The Boston Bruins open the 2008-2009 season in one week, and there are some things that can happen between now and then. The Bruins currently have 27 players in camp and must get down to 23 by opening night. That leaves some unanswered questions and a number of possible answers.
Some of the questions start a ripple effect and could lead to other things happening, that would need to happen for the first thing to be able to happen. Case in point is Blake Wheeler and his $2.825 million price tag. Wheeler has played well enough during camp to all but solidify his spot on the big club, but will his salary hold him back? If he plays in the next two pre-season games as well as he has in previous games, he could very well be in the starting line-up on October 9th.
The salary is the little pebble in the shoe. If Wheeler makes the team, that puts the Bruins over the salary cap if all of the current players remain here. That means one of the current players would have to be traded or waived, or a combination of players to give the Bruins the cap space they need.
General manager Peter Chiarelli has stated there is a 50% chance of a trade happening by opening night. The chances that a trade won’t happen and Wheeler starts the season in Providence also seem like they’re at 50% as well. But something needs to give if Claude Julien wants to put the best team he can on the ice this season.
“We need to put the best team on the ice that’s available,” said Julien. “Somehow we’ve got to make it work.” - Source
In strictly a numbers game, the likely candidates to be traded or waived would be any of the following: Peter Schaefer ($2.1 million), Jeremy Reich ($487,500), P.J. Axelsson ($1.85 million). There have been some rumors circulating around Marc Savard ($5 million) and Phil Kessel ($2.2 million). I won’t count the defensemen out either with Andrew Ference ($1.4 million) and Andrew Alberts ($1.25 million).
An anonymous agent was quoted saying that the Savard trade talk has been floating around for a while. But would the Bruins be willing to deal their top scorer? It has happened before.
I could see the next week happening in three different ways. The first is Wheeler starting the season in Providence and the Bruins not having to worry about shedding any more salary. The second is Wheeler making the team, and the Bruins making a move to shed a little salary, be it Schaefer or Axelsson. The third is the Bruins making a heck of a splash and trading their top scorer.
Tuukka Rask, Matt Lashoff, Jeff Penner and Martin St. Pierre were assigned to Providence leaving four more cuts need to take place. Using today’s practice line-up, it’s even hard for me to predict which players will be cut. I’ll say if I was the coach and had to make these cuts, I’d assign Matt Hunwick, Jeremy Reich and Nate Thompson to Providence, and make a minor trade involving Shane Hnidy.
I can’t believe how stacked the team is right now. It really is hard to cut anybody outside of Hunwick and Thompson. Players like David Krejci and Vladimir Sobotoka should be on the opening night roster.
The final cuts should come after Saturday's game.
"We've got some tough decisions," said Julien. "Some of it involves upper management. Some of it involves us as coaches." - Source
If you were in the position that Julien and Chiarelli are currently in, what would you do? Who would you cut? Would to send Wheeler to Providence? Would you make a blockbuster trade?
7 Comments
Well, if Chiarelli trades away anyone but Shaefer I'm going to have to be restrained from slapping him.
Further, I would not send Wheeler to Providence, personally I think he would help the club too much. I mean, seriously, all I've heard is good things. He provides a spark that this team is in dire need of.
1. Posted by Ryan | October 2, 2008 2:30 PM
The assignments to Providence are good Lashoff and Penner are definitely not ready. I'm all for waving Schaefer and Reich to free up some space, and allowing Krejci, Sobotoka, and Nokealnien more playing time and let Blake Wheeler start out the year in Providence. No doubt Wheeler has been impressive, but the other young centers do have experience in pressure situations with the big club. Let Wheeler start in Providence and don't go insane over worrying about the cap.
2. Posted by thejumbotron (john) | October 2, 2008 3:47 PM
I would waive Schaefer at this point -- he really needed to impress during camp but was a non-factor as far as I can tell.
Otherwise, packaging Reich and Hnidy in a trade would seem like a prudent move. Neither is going to make a significant impact with the Bruins anyway, and there are prospects ready to take over for them. The only reason to keep them on board as healthy scratches is to keep from having to call-up P-Bruins players.
http://bostonblueline.blogspot.com
3. Posted by bostonblueline.blogspot.com | October 2, 2008 3:55 PM
Peter who ????? never heard of him so get rid of him. Case closed. The only Shaefer that I know is the one with David Letterman
There are plenty of Reich, Hnidy in the NHL and they have no impact on the team. Release them... case closed.
Then if Savard leaves, who do you expect in return ? He's such a talented play maker (he reminds me Oates) and can make a difference in a team that can expect to play in late May. He has to be sent out West... if he's traded... but as long as they get something in return !!!
4. Posted by yves | October 3, 2008 11:08 AM
I can't see Savard being traded now. He's too much in the Bruins' plans this season, especially with Ryder. It wouldn't make sense at this time.
I would be shocked if Schaefer, Reich and Hnidy are in the opening night line-up. But stranger things have happened. I would safely bet that Wheeler makes the team. If he doesn't, maybe Thompson sneaks in.
I was glad to see Penner stick around for a bit. He was a pleasant surprise during camp.
5. Posted by Jaci | October 3, 2008 10:06 PM
Gotta let go of one of the offensive players with the salaries that create sufficient room, but isn't going to have noticeable impact on team scoring. Can't let a proven veteran tough guy blue-liner like Hnidy go - he proved his value in the playoffs last season - not a single negative +/- game. He earned a spot in the top 6 d-men. That also would allow a trade of a d-man with a larger salary - perhaps one that hasn't lived up to expectations or the salary.
6. Posted by CA Bruin | October 4, 2008 2:01 AM
The Bruins should keep Wheeler and dump Schaefer. I think Alberts may be gone as well. Hnidy proved himself and Wheeler's heavy cap hit means someone else besides Schaefer needs to go. Hunwick seems ready for the 7th d-man role.
7. Posted by President of Bruins Nation | October 5, 2008 9:43 PM