Bruins Get Chris Kelly

"The Bruins traded for Senators forward Chris Kelly, the team announced Tuesday night. The B's will send their own second-round draft pick to Ottawa in the deal (WEEI)."

So what was my reaction to this trade? Well, it went something like this "Oh, so who the fuck is Chris Kelly", after looking him up, "Oh, he has 12 goals this year, the Bruins better do way better then this".

Kelly has 12 goals and 11 assists this season for 23 points in 56 games for Ottawa. He has another year remaining on his contract, but it's not like he is really going to improve since he is already 30 years old. He has never scored more then 15 goals in a season. The Bruins recently have been scoring, but playing no defense, so maybe they will make a move to get a defenseman, but all I can say is this better not be it.

I will say that it doesn't sound like it will be after reading Peter Chiarelli's comments yesterday...

"I've been pretty public with saying I'd like to get a defenseman. That's still in the works," said Chiarelli, who added there are nine defensemen the team is seriously considering. "I've had discussions on a number of fronts. I would say a couple of them are closer, but I don't have anything imminent."

When asked later by a reporter if he thinks he'll make a trade for a defenseman, Chiarelli paused contemplatively and responded, "Yeah. Yeah, I think I will (WEEI)."

They better.

Bruins Trade Rumors

With Savard out for the year the Bruins have some cap room to play with. Peter Chairelli was recently on WEEI and said that he would "bet of the Bruins making a move". The question now is, what will this "move" be?

The Bruins have Toronto's first round pick again this year, and that could be a big chip in the trading market. Their dream is Brad Richards or Zach Bogosian, but the most likely scenario is Tomas Kaberle, who has been rumored about for 2 years now. Kaberle would give them that coveted "puck moving" defenseman they have been looking for.

I personally think it's much more important for them to add some offensive firepower. Richards would obviously be the best option, but someone like Jason Arnott could be a decent option. Bruins might be able to get him cheap too because the Devils are terrible and he is 36 years old. Still, I don't know if that would be enough to push the Bruins over the edge, so I would still be disappointed unless they got a big time goal scorer.

Big Trade Coming For Bruins?

Now that Savard has been shut down the season the Bruins have some cap room to play with. Yesterday general manager Peter Chiarelli was on WEEI and he sounded like a guy who was about to make a move...

"Sure. I'd look at [trading the pick]. Sure, I would. I've had discussions involving that pick," said Chiarelli. "I would certainly look at it. We've got a lot of assets, so we can be creative about things, also. But I would look at it."

"There's been one [trade] that we've thrown around here internally. I don't know that I would do it, but it's something that warrants further discussion (ESPN)."

That "pick" is another first round from Toronto, which looks like it will be a top 5 pick.

Chiarelli was later asked if fans should expect a trade and he said "I would bet on it". The question is what kind of move they will make. Will it be for another forward? Or will it be for a "puck moving defenseman" that has been rumored throughout the year.

One name that is being floated around is Brad Richards. I don't see it happening, because I just don't see Dallas wanting to deal the 30 year old center. If they did get him it would be unreal, but I wouldn't bet on this.

What is much more likely for someone like Tomas Kaberle, who is interestingly enough is from Toronto. He fits that mold of a "puck moving defenseman". Kabarle has been rumored for 2 years now, so one would think this is the most likely.

Another named being rumored by ESPN is Sergei Gonchar, who spent a short time with the Bruins back in 2003.

Savard Getting Close To Return

Last time we heard about Marc Savard he had passed the exertion test now the Bruins are saying that he could be back earlier then the January 1st target date...

"According to a report in the Boston Globe, Marc Savad, who is recovering from post-concussion syndrome and hasn't played this season, may be back skating with the Bruins in the next two or three days. The center's improvement has the Bruins thinking that he could be returning before the Jan. 1 target date the team had pegged for the return of both Savard and Marco Sturm (knee). At this point it appears Savard is ahead of Sturm in regard to returning to game action.

“He’s doing much, much better,’’ Chiarelli told the Globe regarding Savad. “He has been symptom-free for a while now, increasing his skating . . . all in all, he looks good (WEEI).’’

