2008-09 Boston Bruins Thread

[YanksHater213]

At least Kessel attacks the net. He could be smarter about how he does it, but he attacks the net. I don't recall Samsonov being that willing to go right in.

 

I see no reason why Tuuka with sporadic playing time is better for the Bruins than Manny with sporadic playing time.

 

I agree Kessel is a better offensive player than Samsonov ever was, but I put him in the same light as Sami, pretty one dimensional, not excellent on the forecheck, mediocre defensively, etc.

[BoSox21]

Well, forget that rumored Pronger deal. He's been taken off the market by the Ducks. Now I probably see the Bruins getting Derek Morris

[Dojji]

I don't see the Bruins improving their defense this before the offseason. I'm not saying that Chara and Wideman will take us all the way, but I doubt what we get via trade will be a worthwhile improvement over Hnidy, Ward, Ferrence, Stuart and Hunwick.

 

I think any move that's made will be on the forward end -- with Cole being the closest to a "no-brainer" this market offers.

[BoSox21]

The emergence of Krecji makes Bergeron expendable in my eyes

[rician blast]

The emergence of Krecji makes Bergeron expendable in my eyes

 

Agreed, but you have to find someone to take his salary. Krejci's performance of late has actually knocked his value down a bit, he continues on this path and he'll be a little cheaper to resign than he would have been based on his first half performance.

 

The Leafs didn't play Nik Antropov in recent games, signaling that he may be moved today. I believe Kaberle is another guy set to move.

 

I have no problem of the B's move Bergeron orAxelsson and perhaps one of their D-men if it means settign them up for a strong playoff push. s***, trade Fernandez too, I'm of the opinion that Rask will do just as well.

 

Wouldn't midn seeing Neidermayer wearing the spoked B, he can still flat out fly and will play with a little chip sometimes too. B's need a puck moving D-man and some size and strength up front.

[YanksHater213]

I heard Kaberle hurt his hand, and may be out for the year, so he's most likely in Toronto for the year.

[BoSox21]

Antropov will be traded today guaranteed and like YH said above, Kaberle hurt his hand last night which basically means he'll be traded at the draft rather than today.

 

And yea, Bergeron's salary makes him a little hard to move but he isn't under contract long-term so it makes his contract a bit easier to swallow

[Dojji]

If we could move Bergeron and Axelsson, bring in a LW, and promote Sobotka to play third line centerman, I think that's the best we're going to be able to do. I don't want to bring in a #3 Dman with a large contract because I think that's bad long-term planning. If you're going to pay a lot, pay a lot for the best -- don't be Peter Angelos.

[BoSox21]

The reason Derek Morris would be a good fit is cause he's a free agent at the end of the year and it shouldn't take that much to get him

[TheKilo]

The reason Derek Morris would be a good fit is cause he's a free agent at the end of the year and it shouldn't take that much to get him

 

This - it's pretty clear the Bruins need a defenseman but they should go the route of a rental so it won't impact the Kessel and Krejci negotiations this offseason.

[BoSox21]

Mikael Tellqvist went to Buffalo which isn't significant for Boston aside from the fact that it takes away a landing spot for Manny Fernandez

[BoSox21]

Nokeleinen (sp?) has been traded to the Ducks for Steve Montador. There's your defensive depth right there

[rician blast]

Nokie came over from the Isles in a trade that sent Ben Walter and a conditional 2nd round pick 2009 to the Island.

 

So essentially what we've got here is Steve Montador for a second round pick this year. Monty has 125 PIMs this year, to go along with 4 goals, 16 assists. He's not the puck moving D-man the B's supposedly were seeking, but he is a tough player.

 

I think this makes someone expendable...Hnidy or Hunwick?

 

I hope the B's aren't done, would love to see some size upfront...they've been getting pushed around by the bigger teams (SJ, Philly).

[BoSox21]

Mark Recchi is a Bruin

[TheKilo]

Love the Montador deal, lukewarm about the Recchi deal - hate giving up Lashoff but I think it provides the team with what they need for the stretch run.

 

Karsums didn't have much worth to the Bruins, so to convince myself that it is a good deal I'm calling it Lashoff for Recchi and a 2nd - and since TB will most likely suck next year that 2nd could prove valuable.

[BoSox21]

Recchi gives the locker room some experience. He's now the only guy on the Bruins roster, besides just Yelle I think, that's actually won a Cup

[TheKilo]

And Montador went to the finals with Calgary I believe.

[BoSox21]

So did Ference but Yelle and Recchi are the only guys with that cup-winning experience

[rician blast]

I agree with your analysis...Karsums wasnt' going to be an impact player in Boston so it's Lashoff for Recchi and a 2 rounder. I like it.

 

Both moves today scream CHARACTER. Recchi is a standup guy that does whatever his team needs him to do and always plays hard, often with a chip. Montador is the same way, always has his teammates' backs.

 

Seems to me the B's still have chips to make a bigger splash.

[TheKilo]

Rangers made a couple of nice moves but how are they going to clear cap space? Same with Calgary.

[rician blast]

Rangers pick up Morris for Prucha, Dawes and something else...if Morris is a FA after this year, I've got to question this move as they're a ways away from contending, IMO.

 

Rangers also got Antropov for a couple of picks.

