So who is going to budge first?

The dead lock continues between Bruins RFA Phil Kessel and the Bruins management and you have to wonder what the hold up is? I also wonder who is going to budge first? One stinking offer. It would almost appear as if the Bruins GM is low balling Kessel and since the Penner debacle in Edmonton it seems like no one really wants to put out an offer sheets for RFA's.

The Bruins do hold the cards to a point because if Kessel gets an offer sheet eventually from another team and the Bruins don't match they will get some first high draft choices. The thing that pisses me off is those draft choices do nothing this season and this team is close to making a run deep into the playoffs if not contending for a Stanley Cup. Currently the Bruins have no one currently on their roster besides Michael Rider, David Krecji and Marc Savard that have the ability to score 30-45 goals. I keep hearing how Sturm and Bergeron will pick up the slack but Sturm has never some close to scoring 40 goals and Bergeron has had to concussion in two consecutive season and is one check away from life after hockey.

The Bruins, up against the salary-cap ceiling and faced with an uphill challenge to re-sign Phil Kessel, are speaking with several teams about trading the 21-year-old restricted free agent, according to a league source.

“More than one team is very interested,’’ said the source.

General manager Peter Chiarelli didn’t offer any insight on a possible trade.

“I don’t comment on contract negotiations,’’ said Chiarelli. “But we really would like to get Phil in the mix. You don’t come across players like this very often. It’s hard to come by players with this skill. We believe there’s still a lot of growth to his game.’’

Wade Arnott, Kessel’s agent, declined to comment on a possible destination for the 36-goal scorer. Arnott, however, confirmed a virtual nonexistence of negotiations with the Bruins. Arnott said the Bruins made only one contract offer, which was quickly rejected, prior to the draft.

The Bruins thought they had a deal in place at the draft with Toronto that would have landed Tomas Kaberle in Boston in a package for Kessel. But there had been a miscommunication between Chiarelli and Leafs counterpart Brian Burke.

Kessel is recovering from May 21 surgery to repair a torn rotator cuff and labrum in his left shoulder. While Kessel will not be ready for the season opener, Arnott said he’s progressing well and could skate sometime next week.

There is a chance Kessel might not be fit to play until early December, so the Bruins don’t have to make a trade swiftly. However, teams would prefer to have their rosters - and corresponding cap situations - in place for camp. A trade could also take place once the season kicks off if the Bruins (or other clubs) start slowly and need Kessel’s offensive presence. [Boston Globe]

Pontifications on the Bruins that make sense.

Now I am seeing something that makes sense in regards to Phil Kessel and him not signing a contract as of yet, however, I personally would rather see Marco Sturm go and the Bruins keep Chuck Kobasew.

The big Bruins news of the week, however, has to with general manager Peter Chiarelli’s comments on NESN last night. When prompted to speak about current Restricted Free Agent and Bruins’ best goal scorer Phil Kessel’s contract status, Chiarelli stated that Kessel will be back with the Bruins.

Obviously, with the amount of trade rumors circling around Kessel, it is rather surprising that suddenly Chiarelli has come out and said Kessel will be back. Chiarelli even went so far as to say it’s a shame that the rumors get out and that Kessel is a good player and person. Perhaps he is trying to mend some wounds before Kessel’s official return?

That said, until a contract is signed, we can’t be certain of Kessel’s status. Should Kessel return for any price between $3.5 million and $4.5 million, it looks as if one player will have to be traded. With Kessel’s return, the Bruins would have 10 forwards of top-9 skill level. One can safely assume that Marc Savard, Milan Lucic, David Krecji, Mark Recchi, Blake Wheeler, Patrice Bergeron and Michael Ryder will return.

That leaves one of Marco Sturm and Chuck Kobasew left.