I was worried before about how Savard could hurt the mojo the Bruins have had to begin the season, but with Krejci going down for an undetermined about of time, the Bruins could certainly use Marc Savard's help. He obviously should at the very least have a big effect on the power play. So, hopefully this report is accurate and we will see him back on the ice sooner rather then later. Most reports suggest he will be back practicing with the team in 2-3 days.

Peter Chiarelli Says Bruins "Have To Do Something"

The Bruins have cap problems, everyone knows it, but no one seems to know what exactly they are going to do.

"I'm going to have to do something, I'm not hiding away from the fact", says Bruins GM Peter Chiarelli.

They wanted to trade Thomas, but no one wanted him, and now he is the hottest goalie in the NHL. They wanted to deal Savard, but no one will touch him until he proves he is healthy. They wanted to trade Ryder, but there were no takers. Well now there is a rumor that the Bruins are looking to deal either Hunwick or Wheeler. My guess would be Wheeler, since the Bruins are already thin on defense.

I think trading Wheeler might be the smartest move. They can most likely get draft picks for him, and a lot of teams should be interested because of his potential, and age. I would like to see them get rid of Ryder, but Wheeler might be their best option of actually getting something done.

The Bruins are going to have until the end of November (most likely) to get something done, since Sturm will most likely be back by then.

Savard Could Be Done For Year

Savard is back in Boston today, but he is still feeling the effects of Matt Cooke dirty gay ass hit Sunday. Savard has been Grade 2 diagnosed concussion. Here is what the Bruins GM had to say about Savard's condition...

"He felt like he got hit by a bus, and that he was very tired,’’ Chiarelli said of the text message he received from Savard yesterday. “Those are two major symptoms of a concussion. It’s a bad concussion.’’

He added that he will know more about Savard’s condition and how much time he’ll miss in 4-5 days, but also said he doesn't expect him anytime soon. With the Bruins season flat-lining I really wouldn't be surprised if they shutdown Savard for the season.

I hope Matt Cooke get AIDS.

Bruins Didn't Do Shit!

The Bruins were one of the best teams in the NHL last year. This year is a different story. After trading away Kessel, and Kobasew, not to mention losing Aaron Ward the Bruins lack offense. They haven't looked right all season. Yet, there was hope.

Hope that they would make a deal and bring in a big time forward, or at the very least a veteran who could provide some kind of scoring punch. Instead, the Bruins did shit, except pick up a defenseman who is really no better then Morris (who is now gone).

Listen, I get the Kessel trade. I really do. You can't pass up 2 1st rounds, and 1 2nd round draft pick, and the Bruins are in place to get a top 3 pick. Still, this is a team that was so close to making a Stanley Cup push last year, and now we are back to playing the waiting game.

It is not just the GM's fault, because guys like Krejci, and Ryder just haven't been the same players. Yet, I still will never understand why the Bruins gave away a 20+ goal scorer (Kobasew) for basically nothing. I am not saying the season would have been much different, but when you trade away 35+ goals (Kessel) you would think that you would want to keep the rest of your offense in tact.

Latest On Phil Kessel Rumors (UPDATED)

"Toronto GM Brian Burke and Boston GM Peter Chiarelli, both of whom will be in attendance here at rookie camp on Monday, reported no developments on the Phil Kessel front. Burke made a deal on Saturday to reacquire a second-round draft pick, triggering alarms that he might be readying an offer sheet for Kessel, a restricted free agent.

''Nothing...yet,'' Chiarelli wrote via email when asked if there were any news pertaining to the 21-year-old Kessel (Boston.com)."

It doesn't sounds like a lot of new here, but if you read between the lines there might be. If Toronto offers Kessel an offer sheet the Bruins are not going to be able to match, BUT with Toronto gaining that 2nd round pick it could mean that they are ready to do so, and the Bruins will get a 1st, 2nd, and 3rd round draft pick. Not bad for a guy they have very little shot at bringing back. We'll keep you posted..


***UPDATE***

According to ESPN the Bruins have annoucned they will match any offer. I don't know how they could do that, but that is what they are reporting....

