I believe I share the same thoughts as most hockey fans when I applaud both Brian Burke and Darryl Sutter for making such a big deal happen in the "post lockout era" of hockey. In the world of salary caps, it's not an easy task to make a seven player swap, but these two general managers pulled it off, and it has the hockey world buzzing. Well done!

The trade has been broken down over one hundred times already, so I will spare you of any in depth breakdown of the deals, and look at a different side of things.

So often, when a team is in transition like the Maple Leafs and making changes to turn the corner, form a new base and build from the youth within, these trades usually mean that the farm team ends up getting stripped bare, or left with nothing. While these trades will offer some opportunities for the Marlies over the remainder of the season, the baby buds also get a new face to join the mix in Keith Aulie.

At 6'5", 208lbs, he brings a solid stay at home style defence to the blueline, and will make a nice addition for the Marlies, while developing his game for the big club. The former Captain of the Brandon Wheat Kings spent all his WHL years with the same team, and he was a Gold medal winner for Team Canada at the World Juniors.

While all the focus in this city is aimed on the Maple Leafs and how quickly Burke and his management team can turn things around, it should be noted that it's not an overnight process, and rebuilding the farm system is a key part of the big picture. Acquiring a player like Aulie is another good step in the process as it sticks with the overall plan of building from the back-end out, and does it at the AHL level. Patience is a virtue, and you can only work by doing one thing at a time, but moves like this are exciting for fans.

While Aulie brings some great qualities on the ice, he has a compelling story off ice. During the Christmas holidays of 2005, Aulie's dad took the tractor out on the pond to clear the snow for Keith to skate. The tractor went through the ice and into the icy water. Keith came to the rescue and pulled his Dad out to safety. A remarkable moment in life, and one that his family will never forget.

Welcome to Toronto Keith.

You can email John with comments and questions about the blog or  the Marlies anytime to marliesradio@yahoo.ca.