Trading either of these forwards will clear up the necessary space. Although trading Sturm and his 3.5 million dollar contract would make more sense than trading Kobasew’s cap-friendly contract, Sturm has a no trade clause. Chiarelli could ask Sturm to waive it, but, as of now, barring a major trade, it would seem Kobasew is on his way out. [Insidehockey.com]

Chiarelli: Phil Kessel will be back

This news should make Bruins fans more at ease. I have been on record in the past as saying Phil Kessel is a core member of the Boston Bruins and unless the Bruins management can get someone to score 35-50 goals from somewhere else they are going to need to resign him. I don't want to hear that Marco Sturm or Patrice Bergeron will pick up the slack because they won't, they are not as dynamic and as pure as a goal scorer as Phil Kessel.

Ray Bourque to the Bruins?

Here is an interesting article that I found on line. It seems like a good fit. [Bruins Offer Coaching, Front-Office, Playing Position To Ray Bourque]

BOSTON—Citing continued leadership problems at the executive and strategic levels, as well as the fact that they could use a little help on defense, Boston Bruins owner Jeremy Jacobs expressed interest in signing former All-Star captain Ray Bourque to help the struggling Bruins "in a variety of ways." "In addition to being a favorite of fans here in Boston, Ray Bourque is a proven champion," Jacobs said, referring to Bourque's 21 years with the Bruins and his brief stint with the Stanley Cup-winning Colorado Avalanche. "I believe the leadership, vision, and motivation he exhibited during two decades as a professional hockey player will translate extremely well to his new roles as head coach, general manager, and hockey player." The 45-year-old Bourque announced he is considering the offer, but will weigh it against the opportunity recently offered to him to become concessions, lighting, and entertainment director for Boston's TD Banknorth Garden.

UPDATE: I recieved an email from someone that informed me that this story is false.

Tim Thomas wins the Vezina Trophy.

Former Vermont Catamounts and current Bruins goalie Tim Thomas was officially announced as the winner of the Vezina trophy tonight. It's a nice finish to a great season for Thomas. In my opinion I believe that Tim Thomas is the best American goalie in the NHL and will be one of the goalies for team USA in the 2010 olympics.

LAS VEGAS -- Tim Thomas has truly received his due.

The Boston Bruins goaltender was awarded the Vezina Trophy on Thursday, beating out Steve Mason of the Columbus Blue Jackets and Niklas Backstrom of the Minnesota Wild in voting by the NHL's 30 general managers.

The honour is especially meaningful to Thomas because it was only a few years ago that he figured his dream of playing in the NHL was dead. He never minds hearing about his rags-to-riches journey.

"It doesn't bother me that other people talk about it," said Thomas. "I'm 35 (years old). At 31, I was thinking to myself that I'm going to be playing in Finland for the rest of my career. This is a long way from where I was. ...

"This is a totally different level that I've been able to reach."

Thomas and partner Manny Fernandez also shared the Jennings Trophy after helping the Bruins post the lowest goals-against average in the NHL.

It was a good season in Beantown.

Will Kessel be resigned?

You do have to wonder if Phil Kessel is on his way out in Boston. I have seen a few comments that leads me to believe that his days in Boston might be numbered. I am not sure why the Bruins used him as trade bait the last two trade dead lines?

Personally, I hope that Kessel is not on his way out of Boston, Kessel is an exciting player that has grown three fold since his days with the Minnesota Gophers. I also believe that Marc Savard, Phil Kessel, David Krejci, Milan Lucic, Michael Ryder and Patrice Bergeron are the core offensive players the Bruins should build around. Thirty six goals is going to be hard to replace next season if he is not wearing black and gold.

Phil Kessel

Continued the development and maturity process, scoring a team-high 36 goals... Recorded his first hat trick of the year in the season finale... Used his speed and skill to put defensemen on their heels... Tore the rotator cuff and labrum in his left shoulder against Columbus... Underwent successful surgery today... Will not be ready for the start of 2009-10... Will be a restricted free agent... Has been in play at last two trade deadlines, which could indicate leaguewide interest again at the draft.

Kessel and David Krejci will need surgury.

Word is coming out of Boston is that the Bruins young gun’s Phil Kessel and David Krejci were part of the walking wounded and will need surgery in the off season. There is a chance that neither of them could be ready when the regular season begins. Krejci played the whole season with a a torn labrum in his hip, an injury similar to the one that Marian Gaborik had this past season. Funny, Gabby couldn’t play on it but Krejci could, speaks to the character of David Krejci.I guess Czech's are tougher than Slovak's.

