Thompson & St. Pierre Resign

The Boston Bruins announced earlier today that they have resigned RFAs Nate Thompson and Martin St. Pierre. Nate Thompson served as the Providence Bruins captain last season and St. Pierre is expected to be a top-2 center with very favorable wings in Wheeler, Marchand, Marquardt, Soderberg, and Lehtonen among other possibilities. So, look for St. Pierre to have top end numbers in the "A" column. For more, check out Boston.com and/or the Bruins official website.

I need to forewarn my readers that this week will be a very slow week on here as I am preparing to move to Manchester on Friday August 1st so, the computer will not be high on my list of priorities. However, if I see something that needs to be on here, I'll do a quick post. I won't be going out of my way to get new material on here though. Thanks so much for your understanding and thanks to all the guys (and ladies too) who have wished me well on my trek to New Hampshire. Your wishes do not go unnoticed so, thank you.

Go B's!

-McKeon

B's & 'Hawks Exchange Centers

The Bruins acquired center Martin St. Pierre from the Chicago Blackhawks today in return for center Pascal Pelletier. St. Pierre will most likely spend the majority of the time in Providence but, he can provide extra depth (as if they need depth at center) in injury situations.

McKeon's Take: This certainly doesn't bring the cup to Boston but, it will help out the development program down in the AHL. Here is St. Pierre's stats/scouting report. From an AHL/depth perspective, I like this move. St. Pierre has definitely had some very successful seasons in the AHL. I really have a feeling that Chiarelli is up to something because he has been quite busy in the last 48 hours.

Murray Placed On Waivers

The Boston Bruins have placed winger Glen Murray on unconditional waivers. This is to be the first step in the buyout process.

7/24 2:09pm Edit: Muzz cleared

Wideman Signing Confirmed

The Dennis Wideman signing is finally official. He signed a 4 year deal worth $15.5 million total with a $3.825 million annual cap hit which should be a steal in the final year of his contract. This is slightly less than what was reported yesterday on sportsnet.ca. He will receive $3.25, $3.75, $4, and $4.75 million dollars over the course of the contract respectively.

There will be a 3-day "Quiet" period then a 48-hour buyout period for the Bruins to get themselves under the cap as they are now $1,536,666 over the $56.7 million cap limit. They do not have to be below $56.7 million until the start of the regular season.

"One of the tools we have is the buyout, and that could be anybody," said GM Peter Chiarelli. "Another tool is a trade or sending players to the minors."

State Of The Nation Address

Dear Bruins Fans,

With the July heat and humidity pulling on your will to leave any building with air conditioning, I give you something that can cool you off. Maybe make you think of a much more satisfying thought. Perhaps a fresh sheet of ice with regular season hockey games being played on it. I digress.

There is just under two months until training camp gets underway and the Bruins Brass is still not determined. However, there is no need to fret. There are still moves to be made and there are future decisions being mulled over by Pete, Cam, Donny, and Claude...among other executives.

The team is over the cap as Peter Chiarelli has stated that they are very close to signing Dennis Wideman and if he is to get what is being reported, the Bruins will be at least $1.5 million over the cap. So, decisions have to be made. Does Glen Murray go? If he does, how does he go? Buyout? Trade? Waivers? Peter Schaeffer is another guy with the same questions. Even PJ Axelsson or Andrew Alberts are possibilities as all of these guys have contracts that are up at the end of the 2008-2009 season.

No matter what happens, Peter Chiarelli has been making moves that are in the best interest of the franchise, both present and future. So, there is no doubting that Chiarelli will be doing the right thing in the upcoming weeks. Have faith Bruins fans, there will be a team in September that you can be quite confident in.

Cordially,

McKeon

Boston.com Wideman Update...

4:15 pm: New update...

Apparently, the deal announcement is premature.

Bruins Ink Wideman

The Boston Bruins and defenseman Dennis Wideman have avoided arbitration and agreed to a 4 year deal worth $15.75 million. The cap hit is just over $3.9 million which puts the team 1,599,166 over the current cap of $56.7 million. A team is allowed to be 10% over the given cap space until the season begins.

McKeon's Take: I like this signing. It is a bit expensive but, with the drought/availability of good young defensemen, it's not a bad move. Because of the signing and the avoided arbitration hearing, there is a small buyout period (I believe 48 hours) where the Bruins can buyout guys to get rid of some of their salary off of the cap. If a there is no buyout, there will be a trade coming. Look for some activity from Peter Chiarelli in the next week or so.

Source: Sportsnet.ca

Bruins Schedule Annouced

The National Hockey League has announced the 2008-2009 schedule for the entire league. The Bruins start in Colorado on October 9th, and play 3 other games on the road in Minnesota, Montreal, and Ottawa before they come home to face Pittsburgh in their home opener on October 20th. For a full look at the schedule click here.

