Since Kessel is staying, whose going?
by MTLsBiggestBsFan on Jul 13, 2009 8:28 PM EDT
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So since PC has stated that Kessel will be back next season and there is only about $4 mil left in cap space, assuming Hunwick will also be signed, someone has to go.
As of today, the Bruins only have 6 DMen signed to NHL contacts. With Hunwick, who will surely be signed and back next year, they'll be 7. This means it will almost surely not be a DMen on the way out, unless they believe someone like Jeff Penner or Andrew Bodnarchuk is able to step in. I have not heard about anyone who the B's staff is high enough on to step in this season other then Boychuk. So it's safe to assume a forward is gone.
Going to through the lines, who is safe and who is not??
Lucic will only leave over my dead body and that's not happening so he's safe. Obviously Kessel is safe. There were rumors about Savard being traded prior to last season, but I think after the way he played this year, I think he put an end to them. He's getting better defensively (still not great) and really what's the point of signing Kessel and then trading his set up man, it doesn't make sense, if the plan on keeping Kessel, Savard is safe too.
Bergeron is impossible to move right now, $4.75 mil for 8 goals, 39 pts and concussion issues, not even the Habs would take him. But that's OK, he's due to break out this season, I feel it! One day I think he'll one of the best 2 way players in the league, hopefully it's in Boston. Reechi is obviously safe. Kobasew, unforunately is my prime candiate. 21 goals in 68 games for $2.3 mil, there are a lot of teams who would love to have him. I would HATE to see him go, but I don't know if they are any other options.
Krejci is safe, Ryder is a possibility but with 27 goals and the way this line played for the entire year I don't see them breaking it up. I'm not as high on Wheeler is most people are, He tries to do way too much himself, he's not very fast and disappeared in the 2nd half of the season/playoffs. However he is talented, big and most importantly young and loaded with potential, but next year he is an RFA, how much is going to want?? Will they have enough with all the other RFAs and deduction to the cap.
The 4th line is safe, Bitz is not going anywhere for a while and Begin and Thornton's salaries being moved likely won't help the cap issues.
Then there is Sturm, where does he fit in, 27 goals in each of his last 2 full season, 29 the year before that with Bos/SJ. 7 in only 19 games last year for $3.5 mil a season. He'll be an UFA in the same season as Bergeron, Savard, Ryder, Kobasew and Chara. As good as the Bs were last year, they were better with Sturm healthy.
So what's that leave us with, Kobasew, Ryder, Wheeler or Sturm. Personally of the 4, I like Wheeler the least, even though he's the youngest with the most potential. I think either him or Ryder should go (only cause of his $4 mil) Either can be replaced by Sturm. I believe he's a LW, but not sure either Ryder or Wheeler have the ability to play the opposite wing, but I think 1 of the 3 of them can. In the end, I think PC will decide to trade Kobasew for either a DMan prospect or draft picks. It is worth noting the both Kessel and Krejci will not start the season, so there are no cap issues til both are back. Do they make a move early or do they wait til November when everyone knows they've got to give up someone?
What do you think?
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Great post! It is always good to hear that there are a few B’s fans up there.
I would be VERY surprised if they traded Wheeler. He has so much potential and he will be an RFA next season. He has a very high cap hit in ‘09-’10 due to bonsuses ($2.825 million), so if he re-signs next season his cap hit could potentially be lower.
Kobasew and Sturm are probably candidates to be moved. I would rather see them move Kobasew. Although, there is a question of how Sturm will be after returning from knee surgery. I hope they don’t trade Ryder, because I think he does a lot of the little things away from the puck that go unnoticed besides being able to put the puck in the net.
You bring up a good point about the temporay salary cap due to the injuries. I’m not sure exactly how that works. I know that they have to get under the cap before the season starts and I’m not sure if they take into account the injured players or not. In other words, I’m not sure if you can put players on the LTIR before the season starts. I will have to do some research on that.
by Stanley Cup of Chowder on Jul 13, 2009 9:17 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
I know Minnesota did it with Kurtis Foster last year. Guys can start on IR.
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by Cornelius Hardenbergh on Jul 14, 2009 9:50 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Good post.
Ryder won’t go anywhere (Salary 4Mil). Sturm should stay and should be fine after his surgery (Salary 3.5Mil). Wheeler bombed at the end of the season and definitely tries to do to much by himself, but had the second best (only to Krejci’s #1) plus minus rating in the league(Salary 875K with 1.950Mil in bonuses if he meets all his requirements to get any of this bonus. He does hit the cap pretty hard at 2.825Mil). Especially where the B’s are looking for a defensive team with scoring ability. Wheeler still makes sense. Kobasew- sadly enough maybe the guy to trade(Salary 2.5Mil). Savard is a UFA after this season(Salary 5Mil). Bergeron should be a no go, but who knows what management has in mind(Salary 5Mil for this season and 5.75Mil for next). I know Krejci would be just fine as the 1st line center as has Bergeron in the past. In the dark times I call it. Lucic is a future captain and a huge fan favorite (RFA at the end of the season) so he stays. I see a lot of moves here that make sense to me, but I am not the GM of the Bruins nor do I know what is going on behind the scenes so I guess all we can do is wait and see. Have a good one guys! Go B’s!!!
by BrotherCrimson on Jul 14, 2009 7:39 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
awesome post
I also agree with everyone that I don’t see Ryder going anywhere. His production this season had a couple of droughts, but overall if you look at his numbers compared to many other players in the league, his salary isn’t outrageous at 4 million USD. Relative to what other Bruins make though, yes, he’s probably a bit overpaid, but he was a constant offensive presence through most of the season and I don’t see Boston giving that up.