Both Krejci and Kessel will be restricted free agents on July 1 and are a big part of the Bruins success this past season. I would hope that the Bruin’s management will try very hard to get both players signed. The Bruins are going to be close to the cap so they will have to make some decisions during the off season.

David Krejci and Phil Kessel, two of the Bruins' best young forwards, are slated to undergo surgery this offseason. Both are questionable to be ready for the start of the regular season according to general manager Peter Chiarelli.

Defenseman Andrew Ference will undergo groin surgery next month, and forward Chuck Kobasew confirmed he played against the Canes with two broken ribs.

"There's a variety of injuries we had throughout the course of the playoffs," said Chiarelli this afternoon. "Every team has injuries. But we seemed to have a few more than other teams. I have to hand it to the players for playing through those injuries."

Krejci, 23, will have hip surgery next month. He is not expected to be ready for the start of training camp.

Kessel, 21, will have shoulder surgery on Thursday to repair a torn rotator cuff and labrum. Kessel is also not expected to be ready for camp.
(Links to the story) (Link to David Krejci Injury)

Check out the rest of the Bruins injuries this is a long list. .

Other Bruins who played through injuries included Mark Recchi (kidney stone), Marc Savard (knee), Milan Lucic (toe), and Zdeno Chara (shoulder, knee, and groin). Chara will not require surgery on any of his injuries. Savard noted that his knee problem probably would have kept him out for two weeks during the regular season.

Aaron Ward smokes Tuomo Ruutu

Former Michigan Wolverine Aaron Ward absolutely smokes Tuomo Ruutu. This is one of the best hits that I have seen so far in the NHL Stanley Cup playoffs. Unfortunately, it was about all there was to cheer about in game "7".

Tim Conboy vs Mark Stuart

Former C.C. Tiger Mark Stuart is one tough hockey player and Former SCSU Husky Tim Conboy proves he isn't a very good fighter nor is he a very good hockey player either. It was kind of ronic, former Fighting Sioux Ryan Bayda was out with the flu so he was replaced by Tim Conboy who looked like a punching bag tonight. In case anyone is keeping track Conboy got worked twice in the same night. Conboy's first fight was against Bruins tough guy Sean Thornton who laid a smack down on Conboy as well. So the Hurricanes basically woke up the sleeping bear from their slumber and now the Bruins got their game back and should be angry and on the prowl in Raleigh Tuesday night.

Aaron Ward may have a broken Orbital bone.

According to the Boston Bruin's Beat writer Ward might have a broken orbitial bone.

According to Claude Julien, Aaron Ward might have suffered a broken orbital bone when he was sucker-punched by Scott Walker at 17:13 of the third period.

Ward will be re-evaluated tomorrow.

Wheeler wants to contribute before it's too late.

Blake Wheeler has exceeded expectations with his play this past season. Based on his play in college not many expected Wheeler to make the NHL right out of training camp. I don’t think many people in their wildest dreams expected that Blake Wheeler would play in 81 games and record (21-24-45) add to the fact that he was a plus 36. Scoring 20 goals as a rookie in the NHL is nothing to sneeze at and I think some expected that play to carry over to the Stanley Cup playoffs, that has not happened to date and the Bruins are on the verge of being usurped from the playoffs. I think as a rookie Wheeler has hit the wall but that happens to rookies in the NHL.

In defense of Wheeler he isn’t the only one that isn’t producing; some key players for the Bruins have also failed to show up as well, Mark Recci (1-2-3), Patrice Bergeron (0-2-2), if the Bruins are to come back in this series they are going to need more balanced scoring and I haven’t seen any evidence of that happening so far.

There have been better times during his rookie NHL season for Boston Bruins winger Blake Wheeler.

Among the league’s top rookie scorers and overall leaders in plus/minus all season while skating for one of the top teams in the overall standings during the 2008-09 regular season, Wheeler suddenly finds himself with a goose egg on the stats sheet for a team on the verge of getting eliminated in the second round.

