Artemis
Took the red pill
I actually feel similarly. But then I'd missed watching the broadcast as it happened (was listening to Gouch/Beers on my mobile... had to control myself standing in line at a movie theatre when Z scored the winner), and only viewed the incident later, after it had blown up and the rest of hockey world was treating Shawn like a leper. So I don't know if that's colored my view of it incontrovertibly.
Yes, like I said, he paid dearly for that. Obviously he shouldn't be a lineup regular here anymore, but it hurts to think this was one of the things that took him away from Boston.
I don't think that had anything to do with it. Thornton wasn't offered a contract because he was an aging fourth-line player who could be replaced by a younger/cheaper option.
I was glad for him that he got a good deal in Florida, but the consensus around the NHL was that it was a vast overpayment. There's no way the Bruins were going to match it.