as it sucks to see this happen to a good kid, it is a business and he was struggling the last 12 games without much improvement even last night IMO. These tough decisions are made based on the business side not the personal side because if it were we would be dealing nobody.
So Papineau's experiment didn't work out with him and we coughed up a 4th. But getting the Brassard kid for free really makes up for it. Let's hope this bigger goalie can play more sound in his crease.
The only thing with this move is how affects the room. He was a character guy.
WJ