Off Topic

I hate when there aren't fresh posts up on here as much, and possibly more than, you do on here so, I figured that I would stop in and put something new on here.

I feel terrible for anyone who missed tonight's MLB Home Run derby. Watching a reformed Josh Hamilton hit absolute bombs at such an amazing frequency was truly remarkable. After battling a severe drug addiction he has done a complete 180 and is performing at an outstanding rate while trying to help troubled youths avoid what he went through. Hamilton hit 28 home runs in one round...ONE ROUND! He clearly burned himself out for the finals because he lost 5-3 to Justin Morneau but, that doesn't matter. The show wasn't in the result it was in the first round. Highlights won't do it justice either. Just watching everything unfold, the reactions of the players and fans, and his initial reaction after his first couple home runs was amazing. After 10 dingers it was apparent to everyone watching that history was being made.

Another cool thing was the man who pitched for him. His 71 year old American Legion baseball coach from his young days, Clay Counsil, who threw well over 80 pitches. Apparently when Hamilton was younger he promised Counsil he would bring him as his pitcher if he ever made it to the HR Derby. Truly a great story all around.

On a side note, Erin Andrews looked wonderful as usual as she was successful in being eye candy and doing a stand-up job with interviews. Unfortunately I couldn't track down a picture of her from tonight.

3rd Jersey?

From boston.com (Fluto Shinzawa)
The Bruins have confirmed that they will wear a third jersey for the 2008-2009 campaign. The final design has not been released yet but, it is highly possible that it will feature the retro bear that is on the shoulders of the current uniform.

It may, or may not, look like this...


McKeon's Take: Eh, I'm torn. To be honest, I think they should go with a gold uniform because they already have a black uniform...as long as it's not mustard yellow like the last mistake. Either way, this seems to be the prototype. Your thoughts?

Development Camp 2008 Pics

The following are pictures from Wednesday's version of the Bruins Development Camp 2008. The pictures were taken by Federko who is one of my frequent commenters. Those of you who do not comment frequently or are just stopping by should learn from him. Hope you all enjoy! Just a couple more months until all the big boys hit the ice!

^--Bergeron defending Reid.

^--Hamill and Wheeler.

^--Hutchinson, Courchaine, Regan, and Manny under the direction of Bob Essensa.

^--Manny, the potential number one tender next season.

^--Stretching

Good News In Wilmington

Both Patrice Bergeron and Manny Fernandez will be skating this week at Ristuccia Arena in Wilmington, Ma. They will be on the ice from 10-11 am and will not be on the ice at the same time as the skaters in the developmental camp. For two "key" guys who missed significant time last season due to injury this is a very good sign they are giving 100 percent to get back to their peak level of play.

EDIT: Bergeron and Fernandez will be skating with the development squad starting Wednesday as the prospects will be doing medical and fitness testing Tuesday.

New Free Agent List

I know the Bruins are up near the cap, especially with Wideman's arbitration hearing hanging in the balance. However, I put up some new guys on the list in the right column that could help fill in some smaller roles in the event of a trade. None of these will probably happen but, hey, no one thought gas prices would escalate to this either.

Post Free Agent Frenzy

I hope everyone enjoyed their 4th of July (and the 1st of July for you Canucks). I should have just said respective Independence Days. Oh, there's a delete button? Whoops.

This past Tuesday, the Bruins picked up Michael Ryder and leading up to the signing I was completely against the idea of him signing here. Why? Marian Hossa. To fill my metaphor quota for the day, I was too busy drooling at the fact that the prom queen, soon to be super-model (Hossa) thought for a moment that she liked me. However, all along a pretty solid looking underclassmen (Ryder) wanted me like crackhead needs...well, crack. So, I decided to "settle" and explore the world of the underclassman because the prom queen was out of my league, allegedly. In the big picture, things could work out between me and the underclassman. I now like where things are going. The best part about it, the prom queen winked at me and said, maybe I'll see you this time next year when you are little more mature stud. What she really means is, get a job and make some cash so you can afford me. It's the best of both worlds!

Got all that? I digress

Ryder needed to relocate. He wasn't getting along with Guy Carbonneau and he has had much success under Bruins coach, Claude Julien in the not too distant past. The winger wasn't getting any solid ice-time nor was he ever playing with a true set-up man, enter Marc Savard. I think of him as kind of a old fashion Glen Murray. A guy who can finish from anywhere in the slot, all you have to do is put the puck on his stick. The Bruins lacked that last year, and now they have it. With that being said, here is how I would fill out my line combinations WITH Murray and Axelsson.

