Shane O'Brien had a big game fantasy-wise on Wednesday, picking up 17 minutes in a loss to the Maple Leafs. O'Brien got an instigator minor, a five minute major for fighting and a ten minute misconduct for going after Carter Ashton of the Maple Leafs who had just boarded O'Brien's teammate, Derek Smith. O'Brien was just taking care of his teammate although the Flames did lose a chance to go on the power play. O'Brien will get lots of penalty minutes with the Flames this season but should only get a few points so he will need to be in a deep league in order to have any fantasy value.

Shane O'Brien played well in the Flames' 3-2 loss to Edmonton in split-squad exhibition hockey action Saturday night. He was a physical presence all night long and even registered an assist on the tying goal. If O'Brien can can carve out some meaningful playing time on the Flames' blueline, he could be a nice source for PIMs.

The Calgary Flames want recently acquired defenseman Shane O'Brien to be trash talking on the ice. "Quite frankly, that's something we need on our team," GM Jay Feaster said. "It's been a concern of mine for some time ƒ?" we're a very quiet team. Our guys are quiet in the room. We're quiet on the bench. It used to be a lament of (former coach Brent Sutter). It used to drive us to distraction, really, how quiet (it was)." The Flames were also a small team last season and the size of O'Brien, along with his feistiness, will certainly help. Look for O'Brien to be a force in fantasy hockey with his penalty minute totals, while chipping in with 10-15 points.

Shane O'Brien was known for his partying when he was a member of the Vancouver Canucks years ago, but that chapter of his life is behind him. "I was a little bit younger then," he said. "I've learned my lesson with that kind of stuff. That's in my past. I know a lot of people still joke about it. But if you ask the guys who have played with me, I take my job extremely serious. Everyone likes to have fun now and then, but I've definitely grown up. Hockey is definitely my main priority." O'Brien was traded to the Calgary Flames as part of a four player exchange. He doesn't have much offensive upside, but he can provide fantasy owners with about two penalty minutes per game.

Shane O'Brien has been shipped to Calgary by Colorado. O'Brien was traded with David Jones for Alex Tanguay and Cory Sarich. In 28 games with the Avalanche, O'Brien had four assists and 60 penalty minutes. O'Brien should land a role on Calgary's defense corps in 2013-14.

Shane O'Brien played for just the seventh time this season on Tuesday. O'Brien has spent the better part of the 2013 campaign in the press box. Even when the Avalanche lose blueliners to injuries, they seem to typically play youngsters over O'Brien. What makes the decision particularly puzzling is that O'Brien is in the first season of a three-year/$6 million contract. "Nobody likes sitting out, but it is what it is," O'Brien said. "They're giving some young guys a look and a chance, and that's part of the game. At the same time, I feel like I can still play. Whenever I get my chance, I've got to prove that again." O'Brien had a plus-one rating, four hits, and four blocked shots in 17:13 minutes in Colorado's 3-2 shootout loss Tuesday.

Shane O'Brien and Michael Sgarbossa were healthy scratches on Monday. O'Brien sat out so Stefan Elliott could make his seasonal debut. The Avs were looking to improve their lackluster offensive output and it must have worked as they pumped six goals past the Nashville netminders Chris Mason and Pekka Rinne.

Shane O'Brien will finally get to play on Monday after seven of Colorado's first eight games in the press box. O'Brien is getting an opportunity because Ryan Wilson (ankle) is sidelined. "Excited to be back. Never want to see anybody get hurt, especially a guy like 'Willie,' who has been playing so well, but that's part of the business and I get another opportunity here," O'Brien said. Due in part to the lockout, he has only played once in the last nine months, so rust might be a factor.

Shane O'Brien was a healthy scratch again for Colorado's 3-1 win over Edmonton Saturday. After he was a mainstay in the Colorado lineup last season, O'Brien has only dressed once for the club this year. It has been speculated the team may be attempting to shop him around the league in an effort to get help up front, but if teammate Ryan Wilson's new injury keeps him on the shelf for an extended period of time O'Brien will be needed to take his place. If he finds a permanent place in the lineup he has a chance to deliver value in leagues that reward penalty minutes.

Shane O'Brien was a healthy scratch yet again on Thursday. O'Brien has only played in one of Colorado's first seven games. He got regular time last season and inked a three-year/$6 million extension over the summer. All the same, he can't be counted on to have any fantasy value this season.