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One year ago, Head To The Net caught Shane O’Brien’s contract negotiations with our hidden microphone.  You can relive that conversation here.  Luckily, the microphone is still in place, and we managed to catch discussions on the renewal of his contract once again this year.

Larry Kelly, Shane O’Brien’s Agent, Negotiates with Laurence Gilman and Mike Gillis:

Laurence Gilman: Mike, Shane O’Brien’s agent, Larry Kelly, is coming in for a meeting in 5 minutes.

Mike Gillis: Oh no, that’s the guy who tricked me into giving O’Brien $1.6 million last year!

Gilman: Yeah. I have no idea how that happened. I went to the bathroom for 5 minutes, and when I returned, I saw Kelly walking out of here with a huge smile on his face.

Gillis: Ok, you better not leave me this time.

Gilman: Don’t worry, never again.

Receptionist: Mr. Gillis, your 12 o’clock appointment is here to see you.

Gilman: Mike, let me do the talking, you just sit there and smile.

Gillis: Good plan! Oh, there he is… exciting!!

Larry Kelly: Good afternoon gentlemen.

Gilman: Hi Larry. So, how are we doing with the O’Brien contract?

Kelly: Oh we’re fine. We’re just waiting for a counter offer from you guys.

Gilman: Larry, the Canucks made the qualifying offer of $1.6 million. It’s up to you to accept or take us to arbitration.

Kelly: What, really? So it’s our option? But $1.6 million is too much!

Gilman: I know…

Kelly: But Shane scored less this year, had less penalty minutes, and even got suspended by the team for being overweight and late for practice… he doesn’t deserve that much money!

Gilman: I know… but we have to make the qualifying offer in order to keep him. Do you even know how the CBA works?

Kelly: Uhhh not really.

Gillis: Hey, me neither!

Gilman: Mike, quiet! Anyways, you’re right Larry. I think in exchange for this large contract, we need to negotiate some other things into this contract.

Kelly: Okay, shoot!

Gilman: Well, we don’t want Shane to befriend any of our younger players. We don’t need him teaching them how to drink and party and be undisciplined.

Kelly: No talking to younger players. No problem.

Gilman: And we don’t want him to talk back to the coaching staff or older players, like when he yelled at Rick Bowness and Henrik Sedin during the season.

Kelly: No talking to coaches or older players. Done. Wait… basically he can’t talk to anyone?

Gilman: Yeah, pretty much.

Kelly: Hey, for $1.6 million, I can get him to dance around the locker room in a dress, if that’s what you want.

Gillis: Awesome!

Gilman: Uh… no guys, I don’t think that will be necessary. So are we settled?

Kelly: Hmm, I don’t know. I still feel like we should throw something else in to make it fair… Shane could organize a pub crawl or something… he’s good at that stuff.

Gilman: Oh no, please, it’s fine. We’re good now.

Kelly: Really? Ok gentlemen, we have a deal! I better be on my way then!

-To see the serious argument for re-signing Shane O’Brien, click here

-To see last year’s contract negotiations for Shane O’Brien, click here