Schneider Traded To Montreal

Let's call this "Stage 2" of the Atlanta Thrashers fire sale...
Defenseman Mathieu Schneider, one of the highest paid players on the franchise, was dealt to Montreal for picks...

Yep, that's it...
Picks...

This is what we call a "salary dump" the day before the proceedings in Maryland...

Here's the Thrashers release from their ownselves...

"The Atlanta Thrashers have acquired a second round selection in the 2009 NHL Entry Draft and a third round selection in the 2010 NHL Entry Draft from the Montreal Canadiens in exchange for defenseman Mathieu Schneider and a conditional draft choice in the 2009 NHL Entry Draft, according to Executive Vice President and General Manager Don Waddell.

The second round pick acquired from Montreal in this June’s draft originally belonged to the Anaheim Ducks, but was acquired by the Washington Capitals on Nov. 19, 2007 for forward Brian Sutherby. Washington then sent the selection to the Canadiens at last year’s trade deadline in exchange for goaltender Cristobal Huet. In addition to the second round choice, the Thrashers also acquired Montreal’s third round selection in the 2010 NHL Entry Draft.

Schneider, 39, registered 15 points (four goals, 11assists) in 44 games with Atlanta after being acquired from Anaheim on Sept. 26, 2008 for Ken Klee, Brad Larsen and Chad Painchaud. Schneider notched the 500th assist of his career on Feb. 10 at Tampa Bay and became just the 74th player in NHL history to appear in 1,200 games on Oct. 14, 2007 vs. Minnesota.

The 5-11, 195-pound defenseman returns to the team that originally drafted him in the third round, 44th overall, of the 1987 NHL Entry Draft. Schneider won the only Stanley Cup of his career with the Canadiens in 1993."
Those of us at OSG HQ would like to say, ahem...

BFD...