Bruins re-sign Brad Marchand

Image by Getty Images via @daylife

Boston Bruins fans breathed a collective sigh of relief today as their up and coming star forward re-upped for two more seasons. Brad Marchand was a restricted free agent and was coming a great post season where he scored 11 goals and added 9 assists in 25 Stanley Cup playoff games. Marchand was a major reason the Bruins won the Stanley Cup this past season.  Marchand’s deal is worth about 5.5 million over two seasons.

Fluto Shinzawa; Boston.com --- The Bruins have confirmed that Brad Marchand has agreed to a contract extension. According to TSN, Marchand has signed a two-year, $5 million contract, giving him an annual cap hit of $2.5 million. Marchand will earn $2 million this season and $3 million in 2012-13. Marchand will be under contract and alongside his teammates when camp officially opens on Friday at TD Garden.

“From the get-go, I never was going to miss a day of camp,” Marchand said during a conference call. “I never wanted that. I wanted to be here the first day and show everyone I wanted to be here. I wanted to go through the whole camp with the guys and be part of the team. I’m very happy it didn’t have to come down to [a holdout] and that we could get a deal done before camp.”

Marchand’s extension was framed primarily by the two-year, $5.75 million contract that Logan Couture signed with San Jose. Couture, one of three finalists for the Calder Trophy last year, scored 32 goals. Marchand scored 21 goals and 20 assists.

"Bite This Burrows."

According to Puck Daddy, the Boston based rock band the Dropkick Murphys is selling "Bite Me Burrows" t-shirts. I am going to have to get one of these snazzy new t-shirts... You can get one of these new t-shirts at Sully's.com

Zachary Cox; NESN ----- Songs from the Dropkick Murphys have been a staple at Boston sporting events for years, as the band makes it clear where its allegiance lies.

"Tessie" and "Time To Go" were written as tributes to the Red Sox and Bruins, respectively, and the Dropkicks' hit "I'm Shipping Up To Boston" is nearly unavoidable at any game played in New England -- Red Sox closer Jonathan Papelbon even uses it as his entrance song.

Ironically, the band went on tour through Canada soon after the Bruins' Stanley Cup victory over the Vancouver Canucks in June. While there, they made sure that Canadians didn't forget who the NHL champion is.

According to Yahoo Sports' Puck Daddy blog, the Dropkicks entered the stage to Queen's "We Are the Champions" at several shows across Canada, including one in Vancouver.

The band also sold Bruins-themed merchandise at the shows, including one T-shirt that featured a tweaked Red Sox logo -- with skates instead of socks on the front -- and the words "Bite This Burrows" in black and gold on the back -- an obvious reference to Alexandre Burrows' infamous bite of Patrice Bergeron's finger in Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Final.

Related articles

• Alex Burrows Video: Watch Burrows Take Bite out of Patrice Bergeron in Game 1 (bleacherreport.com)
• NHL Stanley Cup Finals: Alex Burrows Will Not Be Suspended for Bite (bleacherreport.com)
• Alex Burrows Escapes Suspension After Biting Patrice Bergeron In Game 1 (sbnation.com)
• Source: No suspension for Canucks' Burrows (sports.espn.go.com)
• NHL won't fine or suspend Alex Burrows for his bite on Patrice Bergeron (prohockeytalk.nbcsports.com)

Board of Governors approves changes to two rules

Associated Press

There were two changes to the NHL  rule book;  Rule 48 which covers hits to the head and Rule 41 which covers the penalty for boarding. Some in the past have complained that Rule 48 is too vague and confusing. Now the rule has been changed, to take away the confusion and vagueness, now it doesn't matter hat direction a player comes from to hit an opposition player in the head. On the boarding rule tweak; it now doesn't matter if you check or push a defenseless player into the boards.

Dan Rosen - NHL.com Senior Writer   ---- The NHL's Board of Governors on Tuesday approved changes to the wording of Rule 48 that were initially passed by the League's general managers and then the Competition Committee at meetings in Boston during the Stanley Cup Final.

