Projo Bruins Blog

It's no secret that guys from Rhode Island know how to work the system, whatever the system might be.

Whether it's pensions, workers' comp, fixing a ticket, a job for a cousin or a low-number license plate, Rhode Islanders find a way to get it done.

So who could be surprised that a guy from Providence and a guy from Cumberland teamed up on a deal at the NHL trade deadline that smelled a little fishy?

Tampa GM Brian Lawton, of the Cumberland Lawtons, traded goaltender Olie Kolzig, defenseman Jamie Heward, minor-league defenseman Andy Rogers and a 2009 fourth-round pick to his Toronto counterpart, Providence native Brian Burke, in exchange for minor-league defenseman Richard Petiot,

In an interesting twist, all of the players headed Toronto's way are injured.

The bottom line is that the Leafs provided the Lightning with a few hundred thousand dollars in salary cap relief, in trade for a minor-leaguer.

Read more about the deal here.

It should surprise no one that the last guy who pulled off a stunt like this was New Jersey GM Lou Lamoriello.

In 2006, Lamoriello gave the San Jose Sharks a first-round draft pick to take suspended defenseman Vladimir Malakhov, allowing the Devils to get under the salary cap.

Lamoriello -- of course -- grew up in Johnston.

 Tags  New Jersey Devils Tampa Bay Lightning Toronto Maple Leafs

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