But he continues to flaunt maturity beyond his years even with the Bruins down 3-1 heading into tomorrow night’s Game 5 of their Eastern Conference semifinal series with Carolina.

“There’s two sides of any sport. Any time adversity comes, you have to react in a positive way and let it make you a better player and a better person,” he told TheBruinsBlog.net today after what might have been the Bruins’ last practice of the season in Wilmington, Mass. “You can’t feel sorry for yourself, you can’t walk around with your tail between your legs, you have to kind of embrace it, learn from it and just try to get better from it. And when you come out of it, you feel a lot better about yourself.
(read the rest of the article here)

Game Five on Versus.

For the hockey fans that want to watch the Bruins that don't have the NHL Center Ice hockey package or live in Carolina and Boston will be able to see the game on Versus again on Sunday night. Lets just hope the Bruins that won the Eastern Conference top spot will show up and play hockey so they can be around for game 6.

No local TV for either team

Versus will carry Game 5, meaning NESN (Bruins) and FSCarolinas (Hurricanes) will not have the broadcasts at the Garden Monday. Carolina play-by-play announcer John Forslund and Boston analyst Andy Brickley will be the Versus broadcast team for Game 5.

Ference out, Wheeler in.

It is confirmed by Boston Bruins coach Claude Julien that Andrew Ference will not play tonight's game against the Hurricanes but former Gopher Blake Wheeler will. The Bruins need to come out and play with some desperation but with discipline. The Bruins need to have an aggressive in your face fore check. Milian Lucic needs to play with the nasty edge that he had against the Habs. The Bruins need to get pucks deep and play a high pressure game as well.

*Claude Julien confirmed that Andrew Ference will not play tonight. Shane Hnidy, a healthy scratch for the first three games, will be making his series debut tonight.

* Blake Wheeler will play tonight. Wheeler skated with David Krejci and Michael Ryder during the morning skate.

Status of Wheeler and Ference unknown.

If Andrew Ference can't go tomorrow night game against the Carolina Hurricanes Ference will probably be replaced in the lineup by the Bruin’s 7th defenseman Shane “the sheriff” Hnidy. On the forward lines If Blake Wheeler can't go because of an his undisclosed injury; I am not sure it will hurt the Bruins as much as the loss of Andrew Ference. During the Stanley Cup playoffs Blake Wheeler has been almost invisible and a non-factor. It is almost like Wheeler has hit the wall, which can happen as an NHL rookie. Trade deadline acquisition Mark Recci has also been barely visible himself as Recci has only scored (1-1-2) in seven games.

In seven Stanley Cup playoff games Wheeler has (0-0-0) that is a big goose egg. If Wheeler can't go I would expect Byron Bitz to replace him who recorded an assist in the one game he played when Milan Lucic was suspended.

No update on Ference, Wheeler

Julien declined to disclose whether Andrew Ference or Blake Wheeler will be available tomorrow.

Ference looked like he aggravated a lower-body injury in the second period when he was checked into the boards by Scott Walker. Ference skated only three shifts in the second period and didn't play in the third period or overtime.

Wheeler was hurt while blocking a shot in the second period. Wheeler underwent X-rays after the game... Julien said the flu-like symptoms that held Chuck Kobasew out of practice on Tuesday have not spread throughout the dressing room...Last week, Marc Savard and Patrice Bergeron were under the weather but didn't miss any time.

Bruins lose in O.T.

Last night's game was tough to stomach, especially when you know that the Bruins can do better. Boston had gone 5-0 against the Canes this season until losing the last two games.

It would be an understatement to say that the Bruins were sloppy with the puck in all zones of the ice last night. The Bruins made a habit of coughing up the puck on numerous occasions that lead to grade “A” offensive opportunities. Lucky for the Bruins their goaltender Tim Thomas was able to bail His defenders out. In my opinion Tim Thomas is the best American born goaltender in the NHL right now and your probably looking at one of Team U.S.A's goaltender for next year's 2010 Olympics in Vancouver.

I am not so sure the Bruins deserved to go to overtime and this game could have been really ugly, if not for Timmy Thomas. I was tough to watch because the Bruins have been known for the tough defensive play. On a positive note the ice cold Mark Recchi finally scored a goal.

