2009 Boston Bruins Free Agency Situation
by Stanley Cup of Chowder on Jun 29, 2009 1:03 PM EDT
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PrintHere is just a quick capsule of what GM Peter Chiarelli and the Bruins will be dealing with once the free agency period opens on Wednesday:
Pending UFAs: P.J. Axelsson, Mark Recchi, Stephane Yelle, Shane Hnidy, Steve Montador, Manny Fernandez, Martin St. Pierre, Johnny Boychuk, Jeremy Reich, and Ryan Stokes.
Pending RFAs: Phil Kessel, Matt Hunwick, Byron Bitz, Kevin Regan, Carl Soderberg, Wacey Rabbit (B's did not extend qualify offer), and Ned Lukacevic (B's did not extend qualify offer).
Salary Cap Space: Approx. $6.8 million
Projected 2009-2010 Salary Cap: $56.8-million
Key needs: The Bruins' first priority is to re-sign Phil Kessel or to get a puck-moving defenseman (depending on who you ask). I am part of the second camp in case you were wondering. After that I think the Bruins next priority is to re-sign Matt Hunwick and Byron Bitz.
Potential Targets: Due to the current cap situation, I don't think that the Bruins will be involved in the free agent market much besides trying to keep some of their own free agents. However, if the Bruins don't resign Kessel or trade him, they might look at the free agent market for a puck-moving blue-liner or a depth winger.
What our rivals want: I don't really care what the Habs do, but all the SBN Hockey sites are using this same format. The Canadiens have hardly anyone under contract for next year. They will probably sign a bunch of mediocre players from Quebec to appease their narrow-sighted fans and fill out their roster.
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Agnecy? Also, the free agency stuff opens wednesday, the day after tomorrow.
For actual hockey content, this lack of cap space is going to make FREE AGENCY FRENZY less exciting than usual. I’m still hoping the Bruins get Kaberle.
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by Cornelius Hardenbergh on Jun 29, 2009 1:15 PM EDT reply actions
Just realized the agnecy thing. I will fix that. I also thought it was the 30th. I suck.
by Stanley Cup of Chowder on Jun 29, 2009 1:18 PM EDT up reply actions
It’s cool. Mondays suck. I’m moving at about half-speed today.
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by Cornelius Hardenbergh on Jun 29, 2009 1:27 PM EDT up reply actions
I am of the sign Kessel camp
As much as I like the nick name you gave him “Frail Phil”
I just don’t see who is going to pick up the 36 goal hole he leaves.
Hossa! Heatley!
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by Cornelius Hardenbergh on Jun 29, 2009 1:28 PM EDT up reply actions
Wait, you mean we can’t sign one player to a 7 million dollar contract when there are roster spots open and only 6.8 million in cap space?
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by Cornelius Hardenbergh on Jun 29, 2009 1:29 PM EDT up reply actions
I hate to say it, but the Bruins kinda need Kessel to re-sign. It’s not just a matter of 36 goals, it’s a matter of having more than one guy on the roster who is faster than average.
It’s hard to imagine this team remaining elite if it doesn’t have a single breakaway threat.
by bostonblueline.blogspot.com on Jun 29, 2009 3:07 PM EDT up reply actions
I think Sturm, Kobasew or Bergeron are candidates to move if the B’s feel they need Kessel. Mainly because they have biggish contracts. Not sure we can find any takers, though.
Bergeron’s contract is virtually untradeable.
by Stanley Cup of Chowder on Jun 29, 2009 3:26 PM EDT up reply actions
I think some teams would take Bergeron at 2 years for 4.75, but it would be a salary dump.
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by Cornelius Hardenbergh on Jun 29, 2009 3:44 PM EDT up reply actions
That is a big risk for any team. He is locked up for 2 years at $5 million next year and $5.75 million the following year with a $4.75 cap hit. The way the FA market is supposed to be this year, the salaries are going to lowered, so a team could probably get a player with less risk for a lot less. That being said, I don’t want Bergeron going anywhere. I think he will turned it around this year and look like his old self again.
by Stanley Cup of Chowder on Jun 29, 2009 3:49 PM EDT up reply actions
A team that is dumping salary and getting a contract that size in return would not be trading with the Bruins. If it were a salary dump, that means the Bruins would be taking on a bigger salary. That would defeat the purpose of trading him.
by Stanley Cup of Chowder on Jun 29, 2009 3:51 PM EDT up reply actions
No, I mean the team taking him would treat him as a salary dump. The Bruins are not a place to dump salary right now.
He’s good, if he can get away with not getting a concussion this year he’ll be back.
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by Cornelius Hardenbergh on Jun 29, 2009 3:55 PM EDT up reply actions
Sorry, I misunderstood your statement. I thought you were saying salary dump for the other team since you were talking from their perspective.
by Stanley Cup of Chowder on Jun 29, 2009 4:02 PM EDT up reply actions
I’ll be more coherent in a day or two, probably.
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by Cornelius Hardenbergh on Jun 29, 2009 4:20 PM EDT up reply actions
I don’t want to see Axelsson playing for another NHL team.
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by Cornelius Hardenbergh on Jun 29, 2009 4:23 PM EDT reply actions
I think his days in Boston are numbered. I just don’t see signing him as a priority.
by Stanley Cup of Chowder on Jun 29, 2009 5:56 PM EDT up reply actions
I know, and it worries me.
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by Cornelius Hardenbergh on Jun 29, 2009 9:35 PM EDT up reply actions
Axelsson has shown me nothing in the last two years to warrant tying to resign him. I would rather see a kid from the AHL get a shot then watch Axelsson another year. Must I remind you that he cannot score a goal with a goaltender in net.
by spencernhl11 on Jun 29, 2009 11:37 PM EDT up reply actions
Yeah, I really don’t see where he fits in next year. Cornelius has a huge man crush on him, so he is blind to the fact that he isn’t the player he once was.
by Stanley Cup of Chowder on Jun 30, 2009 9:37 AM EDT up reply actions
Yeah, but I’ve also seen him do some pretty good stuff defensively. He can’t shoot for shit, but the defense part is pretty good.
I mainly don’t want to see him in another team’s sweater because I want to get a Bruins Axelsson sweater sometime soon and I think they don’t let you do that through the official store when he’s on another team.
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by Cornelius Hardenbergh on Jun 30, 2009 10:45 AM EDT up reply actions
You can probably get one for really cheap at the B’s Pro Shop in about a week or two after the Bruins let him walk.
He really isn’t the shutdown defender he once was. Still a decent PK guy, but I think they can spend that money better elsewhere.
by Stanley Cup of Chowder on Jun 30, 2009 11:24 AM EDT up reply actions
I’m all over that plan.
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by Cornelius Hardenbergh on Jun 30, 2009 12:06 PM EDT up reply actions
Cap Space
Fluto did a salary cap breakdown. His has a little bit more cap space than my calculations because I included Sobotka against the cap making the assumption that he would be with the NHL team next season.
http://www.boston.com/sports/hockey/bruins/extras/bruins_blog/2009/06/updated_salary_16.html
by Stanley Cup of Chowder on Jun 30, 2009 11:30 AM EDT reply actions
Komisarek Rumor
Heard some rumors that Komisarek could sign with the B’s. After the Carolina series, i think we could use him. Komisarek’s agent is a local guy, Matt Keator.
Many of Kessel’s goals came in the 3rd period or when we were already up by 3 goals. Let someone throw out an offer sheet and take the picks instead. I’d like to see what he can produce without a guy like Savard setting him up.
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