Chiarelli Wants To Keep Kessel

Intesting couple of quotes from Bruins' GM Peter Chiarelli...

“We are at a point where (salary) cap-wise we are coming close to the end so there has to be some shuffling. I’m not adverse to that and we still have another player to sign in Phil Kessel [stats]. Summer is not done yet.”

Chiarelli believes he has enough wiggle room under the $56.8 million salary cap to get Kessel onboard.

“I like where we are because we have for the most part our team in place,” he said. “Cap-wise we are getting up there, but certainly Phil is a player that if there comes a point where we have to make a move to get him in the mix I will certainly do that (Boston Herald).”

This is the first time this offseason that the Bruins have shown any interesting in bringing Kessel back next season. If Chiarelli thinks he can get this done then I believe him. Like I said in the past couple of Bruins' posts there is not a big market left for Kessel, so the Bruins might be able to get him to lower his asking price...

Bruins Not Close To Signing Kessel

"The Phil Kessel contract talks, if the sides are indeed still talking, have not progressed. Bruins general manager Peter Chiarelli slams down the Cone of Silence at the mere mention of No. 81, and agent Wade Arnott - not nearly as chatty as his boss, Don Meehan - has politely refused a handful of opportunities to comment on his client, a restricted free agent with no arbitration rights (Boston.com)."

I really like Kessel and I want to see him back, but it almost seems like tghe Bruins know there is very little market for Kessel (much like the Celtics and Big Baby). So maybe they are trying to wait him out so that they can sign him to a short money 1 year deal, and then Kessel will try to cash in next summer. We will see, but I really would like to see him back with the Bruins next year. He is such an exciting player, and with this offense the Bruins could be "over-the-top" good.

Bruins Looking To Move Savard?

"Marc Savard is being shopped around by the Bruins, the Globe reports. He has one year left on his contract for $5 million (ESPN)."

Savard does have a no trade clause in his contract, but reports say that he would be willing to waive that clause if he could be traded closer to his kids in Ontario. The Bruins do have a lot of centers, and if they were able to move Savard they would have a lot easier of a time resigning Kessel. So, to be honest I would have no problem with this, especially if they could get extra defensive help and/or draft picks.

In other news there are also rumors that the Bruins are going to try to move up in the draft to get Chris Kreider. Here is Peter Chiarelli comments...

"Our guys have an eye on one player," GM Peter Chiarelli told the Boston Globe. "I don't know if we'll get him."

Chris Kreider 18-year-old who is ranked as the 14th best skater in North America by the NHL's Central Scouting Bureau. Keep on eye on this developing story.

Peter Chiarelli: NHL's Executive of the Year

"Sporting News, via a 39-member panel of executives and coaches, has named Peter Chiarelli the NHL's Executive of the Year. Yesterday, Sporting News tabbed Claude Julien as Coach of the Year (Boston.com)."

Well deserved. Chiarelli has turned this franchise around. Last summer, Chiarelli signed Michael Ryder to a three-year, $12 million contract, which a lot of people laughed at. Ryder was great all season, and one of the main reasons the Bruins got as far as they did. Then st the trade deadline, he acquired Mark Recchi and Steve Montador. Montador kind of sucked, but Recchi was a huge part of the Bruins playoff run. It will be interesting to see what Chiarelli will be able to do this offseason, but no matter what he deserves this award for the work he did last year. Now GO SIGN KESSEL AND KRECJI!!!

Ryder Injury Update

"Michael Ryder will miss 2-3 weeks because of three facial fractures. Ryder was clipped by Antoine Vermette on Thursday (Boston.com)."

We were waiting since his surgery yesterday to find out how long he would be out, and the answer seems to be 3 weeks. The good news is that the Bruins don't seem to think they have to make a move to replace him, and he will still be back before the trade deadline. GM Peter Chiarelli said Michael Ryder's injury was not as bad as first expected, and he will be able to start skating at some point next week. It sucks to lose a guy who was really heating up for the Bruins, but in the end it is a long season, and as long as he has enough time to find his rhythm again before the playoffs, then this shouldn't effect the Bruins too much.