Bruins beat writer Kevin Paul Dupont does a good job of summing up what happened in last night's game.

All in all, that had to be how Boston coach Claude Julien felt after watching his misguided wanderers flub and stumble their way to a 3-2 overtime loss last night to the hard-charging Hurricanes.

"Probably one of our worst games in I don't know how long," said a composed but clearly disappointed Julien following the defeat, which left the Bruins in a 2-1 deficit in the best-of-seven series. "We turned pucks over. We lacked execution. We lost battles. It was a very uncharacteristic game for us."

Three games into the second round of the Stanley Cup playoffs, the Bruins have yet to play a good game against Team Tobacco Road. They walked to a win in Game 1, mostly because the Canes were still in a daze after going to the last seconds of Game 7 to rub out the Devils. Two nights later, the Canes blanked them in the Garden, 3-0, the Bruins mistakenly thinking they could win with the same Gentleman's 'C' effort they put forth in Game 1.
(read the whole article)

Was Chad LaRose robbed?

In reviewing the replay a case could be made that the Canes may have had a goal taken away from them. In looking at the video it appears that the refs got another call wrong and again it didn't matter because the Canes were never in danger of losing this game, however, if the Bruins had gotten a few goals in the third period and won the game that Canes fans would had good reason to be upset. Even in the best league in hockey the refs are prone to mistakes.

The Savard and Kessel show.

Tonight the Bruins played the Carolina Huricanes in game one of the Eastern Conference semifinals and Marc Savard and Phil Kessel were on fire. This goal was a thing of beauty and illustrated the Bruins team speed. Kessel also assisted on this goal by Savard as well. Michael Ryder also had another strong game as he chipped in a goal and an assist. As a Bruins fan I really liked what I saw from the Bruins tonight as they pretty much rolled over the Hurricanes.

For the Carolina Hurricanes Former Fighting Sioux forward Ryan Bayda also got his third point in this season's Stanley Cup Playoffs as he assisted on Jussi Jokinen's goal and then Ryan got a penalty as he ran over Tim Thomas. Also, former WMU Bronco Joe Corvo must have iron lungs because he was on the ice for 25+ minutes tonight and was the best player for the Hurricanes tonight.

The Bruins next opponent.

The Bruins play the Carolina Hurricanes in the next game and this is the reason that bruins can not let up for one minute against the Hurricanes. Just when it looked like the Devils were going to win the series Jussi Jokinen and Eric Staal score two goals in the final two minutes to eliminate the Devils. Staal scored the game winning goal for the Canes with 30 seconds to go. How do you respond to that?

Creative contracts.

Here is an interesting take on way of working players salaries in under the cap. The Bruins might have to do this to keep two of their young guns David Krejci and Phil Kessel. Both players are going to get fat contracts after having great seasons.

The Boston Bruins meanwhile are a team which has over $47 million committed to next season’s payroll but have two quality forwards in Phil Kessel and David Krejci set to become restricted free agents.

If both seek raises over $4 million per season – and given their performances this season it would be reasonable to expect they will– retaining Kessel and Krejci could put a serious squeeze on the Bruins remaining cap space next season.

The front-loaded contract would address that problem. The Bruins could re-sign these two to affordable salaries, lock up both well beyond their eligibility age for unrestricted free agency and provide the Bruins with a more affordable cap hit next season.

Of course lengthy deals do come with risk. The player might no longer be an effective performer by the tail end of the deal, or certainly not one worth the cap space he’ll be eating up by that time.
(read the rest of the article)

Who do the Bruins want next?

Here are the Bruin's records against team they could face in the next round. The Bruins have had good luck against all teams they could face in the second round. It would be fun to see Lucic beating up on Sean "Sloppy Seconds" Avery if he hasn't been banished to the press box by the time the second round comes around. If the Bruins face off against the Flyers it would bring the Patrice Bergeron against Randy Jones matchup.

Bruins vs. Rangers (2-1-1)
Bruins vs. Hurricanes (4-0-0)
Bruins vs. Penguins (2-1-1)
Bruins vs. Flyers (2-1-1)