Rule 48 previously provided the on-ice officials with the ability to call a major penalty for any targeted head hit from the lateral or blind side, but the re-written rule no longer includes the words lateral or blind side, and the major penalty provision has been replaced by the minor penalty provision.

"Now, the confusion some of the players have expressed in the past as to what direction they're approaching a player, what direction a player is facing, east, west, north, south, that has all been taken out," said Brendan Shanahan, NHL Senior V.P. of Player Safety and Hockey Operations. "Anywhere on the ice, coming from any direction, you target the head and make it a principle point of contact, you'll be subject to a two-minute penalty on the ice for Rule 48. You'll also be -- as with all two-minute penalties or non-calls -- subject to supplementary discipline."

In addition, Rule 41, which covers boarding, was also changed to read, "A boarding penalty shall be imposed on any player who checks or pushes a defenseless opponent in such a manner that causes the opponent to hit or impact the boards violently or dangerously."

The words "pushes" and "defenseless" were previously not included in the definition of the boarding rule. Defenseless replaced the word vulnerable.

"What we did is we took the onus off the violence of the hit itself and added the word 'push' in there," Shanahan said. "It really has more to do with the violence in the collision with the boards. We don't necessarily think it has to be a violent hit to cause a violent crash, so we broadened the rule by putting in the word 'push.' "

Related articles

• NHL Competition Committee Approves Expansion Of Rule 48 (sbnation.com)
• NHL's competition committee to recommend changes to Rule 48 (theglobeandmail.com)
• NHL's competition committee to recommend changes to head hitting rule (thehockeynews.com)
• Winnipeg NHL approval vote on tap in New York (cbc.ca)

An illustration of what is wrong with Canucks fans... Tin Foil Hats...

Image via WikipediaI found this comment by a Canucks' fan on Puck Daddy and it's too good to not share... I have seen comments like this all over "the Internet" on all kinds of sites both on hockey blogs and on line newspapers; there are actually people out there that really think that the NHL refs were against the Vancouver Canucks and wanted the Boston Bruins to win the Stanley Cup... I mean seriously this is tin foil hat stuff.

Everyone thinks of the Burrows biting incident but there were much more after the whistle incident committed by Boston.....eg sucker punching Burrows, Marchand hitting face punching Sedin several times in front of the ref..no call? it is usually called.

It was clear that the refs and NHL was routing for Boston to win the cup...no doubt in my mind. Why? I don't know but may have been due to Burrows-Auje incident a long time ago. But also, Rome hits a guy down who can't play for the rest of the playoffs and he is suspended while Mason Raymond can't play until next November and Boychuk getting a pat on the shoulder? Not to mention.....everyone condemns Rome because he put someone out of the playoffs but what about Chara's hit on Pacrioetty that ends regular season, playoffs and some of next season and he gets nothing.. Give me a break!!!

The NHL clearly favors American teams. No doubt in my mind....for a simple reason. The Canadian economy can only sustain 4-5 teams whereas the American can sustain a league of 30-40 teams. So in order to generate interest, you need that American excitement.....helps Bettman to keep his job too. If No NHL, No job for Bettman. Do you know his salary is 6-7 million per year? Yeah, if I were in his shoes, I would find ways to promote the NHL to make money....that's my job..

Related articles

• Stanley Cup Finals 2011: Eulogy for the Vancouver Canucks from a Bruins Fan (bleacherreport.com)
• Slap Shot: Canucks General Manager Opens a Can of Worms Over Raymond Injury (slapshot.blogs.nytimes.com)
• Heartbreak for Canucks fans (theglobeandmail.com)
• NHL Stanley Cup Finals: Boston Bruins vs. Vancouver Canucks, Game 2 Live Blog (bleacherreport.com)

Johnny Boychuk Hit On Mason Raymond - Bruins force game 7

First off, I hope that former UMD Bulldog Mason Raymond is okay. Raymond was transported to the hospital after being on the recieving end of a rough, hard, Johnny Boychuk check.

