Bruins Off-Season Thread

[TheKilo]

Sorry YH213 I should have quoted Dutchy.

[Dojji]

The conventional wisdom goes that Kessel should be swapped for a D-man.

 

This on a team that already allowed the lowest goals in the NHL last year IIRC.

 

There's a sentiment that we got exposed in the playoffs because we need another puckmover. Completely ignoring the fact that we got exposed in the playoffs largely because two of our best puckmovers were shelved with injuries.

 

When it comes time to move players to improve the roster, you don't start with 21 y ear old 30+ goal wings. There is no overwhelming need to get rid of Phil Kessel. he is doing what he was drafted to do, and doing it well. I know the Bruins love tough guys, but if we can't tolerate a wide mix of skillsets on the Bruins, including light-hitting speed forwards like Kessel, we'll never win anything.

[Dutchy]

The conventional wisdom goes that Kessel should be swapped for a D-man.

 

This on a team that already allowed the lowest goals in the NHL last year IIRC.

 

There's a sentiment that we got exposed in the playoffs because we need another puckmover. Completely ignoring the fact that we got exposed in the playoffs largely because two of our best puckmovers were shelved with injuries.

 

When it comes time to move players to improve the roster, you don't start with 21 y ear old 30+ goal wings. There is no overwhelming need to get rid of Phil Kessel. he is doing what he was drafted to do, and doing it well. I know the Bruins love tough guys, but if we can't tolerate a wide mix of skillsets on the Bruins, including light-hitting speed forwards like Kessel, we'll never win anything.

 

Absolutely nobody is complaining that Kessel is "light-hitting". The complaint is that he scored 81% of his goals against the worst teams in the NHL.

[Dojji]

And he scored about a goal a game in the playoffs, including against the team that ultimately defeated us, and did it with a torn rotator cuff. Playoff competition is the toughest there is, and he didn't just survive there, he thrived.

 

besides, where the hell did you expect a goal scorer to score most of his goals? As long as he's actually scoring against tough competition I don't care if he murders the weaker teams, in fact I'm glad he's doing it. Someone has to. The alternative is pretty embarrassing.

 

Also, Kessel would probably have scored more goals if he was actually getting the share of playoff time most teams' goal scoring leaders get. For some reason he can't buy, beg, borrow or steal his way onto PP unit 1, even though throughout the playoffs our biggest problem -- by a LOT -- was executing the power play.

 

Now, let's see you break it down and actually defend those numbers because there's NWIH he actually scored 81% of his goals against the very worst teams in the NHL so you swallowed some mediot's BS whole on that one, probably based on an exaggerated definition of "worst teams in the NHL."

[Dutchy]

And he scored about a goal a game in the playoffs, including against the team that ultimately defeated us, and did it with a torn rotator cuff. Playoff competition is the toughest there is, and he didn't just survive there, he thrived.

 

besides, where the hell did you expect a goal scorer to score most of his goals? As long as he's actually scoring against tough competition I don't care if he murders the weaker teams, in fact I'm glad he's doing it. Someone has to. The alternative is pretty embarrassing.

 

Now, let's see you break it down and actually defend those numbers because there's NWIH he actually scored 81% of his goals against the very worst teams in the NHL so you swallowed some mediot's BS whole on that one, probably based on an exaggerated definition of "worst teams in the NHL."

 

No he didn't, he scored 6 goals in 11 games. And he only scored in 1 game against the Canes. That's not "thriving" by any stretch of the imagination. You might want to look up stats before you talk next time.

[Dojji]

OK, then, "point per game pace," Mr. Technical. 11 points in 11 games. 6 goals, 5 assists. Still not a performance to scoff at by any stretch of the imagination.

[Dutchy]

OK' date=' then, "point per game pace," Mr. Technical. 11 points in 11 games. 6 goals, 5 assists. Still not a performance to scoff at by any stretch of the imagination.[/quote']

 

He scored in only one game against the Canes. But that's a small sample size. If you want a more legit sample size, he scored 29 of his goals against teams that didn't make the playoffs and he scored 7 of his goals against teams that made the playofffs.

 

I never said he's bad. I've said multiple times he's a good goal scorer and I'd prefer he comes back (at a reasonable price). But for some reason, the fact that I don't claim he's perfect has caused fans to criticize me.

 

He's a great goal scorer. He's just a little streaky and doesn't play good enough defense to be payed $5 million. That's what I've said all along regardless of what pink hat fans have claimed I've said.

[Dojji]

Good luck finding a similar player on the market for $5M or less.

[TheKilo]

Where are those 36 goals being made up then, Dutchy?

[Dutchy]

Hunwick files for arbitration, so it definitely looks like he's back.

 

http://bigbadblog.weei.com/sports/boston/hockey/bruins/2009/07/05/matt-hunwick-files-for-salary-arbitration-with-bruins/

 

Add him to the list of Krejci, Recchi and Bitz. We also brought in Begin. The only thing that's really left is the Kessel situation.

