So I've been following the NHL offseason fairly closely and just a week or so ago I hear a rumor about Marc Savard possibly getting traded to Columbus. I thought to myself, "what a joke that rumor is, how could anyone possibly beleive that the Bruins would trade away Savard when they just signed him to a 7 year contract extension?" Makes no sense right? Then I hear Savard for Kaberle rumors. Kaberle and Chara on the same line... now that is a spicy meatball. It seems like I hear talks about Kaberle to the Bruins just about once a week (okay maybe a little exaggeration), but another Savard trade rumor? That got me thinking, how could a team go from one extreme (7 year extension) to the other (trading him away) over night? And then it hit me, just like it did Felger on Felger and Mazz, Cam Neely was just promoted to Bruins President! That's the only way to explain this right? Perhaps the 7 year extension was mostly all Peter Chiarelli, and then once Cam gets promoted he takes over and says "Get the hell out of my way this is my team now!"
As of right now the Bruins have Savard, Bergeron, Krejci, Colborne (likely to earn a roster spot fairly soon I think), and now Campbell at the center position. It seems like their could be something to these Savard trade talks after all. Now I'm not one who would support trading Savard away at the moment because of his elite passing abiliy and vision. It was no secret that the bruins struggled offensivly last season, so why get rid of one of the best setup men in the game? Perhaps the Bruins know something we don't, or maybe this thing is getting completely blown out of proportion.
Heard on WEEI today that Thomas was the subject of a few rumors, but they weren't Sharks-based, Flyers-based, or Caps-based oddly enough.
ReplyDeleteThe two teams I heard that had shown the "greatest interest" were the Islanders and Penguins. Now, with Dipietro's injury history, it makes sense that they could use a goalie (but a 36 year old?). The Penguins baffle me, because, although Fleury isn't great, he's been labeled as their franchise goalie at times and has won them a Cup.
Hopefully if these rumors are true, the Bruins are able to get their hands on either Mark Streit or the #5 pick from NYI, or maybe they could make a deal to acquire signing-rights to Gonchar from the Pens.
I still think Thomas is too expensive, old, and injury prone to be dealt this offseason, but at least it looks like there is plenty of interest around the league.
Another Update: The Bruins re-inked Johnny Boychuk to a two-year deal worth $3.75 mil. He'll get paid $1.75 in year 1, and $2 mil in year 2. The hot-streak of common sense continues for the B's. The offseason would have been hard to consider a success if they were unable to bring back Boychuk and/or Seidenberg, and they've managed to get both of them signed to very cap-friendly deals.
ReplyDeleteThey now have 5 dmen under contract (6 if you count Alexandrov): Chara, Seidenberg, Boychuk, Hunwick, Ference. They still have to work out a deal for RFA Mark Stuart, and look for them to possibly make a trade for a puck-moving defenseman by Saturday.