The Boston Bruins have evened their series with the Vancouver Canucks, winning by a score of 5-2 victory tonight in Boston. The Boston Bruins outscored the Vancouver Canucks 17-3 in three games in the TD North Garden. On the flip side, the Canucks won all three games in Vancouver 1-0, 3-2 and 1-0... That being said, the Vancouver Canucks have only lead for 32.32 through 6 games during the Stanley Cup Finals. The Bruins also scored two more power play goals tonight.

The Boston Bruins won tonight for just third time in 20 games when facing playoff elimination in a Game 6 while improving to 4-10 in finals elimination games. Ironically the Bruins have won two game sevens in this years Stanley Cup Playoffs. No team has ever won three game sevens in the same Stanley Cup playoffs... 

Related articles

• Bruins Vs. Canucks, Game 6: Mason Raymond Injury Follows Johnny Boychuk Hit Early In First Period (sbnation.com)
• VIDEO: Mason Raymond Injury Suffered On Awkward Hit In Canucks-Bruins Game 6 (sbnation.com)
• 2011 Stanley Cup Finals: Canucks Forward Mason Raymond Injured on Opening Shift (bleacherreport.com)

Boston Bruins even the series

I thought it was funny when I saw Canucks fans saying that the Vancouver Canucks were going to beat the Bruins four games to nothing before the series had even moved to Boston. This Boston Bruins team has faced a lot of adversity this season and has proved they are not just going to roll over and let the Canucks beat them. For the people that think that the Bruins can't win this series they are delirious. Now the series is a best two out of three games.

The Boston Bruins proved to be a tough, miserable team to play against, the Bruins were mean and nasty as they out muscled the Canucks and beat them to ever puck, up and down the ice. The Bruins finished the last two game at the TD North Garden by putting a beat down on the Vancouver Canucks out scoring the Diving Vancouver Canucks 12-1 in two games. Roberto Luongo has been absolutely brutal during the last two games in Boston.

Five things to think about...

1.) What will the Canucks fans whine about tomorrow?
2.) Where was this Bruins team the first two games?
3.) Thomas > Luongo...
4.) The Canucks are a bunch of diving frauds.
5.) Who starts in net for the Canucks?

Related articles

• Game (4) Boston Bruins vs Vancouver Canucks Live Stream NHL (oleole.com)
• Boston Bruins vs Vancouver Canucks Live Stream NHL Play Off 2011 Watch Stanley Cup! Online-CBC Cable TV Network Link (oleole.com)
• Enjoy Stream Canucks vs Bruins Live Streaming Game 3 NHL (oleole.com)
• Plenty of animosity growing between the Vancouver Canucks and Boston Bruins (thehockeynews.com)

Aaron Rome's hit on Nathan Horton

In watching this hit on replay, you can see that the hit in question was at least three strides too late, Aaron Rome left his feet to hit Horton in the head, it was a very dirty hit. There is no way you can defend this hit, Aaron Rome needs to be suspended by the NHL. I am all for big hits but this was unacceptable. In my opinion it's a violation of the NHL Rule 48.

Related articles

• Bruins Vs. Canucks, Game 3: Aaron Rome Hits Nathan Horton, Gets Ejected (sbnation.com)
• Video: Bruins' Nathan Horton out after hit by Canucks' Aaron Rome (aol.sportingnews.com)
• Video: Aaron Rome's dirty hit on Nathan Horton overshadows a scoreless first period in Game 3 (prohockeytalk.nbcsports.com)
• VIDEO: Aaron Rome Hits Nathan Horton Really Hard, Illegally In Canucks-Bruins Game 3 (sbnation.com)
• Bruins Vs. Canucks, Game 3 Score: First Period Scoreless, Aaron Rome Hit On Nathan Horton The Story (sbnation.com)