[Dutchy]

Where are those 36 goals being made up then' date=' Dutchy?[/quote']

 

We probably won't replace all 36 goals. We'd have to place Recchi and Sturm on the 1st line and hope for the best. We won't score as many goals overall, but they could easily match Kessel's 7 goals against playoff caliber teams.

 

Again, I'd prefer to keep Kessel. Just don't know how realistic it is given his salary demands.

[Dojji]

We don't know what his salary demands are.

[Dutchy]

We don't know what his salary demands are.

 

His agent has said he wants $5 million.

[Dojji]

Link?

[Dutchy]

Link?

 

http://sportsblog.projo.com/2009/06/bruins-rumors-k.html

[TheKilo]

http://www.telegram.com/article/20090617/NEWS/906170409/1121/SPORTS11

 

No, he said, he and his agent, Wade Arnott, have not asked for $5 million a year during negotiations with the Bruins on a new contract, as was reported by the Ottawa Sun.

 

Yes, his first priority is to remain with the Bruins rather than play elsewhere, although he will become a restricted free agent in a little less than two weeks (July 1) if no agreement is struck with Boston before then.

 

And yes, his left shoulder is coming along nicely some four weeks after surgery to repair a torn labrum, but even the notoriously fast-healing Kessel doubts he’ll be ready for the start of the regular season in early October.

 

Later, asked about that published report that Kessel was seeking a contract worth $5 million a year – which, by the way, would price him right out of the Bruins’ market, unless they unloaded a major salary to compensate — the 21-year-old forward chuckled.

 

“No, that’s false,” he said. “I don’t know where that gets reported from. I want to be a Bruin, so we’ll see what happens.”

 

http://bigbadblog.weei.com/sports/boston/hockey/bruins/2009/06/24/bruins-make-qualifying-offer-to-kessel-negotiations-continue/

 

While visiting a local school for a Bruins-related community event last week, Kessel himself denied that his side has made any demands of $5 million a year for a contract. But it’s clear his elite credentials combined with his on-ice skills and production set put him in the $4 million a year NHL neighborhood of fellow young superstars like Jordan Staal and Alexander Semin.

[Dojji]

So in other words, every number spouted has been spouted by a sportswriter and vehemently denied by Kessel.

 

Love that little trick in the last excerpt. that $4M is clearly coming out of the writer's posterior orifice but if you skim it seems clear enough that Kessel wants $4M

[TheKilo]

Kessel's worth $4m

[Looch Ness Monster]

No offer sheets yet. The market will start to close up and Kessel will sign for either a one year deal, so that he can get to arbitration in the summer of 2010 or he'll sign a Krejci-like deal. He really doesn't have much flexibility right now. The Bruins are in control of the situation in my opinion.

[rician blast]

Kessel ain't getting $5m from the B's, that's for sure.

 

As for where his 36 goals come from if he's moved? Unlike some here, I don't see Recchi having all that much impact, yeah he chipped in some decent production in a short time here, but how effective wil lhe be over the long haul...at his age?

 

Sturm comes back, I can see 20 from him, but I'd suspect a drop off in overall goal scoring without Kessel in the mix... B's simply don't have the cap room to make an acquisition to significanlty absorb Kessel's production.

[Dojji]

Kessel's worth $4m

 

Then where's the $4M offer sheet?

[TheKilo]

You tell me, MR. Ardent supporter of TT making $5 million

[BoSox21]

if Brian Gionta can make $5 mil despite averaging 22 goals over the last 3 seasons, you better believe Kessel can get that

[Dojji]

You tell me' date=' MR. Ardent supporter of TT making $5 million[/quote']

 

Personally, I think they disappeared in a puff of "the cap is going down next year."

 

And I'm still in favor of that contract. The last thing we needed while ramping up to another cup run next year is to let Thomas walk and have Rask go all Toivonen on us.

[Cityofchampions33]

Personally, I think they disappeared in a puff of "the cap is going down next year."

 

And I'm still in favor of that contract. The last thing we needed while ramping up to another cup run next year is to let Thomas walk and have Rask go all Toivonen on us.

 

Agreed, 5 mill for the Vezina trophy winner is a damned good deal. Look at all the other contracts in the league, 9 goalies had 5 mill or more and Timmy got the award for being the BEST goalie, so how isn't that a good deal? Yes, I am taking his age into account, and even then, he has lower mileage on him than other goalies.

[TheKilo]

How many times does it need to be repeated?

 

Thomas earned his $5 million - it just shouldn't have been the Bruins who paid it considering their cap situation.

[WhiskeyBreath]

Ok, say they didn't pay him and he walked. Who's in net?

[BoSox21]

Clemmensen perhaps for a year or two or Khabibulin for three with Rask backing up

[Dutchy]

I'm glad he's not asking for $5 million, maybe he'll stay afterall.

[TheKilo]

I find it funny people are still defending the TT signing.