 

 

Meanwhile, the Fyers, among the league leaders in fighting majors and PIMs picked up none other than Daniel Carcillo. He's got 3 goals, 7 assists this year...and 174 PIMs...and a -13 rating, which shouldn't be an issue because he'll probably be used sparingly...you knwo go out, start a fight, sit for 5 minuts in the box, head back to the bench.

 

Don't understand that move, they're a tough team to begin with.

[rician blast]

As the dust settle on the deadline activity, did any team help themselves immensely in the pursuit of the 2009 Cup? I'm not blown away. Among the teams with better records in the league...

 

Bruins - they appear to be better now than yesterday, but was it enough? I'm thinking the moves have a marginal impact on the team, maybe the emotion of the trades and the character of the guys they got are good for a few wins, but I don't think their a ton better than they were.

 

Jersey - Nice pick up with Havelid...beyond that why tinker, they've been on fire. Brodeur still one of if not the best, they'll be tough to beat in the East.

 

Caps - did they do anything? I believe they win a series or two then goaltending brings them down.

 

Flyers - didn't improve themselves, IMO...just brought in a lunk. They're already one of the toughest teams, why they needed Carcillo, not sure...maybe to punch out Sean Avery?

 

 

Sharks - not sure what their moves mean, but I still see them as a contender

 

Detroit - quiet at the deadline and for good reason..they're still one of the best.

 

Calgary - Adding Jokinen and Leopold was big. They improved the team, at least on paper, as much as any contender this year.

[BoSox21]

Bruins - Got a little more depth, a little more experience and a little more character. I would've expected them to improve more on defense but the bottom line is they were a better team than they were yesterday.

 

New Jersey - They're set as far as I'm concerned. Brodeur looks as good as ever and Havelid shores up their defense nicely.

 

Flyers - Needed to improve their defense more, McLaren isn't enough. Carcillo gives them a bit more sandpaper which is always nice.

 

Sharks - Getting rid of McLaren means nothing, he was in the minors anyway. Getting Moen was a nice little move, gives them another depth forward which they needed (that's the only reason Claude Lemieux was there) and he won a cup with Anaheim two years ago.

 

Caps - Didn't do anything. Could've added a power forward, another defenceman and goaltending.

 

Detroit - Didn't do anything. Didn't need to do anything. Goaltending has sucked but it will be good enough for them in the playoffs.

 

Calgary - Addressed every need they had. Definitely improved themselves the most but aren't quite on the level of Detroit and San Jose.

[WhiskeyBreath]

I like the moves. Recchi will move PJ off of the power play and he has a left handed shot.

 

Also, I think Thornton won with Anaheim a few years back.

[CrespoBlows]

Rangers pick up Morris for Prucha, Dawes and something else...if Morris is a FA after this year, I've got to question this move as they're a ways away from contending, IMO.

 

Rangers also got Antropov for a couple of picks.

 

 

Meanwhile, the Fyers, among the league leaders in fighting majors and PIMs picked up none other than Daniel Carcillo. He's got 3 goals, 7 assists this year...and 174 PIMs...and a -13 rating, which shouldn't be an issue because he'll probably be used sparingly...you knwo go out, start a fight, sit for 5 minuts in the box, head back to the bench.

 

Don't understand that move, they're a tough team to begin with.

 

Help me understand, but there are people who are paid to pick fights in the NHL?

[rician blast]

Carcillo is supposed to add some more toughness to the Flyers. Beyond the toughness he doesn't bring much. Not to say he can't play...they all can play to some extent or they would be in the NHL...but apparently the attraction to him is that he's a pest and he'll fight anyone. A couple of years ago he had something like 325 PIMs, most since Peter Worrell had in or around 2001.

 

I just don't see that as a Flyers need, they play tough to begin with and they're in the top 3 teams in PIMs already.

[Dojji]

Lucic-Savard-Kessel -- top line but I worry sometimes about this line's defensive ability

Wheeler-Krejci-Ryder -- solid #2 line

Recchi-Bergeron-Kobasew -- puck possession line with good scoring ability and some physicaility/checking prowess

Bitz-Yelle-Thornton -- heck of a well balanced 4th line with a defensively responsible centerman, good scrapping RW and a LW who creates scoring chances by going to the net with authority. Perhaps our best-balanced line.

 

Chara-Ferrence

Wideman-Montador

Stuart-Ward

 

Trying to pair a more physical/offensive player with a responsible stay at home type

 

Thomas

Fernandez

 

Scratches:

Axelsson -- still worth something but hard to see what he brings to the 4th line (duplicates Yelle's strengths too much) and The BYT line creates enough offensive pressure and cycles well enough that it dilutes Axelsson's defensive advantage, especially replacing Bitz who makes that line work offensively by being a good cycling presence along the boards and going to the net well.

Sobotka -- probably deserves more of a chance than he's getting thanks to the emergence of Bitz and Boston's overall depth -- he gets the call especially if Bergeron goes down.

[WhiskeyBreath]

I can't believe they just lost to Phoenix. :thumbdown

[Dojji]

All the standard excuses apply after losing the first post-deadline game. THey're just getting their chemistry after the trade deadline, etc.

[TheKilo]

Those excuses would work if they hadn't blown for the last month.