SHANNY MOVED; WINLESS STREAK CONT.

The Goat Barn (Bismark, North Dakota)-
-A once promising season for the Thunder Bay Timberwolves is now looking like what many expected--bleak.
-After knocking out a four-game win streak, the Timberwolves have gone 0-4-1 since. Including a 5-3 loss last night in Denver to the Spurs.
-One player that was acquired for nothing other than taking his salary was dealt prior to the contest in the Mile High City.
-Brendan Shanahan was picked up on Decemeber 12th from the North Dakota Ibex with three draft picks for nothing more than for Thunder Bay to assume the veteran wingers hefty three-year salary at $4.5M/per. It was a hit to the thinly lined pocket book of the Timberwolves and drew some criticism throughout the league since there was no first round pick in taking on roughly $13 million for a player that wasn't expected to finish out the contract.
-"I'd be lying if I said that Shanahan was someone we were relying on to turn this club around," said a blunt Timberwolves GM, Blake Wendt. "His contract is horrible and if it weren't for the picks included and us not giving up any of our roster players or prospects or anyone for that matter. We wouldn't have acquired him. He was shopped around almost immediately after we got him. We were confident that Brendan was coveted by someone."
-Coveted Mr. Shanahan was... by the Scorpions of the Southwest. He was dealt with forward prospect Scott Parse and $4.5 million in cash for right-winger Dan Hinote and Southwest's fourth and fifth round draft picks. If Shanahan decides to retire over the summer from the CCHL, Thunder Bay will pay an additional $4.5 million in cash to the Scorpions.
-"In the long run, we got what we wanted out of this deal," said Wendt. "We've moved a player with a long, heavy contract and right now are only out four and a half million. It may look steep if we end up forking out nine million total, but in the end we still got five picks out of all of this if you include the original deal with the Ibex. Plus a gritty winger to help shore up our lower lines in Danny Hinote who is unrestricted anyway. I think in another deep draft like this one, the more picks a team has, the better." Thunder Bay now has thirteen.
-Despite being three games under .500, there are some bright spots for the Timberwolves. Patrick Sharp (pictured) is quite possibly the best valued player in the CCHL. He makes $605,000 a year and is Top-10 in scoring, second in goals (23), first in power play goals (10) and Top-10 in even strength goals. Given that the Thunder Bay native still has two years left on his contract, and that he can be re-signed again for he turns 30, the Timberwolves can lock up Sharp for the next five years at a very low price if he continues to produce at this pace.
-"Sharpie is definately a guy we can and will build around," said Wendt. "I think we already have pretty good linemates with him (David Perron and Sergei Kostitsyn) and they will only get better."
-The Timberwolves are in Bismarck, North Dakota tonight to take on the Ibex. Then make the gruling trek over half of North America and the Atlantic to play in Karlstad, Sweden tomorrow night.
-"These trips suck," said a matter-of-fact Timberwolves captain, Keith Ballard. "There's no sugar coating reality. It's ridiculas that there's not a travel day between these games. We'd gladly give up one of our three days off in the middle of homestand to get a travel day for trips like this. We're not going to make excuses, but anyone that says they enjoy these trips is lying through their teeth. The Killers can expect a tired, but pissed off opponent on Friday night."