Stanley Cup Preview

Image by Getty Images via @daylife 2011 STANLEY CUP PREVIEW

Keys for Vancouver: the sedin twins finally stepped their game up in the semis vs the sharks and they are going to be needed big time for them to win the cup. the play of ryan kesler in these playoffs has been amazing you could say he is the best two-way forward in the league. kevin bieska stepped up big time as well vs sharks and he showed some offensive skills even though he's known more for his defensive skills. they are going to need to involve thier defenseman again in this series because they will want to get shots from the point that can be tipped past thomas off deflections because that has been working well for them throughout the playoffs.
PLAYERS TO WATCH: Ryan Kesler and Alexander Burrows

Keys for Boston: the B's are going to need their first line of horton, Lucic, and krecji to keep on rolling for them to win this stanley cup. I believe that chara will be a big problem for the sedins and the pairing of him and seidenberg has been the best D pairing in the playoffs. they also need to clear the front of the net for tim thomas, who has been the best goalie in the playoffs so far and he made the save of the year on that purcell shot in the last series vs Tampa Bay. what more can you say about Horton in these playoffs? two game 7 winners so far and i believe that he is hungry for that stanley cup after all those losing years as a panther. the b's need to continue to activate their defensman in the offensive zone and let them rip shots from the point and let their big men like ryder and lucic get deflections and rebounds out front.
Players TO WATCH: Zdeno Chara and Milan Lucic

Prediction: I believe that the Boston Bruins will win in 7 games because of the play of tim thomas and Chara who have been the best goalie and defenseman in these playoffs. it should be an epic series and i don't think the sedin twins and crew will go down easily.

Again; why was Bruin's rookie Tyler Seguin not playing in the first two rounds?

Boston Bruins rookie Tyler Seguin missed the first 11 games of the Stanley Cup Playoffs because he was said to be a defensive liability, but made up for the absence tonight with two goals and two assists during the second period of Tuesday's 6-5 win against the Tampa Bay Lightning and the Boston Bruins. The four points in the second period by Tyler Seguin tied a Boston Bruin’s/NHL playoff record for points in a period.

USA Today --- Seguin's four points in a period tied the NHL playoff record held by many players, including three other Bruins. Barry Pederson did it in 1982 against the Buffalo Sabres, followed by Peter McNab in 1982 against Buffalo and by Ken Linseman against the Montreal Canadiens in 1985.

In two games that Tyler Seguin has played in, Seguin has amassed (3g-3a-6pts) that's one more point than first line winger and the Boston Bruins regular season leading goal scorer Bruins tough guy Milan Lucic (2g-3a-5pts) again, why wasn't this kid playing in the first two rounds. The $64,000.00 question is who are the Bruins going to sit when Patrice Bergeron returns from his mild concussion? I would say that Daniel Paille, Shawn Thornton or Greg Campbell will be sitting for the Bruins all have basically been useless during the playoffs so far for the Boston Bruins.

ESPN; Kaberle remains a puzzle in Boston

Getty Images

If I was part of the Boston Bruins front office staff; after the Stanley Cup Playoffs are finished, I would wish Tomas Kaberle good luck thank him for his time in Boston and tell him he is free to find a new team, because he isn’t coming back to Boston, three assists in twelve game is unacceptable. This guy is worth no where near the money that he is going to be asking for after the season is over. In my opinion I think that Kaberele is a waste of a uniform and maybe the Bruins should consider sitting him for a game to two to send a message.

BOSTON -- In every series, there seems to be one designated whipping boy. That one, lonely, unfortunate player whose underachieving, faux pas or foibles make him a lightning rod for criticism and derision.

There was Marian Gaborik in New York as the Rangers bowed out in the first round.

There was Nicklas Backstrom in Washington as the top-seeded Capitals were swept in the second round.

Tomas Kaberle has no goals and three assists in 12 postseason games for the Bruins.

There were the goaltenders in Philadelphia who imploded all spring.
And in Boston, there is Tomas Kaberle.

The Bruins, of course, remain a part of the playoff story, competing in their first conference finals since 1992. But Kaberle's tepid play remains one of the most perplexing stories of this postseason and makes the Bruins' attempts to advance to the Stanley Cup finals significantly more difficult.

