Nik "Bane of my Existance" Antropov has been traded to the New York Rangers for a 2nd round pick and a conditional pick.
Admittedly, Antropov had a pretty decent season last year, but he's still my appointed whipping boy in the absence of Aki Berg. The native of Kazakhstan played his entire nine-year career with the Leafs after being selected 10th overall by the club in the 1998 NHL Entry Draft.
Back in 2006, I wrote this love letter to Nik Antropov.
Watching the first two periods of tonight's hockey game between the Leafs and Red Wings I kept having the same recurring thought. Why is Nik Antropov still on this team?
He's done absolutely nothing this preseason to justify his existence. He's been invisible again tonight, getting less than seven minutes of ice time without recording a single shot on net. In my opinion, he's hogging a roster spot that would be better in the hands of Johnny Pohl. He doesn't even appear interested in playing and I've seen enough.
Antropov is the new Jonas Hoglund, only worse. With Aki Berg gone, he's also my new whipping boy.
Farewell, Nik. Don't let the ACC door hit you in the ass on the way out!