Sturm-Savard-Ryder
Lucic-Bergeron-Kobasew
Axelsson-Krejci-Kessel
Schaeffer-Sobotka-Muzz
Bench: Nokelainen, Thornton, Reich

Chara-Wideman
Ward-Stuart
Ference-Alberts
Bench: Hnidy

Thomas
Fernandez

I still truly think that this team needs to make a move to get some kind of puck-moving defenseman that has some sort of an establishment in the league. I wouldn't hold my breath on that but, I still feel as though is a need. You know Ward is going to be hurt at one point or another because of his balls to the wall attitude so, it's possible that a move now could help out when that occurs. A guy who could possibly fill this role is Steve McCarthy, a young unsigned free agent who played in Atlanta last year. Maybe Chiarelli can get him cheap if he doesn't sign for a while. I know he's not established but, he could fill a void.

Plenty of off-season left for Chia and the Pets to figure something out.

WHAT?!

Just a real quick thought during the 4th of July festivities. Steve Bernier to Vancouver for picks not including a first rounder?! What is wrong with Buffalo? They are going from 1st to worst in a quick 2 year span...horrible deal.

I'll try to get my thoughts on Ryder/lines/needs/trade possibilities that I'd like tonight, if not, tomorrow.

Marian Hossa Finally Signs

Wow. Just wow. Marian Hossa and his agent Ritch Winter (great first name for a slimy sports agent) signed a 1 year deal with the Stanley Cup Champion Detroit Red Wings. Hossa wasn't kidding when he said he wanted to go to a contender. That team is ridiculous now. At least it is in the west and more importantly at least it's not Montreal! The great part about this is that 364 days from now, the Bruins can sign Hossa when Murray and Manny officially come off the books (among others).

The rich get richer and the great become greater. This team is going to go 82-0 like the Pats did (16-0, I know) and then lose the Cup to the underdog Bruins on an overtime goal in game 7 by Jeremy Reich (equivalent to David Tyree freak helmet catch). A guy can dream can't he?

Hossa to the Stanley Cup Champion Bruins in '09!

I love jokes.

Ghost Ryder In The Hub

Funny story. I decided to worship my computer from 10:00 a.m. until 7:30ish p.m. Through that time, only the Wheeler signing occured for the Bruins. I decided to go out roller blading (way better than running especially for hockey players for obvious reasons), take a shower, and eat some dinner. I stroll back to my computer expecting more of the same...nothing. I was wrong because I discovered this...

The Boston Bruins have signed former Montreal Canadiens forward Michael Ryder to a 3 year deal worth $4 million per season. I know I wasn't the brain child of his possibilities but, at 7:20 before I headed out I stated this. See what I did there? I made sure everyone knew how great I was, just like Eklund. I guess it's because I was reading his complete nonsense all day long. Sorry about that.

5:00 Update

Hossa fans, I think we are out of luck. I would look for a secondary winger or a D-man to be signed but, not Hossa...

EDIT 7:20 Yes, Hossa will be waiting one more day so, there is still hope. Also, media members are being put on hold for a press conference with Peter Chiarelli saying, "They are waiting on a player as we speak." Could be Ryder but, who knows?

3:00 Theory

I have a theory as to why things have been so quiet on Causeway St. All the teams that were reportedly going for Hossa have made noise in both rumors, signings, and trades down other avenues since the late morning while there has been no noise from the Bruins. I am still a firm believer that the fewer amount of concrete rumors the better because it shows profesionalism. Are Chia and the pets ironing out some details with Hossa? Hard to tell but, this could be the calm before the storm.

This situation could be a very good thing, or a very bad thing.

PS. The more I have thought about things the more I want Hossa here at any price. If it's 12 years/$100 mil then so be it. This makes the top two lines extremely potent and ties up the cap 8.333 mil per which will have little effect on the cap in 9-12 years. Just look at how much the cap has inflated the last couple seasons since the lockout.

Wheeler Signs

Blake Wheeler has signed an entry level contract with the Bruins. Per club policy, the terms were not disclosed.

Is Hossa Really Coming To Boston?

For the third time this morning I have heard on the WEEI sports flash that the Bruins are "set to offer Marian Hossa a contract worth $100 Million over 12 years."

12 years? 12? A bakers dozen minus one because you work with a fat kid? You mean like the biggest number on the clock? You mean, like the size of my...foot? Sorry. Does twelve years seem a bit excessive for a 29 year old here? I could understand this for Crosby or Ovechkin at that age because you know they are special players. Is someone going to offer Mats Sundin a lifetime contract?

If Hossa comes here at that price Murray and Manny will be as good as gone. Just over an hour to go...

July 1st...Here We Go!

Ok, it is now just after midnight and teams are now able to negotiate with unrestricted free agents. Signings are allowed to occur at noon. Expect the worst, and hope for the best and make sure you make a wish upon a star for who you want the most!









Jimmeny Cricket helped turn a freakin wooden doll into a human friggan being. If you wish your ass off he could certainly bring Hossa in under the cap...right? Need your help here Walt.

Come onnnnnn Hossa