Trade Deadline Update with James Murphy: Could the B's be in the market for Pronger or Bouwmeester?

Well, as much as I want the B’s to collect all the former Whalers they possibly can, I don’t think I’d be happy with a Kessel for Pronger trade. The $6 mil he’s due next year, the inappropriate penalties, and the less-than-stellar reputation shadow Pronger far too much for me to be comfortable with him in the black and gold. What’s to stop Mrs. Pronger from deciding that Boston isn’t high profile enough and demanding a trade for her husband at the end of the season?

As far as Bouwmeester goes, from what I’ve read, he’s a bit of a head case, quiet, and keeps to himself. Doesn’t seem like he’d fit in with Savard, Ward, etc. Reminds me of Zach Greinke, the pitcher for the Royals; all he really knows is how to play his sport Example of Greinke’s mind I think there might be very little chance Bouwmeester re-signs in Boston, so I don’t see the point in obtaining him at the deadline.

By the same token, I realize the Bruins have to make a move to improve their roster and advance deep into the playoffs, and that this means they will have to trade away key players on the active roster (not just a Nokelainen, Karsums, or Sobotka). However, I think the Bruins have a nucleus that is under contract for the next few years, meaning they have the luxury of trying for a Cup this year and waiting till later to go for broke. I wouldn’t want to see a good young player be dealt for 25 games from a fading star, especially when it doesn’t guarantee a Cup.

The Bruins need to make a move, but I really hope it’s not for Pronger or Bouwmeester, because if it were, anything less than winning the Cup will have to be considered a failure, and I don’t think that’s how the Bruins should be judged this season.

Well, they have Savard, Lucic, Chara, Bergeron, Ryder, Wheeler under contract for next year, but Kessel and Krejci are both RFAs and are likely to become expensive. After 2009-10, Savard is a UFA. Both goalies are UFAs at the end of this year. They’ll need to re-sign a goalie (and presumably let the other go and bring up Rask) as well. With the RFA situation, the cap gets pretty tight next year, so I think it would behoove the Bruins to go for it now when they have two of the top goalies in the league — there’s no gurantee that Rask will be all that.

Pronger is a legit star and would be more valuable in the playoffs for Boston than Kessel, this year. I don’t have the same interest in Bouwmeester.

Just to clarify, I’m aware of who is and isn’t under contract, who is an impending RFA, etc.; I’m just operating under the assumption that teams will shy away from signing our RFAs to offer sheets that a) The Bruins won’t match or b) Do serious harm to that team’s revenue in the current economy; bet on our RFAs sticking around for another year or two minimum after their entry-level deals expire.

I will admit to not taking the goalie situation into account, but I think my point still stands that this is not a go-for-broke year, and that Chiarelli has a plan that seems to be working, and should not remove key components of the team’s chemistry because they’re overachieving.

Nice call on Whitney: just went to Anaheim.