Maybe it's the history -- the failed attempts by the Bruins to acquire the smooth-skating defenseman from Toronto over the past couple of seasons -- that has ramped up the disappointment meter this spring.

There had been much anticipation at Kaberle's arrival in Boston at the trade deadline. When GM Peter Chiarelli finally pulled the trigger on the long-awaited deal, sending a first-round draft pick, a conditional pick and prospect Joe Colborne to Toronto, there were some who thought Kaberle represented that elusive final piece to the puzzle in ending the Bruins' long Stanley Cup drought.

Now, he's just a puzzle.

No where but up for Tomas Kaberle...

Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images North America

EDIT: This blog post was lost in hyperspace and reappeared today. I have never really been a very big fan of Bruins defenseman Tomas Kaberle, he is an offensive defenseman that refuses to hit or play a physical game in a contact sports. In my opinion I don’t think Kaberle is a very good defensive player either and to top it off Kaberle’s price tag is way too high for a one dimensional hockey player, if anything I believe that he may have played himself out of Boston, especially with the emergence of Dennis Seidenberg.

The Hockey News --- Speaking of room for improvement, another burr in the sides of B’s fans has been blueliner Tomas Kaberle. Since coming over in a much-ballyhooed trade from Toronto, the stoic Czech has underwhelmed. That same Boston power play floundered under his influence, which is strange, since that was so much of his game with the Maple Leafs.

But don’t complain, Bruins faithful. Kaberle may not have been remarkable so far in the playoffs, but he too has room for improvement and his ceiling is higher than any of the other options. Think about it: you have a No. 1 defenseman playing the fifth-most minutes (18:06 per game) among Boston blueliners. If he can up his game, all of a sudden the pressure is alleviated from minute-munchers Zdeno Chara and Dennis Seidenberg, both of whom are dangerously close to playing 29 minutes per contest.

As for the price Kaberle came at - specifically big prospect center Joe Colborne and a first round draft pick, plus a conditional pick - it will all be worth it if Boston wins the Stanley Cup. Yes, Colborne is starting to round into form as a dangerous pivot in the Toronto organization, but the Bruins aren’t starved for young talent (Brad Marchand being the latest breakout star). Plus, that draft pick will be in the No. 27-30 range thanks to the Bruins’ march to the conference final and potentially beyond.

Ending nearly 40 years of Stanley Cup starvation is worth paying a high price for. Kaberle is an unrestricted free agent this summer, but if his presence in any way helps the Bruins lift the chalice, Boston can say “see ya” on July 1 with a clear conscience

Why isn't Tyler Seguin playing more for the Boston Bruins.

I think it's fair to ask after watching this goal why isn't the Bruins rookie Tyler Seguin playing more for the Boston Bruins? The kid played about nine and a half minutes and racked up (1g-1a-2pts) in his first game in over a month. I think maybe it's time for the Boston Bruins head coach Claude Julien to re-evaluate his decision to not play Tyler Seguin the first 11 games of the Stanley Cup playoffs.

After leaping into the boards Adam McQuaid has a sprained neck...

In case you were wondering, Brendan Hall from ESPN is reporting that Adam McQuaid has a sprained neck that he suffered from attempting to check Mike Richards during Monday's game against the Philadelphia Flyers. McQuaid is listed as day to day.

BOSTON -- Bruins defenseman Adam McQuaid has a sprained neck and is day to day, coach Claude Julien said on Tuesday.

McQuaid slammed headfirst into the boards late in the first period of Monday night's Game 2 overtime win over Philadelphia and lay motionless on the ice for several minutes before skating off with the help of teammates Zdeno Chara and Milan Lucic. He also received help getting to the locker room.

The defenseman was taken to Jefferson Hospital in Philadelphia but flew back to Boston Monday night with the team.

"Everything so far has come out negative," Julien said of testing. "He's a day-to-day player right now."