My feeling is that it will be Sturm who goes, if only because of the uncertainty around his knee and that the team demonstrated it was clearly capable of winning without him in the lineup last year. I don’t completely buy the “Kessel will be back” statement from the front office; I do believe they will try to sign him, of course, but if the differences between what he makes on the open market and what he makes in Boston are going to exceed $750k USD or so, I wouldn’t be surprised to see them change their tune.
by jctsai12 on Jul 14, 2009 10:41 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
You are right, the “Kessel will be back” statement could very well be a smoke screen. We will have to wait and see. I think they are waiting for Hunwick’s arbitration case first to see where they are at before making any moves.
by Stanley Cup of Chowder on Jul 14, 2009 11:33 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I don’t see Hunwick going all the way to arbitration. it’s very rare and a painful process, by all accounts.
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by Cornelius Hardenbergh on Jul 14, 2009 1:22 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
They probably will sign him before they go to arbitration, but I don’t think they will make any other moves until they know how much they are going to be spending on Hunwick either by signing him or going through the arbitration process.
by Stanley Cup of Chowder on Jul 14, 2009 2:01 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Agreed. Hunwick comes first. They are some what close on a deal from what I hear.
Even if it does go to arbitration I think they want Hunwick to be a Bruin.
I also heard that if they do sign Hunwick he wants his nick name to be “The Huny B”. I told him this was a bad idea, but he says it will help to strike fear into the hearts of his opponents.
Go B’s!!! Have a good one guys!
by BrotherCrimson on Jul 14, 2009 3:01 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Just as long as he doesn’t try to recreate the figure eight bee dance after every goal, I’m OK with the nickname.
I expect Sturm to draw the shortest straw, as well.
by rkba334 on Jul 15, 2009 1:58 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
sturm
sturm could be a possibility for boston to get rid of
by BostonNation on Jul 17, 2009 10:45 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Sturm has a no trade clause and he siad he wants to stay in Boston and won’t waive the no trade clause.
by Stanley Cup of Chowder on Jul 18, 2009 12:22 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Kobasew
I think Chuck is looking like a leading candidate though I don’t dismiss the possibility that someone will step up and meet PC’s asking price for Kessel.
Wheeler did tail off in the second half but that was almost to be expected given the length of the pro schedule relative to the college one. He just ran out of gas. I see a very bright future for him and don’t think he should be traded. As for his cap hit … I believe that, unlike last year, entry level contract bonuses do not count against the cap this year – at the very least unrealized bonuses. Wheeler is a natural RW who played a lot of LW last year due to need.
Completely agree about Bergeron.
I don’t think that Sturm is going anywhere because very few GMs would be willing to trade anything of value to the Bruins for someone coming off his injury at his salary. Yes, we could probably trade him for almost nothing as a salary dump – if he were to waive his no trade clause – but I think that is a bad idea.
Savard is a UFA after next year.
by Larry E on Jul 18, 2009 10:14 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
sturm
“Then there is Sturm, where does he fit in, 27 goals in each of his last 2 full season, 29 the year before that with Bos/SJ. 7 in only 19 games last year for $3.5 mil a season. He’ll be an UFA in the same season as Bergeron, Savard, Ryder, Kobasew and Chara. As good as the Bs were last year, they were better with Sturm healthy.”
Of this group only savard is up after this season the rest are signed through next year
by mritz138 on Jul 20, 2009 10:32 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Savard
Savard is a UFA after next year not in 2 years.
by Larry E on Jul 22, 2009 9:57 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Kessel is Staying Who's Going
I am a new member and a die hard Bruin fan for more than 50yrs. I like where PC is taking the Bruins and the Coaching style of JC has vastly improved our team over the past few seasons. I feel that PC is trying to make the Bruins a more durable team by adding players like Morris and Begin but in order to sign Kessel two of our less durable must go. Sorry to say I feel those players are Kobie and Ferrence, both good players but are expendable due to our depth and the need to Keep the goal scorer we have in Kessel. I hate to see any of our good players go but that’s the cap era and we have to ice the best team possible.
Last season we couldf have gone further in the playoffs with a more durable team and not so many injuries which is why PC is going younger and stronger. In order to keep the Bruins part of the elite in the NHL they have their good young players like Kessel and compant. You do not see Detriot or Pit trade their best players, and I don,t think it’s a good idea for the either.
by brunoc on Aug 6, 2009 9:43 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Welcome to Stanley Cup of Chowder. I agree with you that the B’s need more durable players. I have seen enough of Fragile Ferrence on the 9th floor instead of on the ice.
by Stanley Cup of Chowder on Aug 7, 2009 7:26 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
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