Bruins announce they've signed both Torey Krug and Reilly Smith to one-year deals. Each contract comes in with $1.4 m cap hit... Thats all I have for now as the news is just breaking and there arnt any particulars available at the moment.
Bruins hate skill. Sent down Khochlachev, I can live w/ that, he's still a kid. Also sent down Spooner. Probably the best skater in the organization and he's already proven himself in the AHL. Scored a beautiful goal and added an assist in a preseason game and Cload singled him out for his poor defensive play. Now I don't blame Cload for wanting a certain type player but the Broonz need to grow some of their own top 6 Fs which they haven't in a long time. With Eriksson and Big Fat's contracts coming up they could use some flexibility or leverage at the very least. Live with the growing pains that come w/ a Spooner but move his development forward by having him in the NHL lineup. http://www.hockeydb.com/ihdb/stats/pdisplay.php?pid=116089 The [del]Merlot[/del] Dark Zinfandel line was outplayed badly last year vs Montreal. That was clear, as was the writing on the wall that the Broonz need to adapt and add some skill to the lineup. To me this doesn't necessarily equate to a deviation from Cload's 3 zone philosophy. I believe Cload disagrees w/ me though. This brings up a larger issue I think, are Chiarelli and Cload moving in different philosophical directions? Just read a pretty good article on this issue. Probably making a mountain out of a mole hill but I would think PC was expecting Spooner to be on this year's team. At the draft PC was wired and heard repeatedly talking about taking chances on picking possible top 6 Fs and not taking another safe bottom 6er. This was the reason that they may have reached for Donato in the 2nd. Kid does have tons of skill but he's a chubby little kid, I don't have high hopes but he's a complete project type kid. I think Cload has no problem rolling out 12 Gregory Campbells up front and 6 Boychuks on D. For this reason and for the strong coaching and team commitment he gets from his players, I believe Cload would be an excellent coach for weak teams. I'll bet that he could get Edmonton in a playoff hunt in short order. Of source RNH, Schultz, and Yakupov would be dealt before the puck dropped.
I honestly think Boychuk was a 3rd pair D here at best. Being a righty D is valuable in the league it seems, but not an issue on the Bruins blue line. Chara, Hamilton, & Seidenberg all in a different class than Boychuk. Krug a totally different animal but definitely in the lineup as a 3rd pair D and PP specialist. That would've left Boychuk, McQuaid, Bartkowski, Warsofsky and Miller battling for 2 spots. Ive always liked Mcquaid better than Boychuk but Mcquaid's durability has been an issue. He looks healthy this preseason and bigger than last year. Bartkowski struggled last year, no way around it. Im a big fan of his but he was the worst D at the end of the season. A nice skill set here though, hopefully his regression was an anomaly. Warsofsky is a small quick kid. Still on the roster, we'll see. Miller might be the Bruins best value player @ 2 yrs/ $800k per. He's a beast of a man and good on the PK. He tied Chara for the team lead in pull-ups last year, something stewpid like 31. Miller/ Mcquaid/ Boychuk are all pretty redundant. Chiarelli extended Zach Trotman this off season to a 2 year deal where 2015/16 is a 1 way I think. He's plays a very Cload-approved style game. Would think Joe Morrow is scheduled to be in position to battle for a roster spot in 2015/16 also. This move might open up an easier path to extending Dougie Hamilton sooner rather than later. I expect some sucker to pay Boychuk next off season to an Orpik like deal.
everywhere but nowhere. his first 2 games were a spayshell kind of bad. thought he's been better lately, points probably don't reflect that though if thats what you're asking. the entire team needs to start scoring. im very nervous that Bigfat (sainthood in question these days) will do something incredibly stupid tonight.
We're serving up a nice one for tonight to help your team to get themselves back on the right track. Everyone in NE ought to be big Buffalo fans for at least one night.
your hospitality is greatly appreciated Dan. I like Svedberg a lot Will. sort of a wild man TT style of play but he's very good.
He hasnt played much from what I hear, but he sure looked sharp enough last night. Boston is all of a sudden starting to look normal and playing better together. Generating some offense must be a relief. Hope Miller and hurt too bad.
