Boston Bruins Were Busy This Past July 1st

Boston Bruins joined in on the free agent frenzy that is July 1st. Along with that, the whole world was waiting for John Tavares to pick a team. Boston was on his list. Throughout the day the Bruins made some signings that many people are asking why and who is that guy. They decided to stay quiet after all and not go too hard after big-time free agent, with the exception of Tavares.  Don Sweeney has decided to stick with the youth movement and just sign some depth forwards.

With free agency Boston had some in-house players to either let go or resign. Backup goaltender Anton Khudobin was one of those names. Many expected him to be back although in the end, the two parties did not come to terms and he ended up signing with Dallas. Along with Khudobin Tim Schaler will not be returning. Also, Riley Nash who had a career year and helped the Bruins get to the Eastern Conference Semifinals signed a deal with the Colombus Blu Jackets. With that, the Bruins now had a need for a backup goalie and a fourth line replacement for Schaller and a depth forward (center) for Nash.

Some household names will be returning as Anton Blidh and Sean Kurarly have signed a one-year. a two-way contract worth $650,00 and a three-year worth $1.275 million respectively. Blidh and Kurarly are the only returning free agents from last season, although Rick Nash‘s career is in question as he ponders retirement due to health.

Sweney found his guys, they are not household names but they should fit the Boston mold well. With Khudobin gone Boston signed Jaroslav Halak. Halak spent last season with the Islanders. He played in 54 games and posted a 3.19 goals against. Halak should be a solid backup. In an interview, he said that he looks forward to playing with an “elite goaltender” in Tuukka Rask, and will look to help the team win. One guy will fit right in and that is Chris Wagner as he is a native of Walpole. He spent most of last season with the New York Islanders, then played another 15 games with the Anaheim Ducks. He is your typical fourth line grinder that will bring energy and be a reliable penalty kill guy.

Also singing with the team is former Carolina Hurricanes forward Joakim Nordstrom. This is presumably Riley Nash’s replacement. Nordstrom is nowhere near what Nash was as he only had 7 points in 75 games. He has one 20 point season and that was back in the 2015-16 season. This is a questionable signing but hopefully will pan out. Look for him to play on both the third and fourth line.

What seems to be the teams biggest signing for the team is the signing of Defenseman John Moore from the New Jersey Devils. Boston and Moore agreed to a 5-year contract with an AAV of $2.75 million. Moore helped the Devils back to the playoffs last year and managed 1 point in the 5 games the team played. This is an odd signing as the Bruins are fairly deep at the defensive position. This could mean a couple things, either it is a depth signing but the 5-year deal most likely means that he is taking someone’s spot. With that said Boston could be looking to move one of their bottom three defensemen in Kevan Miller, Adam McQuaid, and Torey Krug. I expect to see Krug or Miller moved.

Bruins overall Free Agent Day Grade: C+

Sweeney did not make any big name signings but was able to fill in holes that were left in the roster after the depart of many players. None of the signings are head-turning but should do the trick in helping the team get back to the playoffs.

Boston Bruins may be looking to take the Loud Route This Offseason

The Boston Bruins have had a quiet offseason until recently when talks of them trying to sign Ilya Kovalchuk. The Bruins also signed Matt Grzelcyk to a two-year contract for an AAV of $1.5 million. Sweeney also signed Martin Bakos to a 1-year 2-way contract for an AAV of $700,000. Earlier in the month the team also signed 2017 1st round pick Urho Vaakanainen to a 3-year entry level deal.

The Vaalanainen and Grzelcyk signings make sense as the Bruins are trying to promote youth into their lineup, and Grz proved himself last season. With the signing of Grz do not be shocked if Toey Krug is moved, as they have very similar play styles. Urho is an unknown as not much is known about him. He is also ad-man so this might mean even more moves will be made mabye Adam McQuaid or Kevin Miller will be moved.

Now on to the big name Ilya Kovalchuk. This is a guy who quit on the New Jersey Devils to leave and go to play in Russia. Now he wants back for his shot at the Cup. He has not played in the NHL since the 2013-14 season. Kovalchuk has 816 points in 816 games in the NHL.  With that said he has been amazing over in the KHL. This past season he had 31 goals and 63 points in 53 games. The big question is can this guy still play in the NHL. Four teams seem to think so.

As of today the Bruins, Sharks, Knights, and Kings had made an offer to Kovalchuk. He has expressed interest in playing for all four teams. So now it is a waiting game to see where he goes. Nothing can be official until Free Agency starts on July 1st.

Bruins Announce 2018 Regular Season Schedule

As usual, there are those couple of circles that go on the Calander. First one is Oct. 3 at Washington. This will be banner night for the Capitals’. Next is the home opener which is a bit odd this year. It will be Oct. 8th against Ottowa. The odd part is that it is Colombus day and it is a day game home opener. All-time arch-rivals Montreal will come to town Oct. 27th. November 11th marks the date that Vegas comes to town. And Dec 6th is the first time the B’s will face the Lightning since being eliminated by the bolts this past season.

The full schedule can be seen below

OCTOBER:

Wednesday, October 3 @ Washington, 7:30 p.m.

Thursday, October 4 @ Buffalo, 7 p.m.

Monday, October 8 vs. Ottawa, 1 p.m.

Thursday, October 11 vs. Edmonton, 7 p.m.

Saturday, October 13 vs. Detroit, 7 p.m.

Wednesday, October 17 @ Calgary, 7:30 p.m.

Thursday, October 18 @ Edmonton, 7 p.m.

Saturday, October 20 @ Vancouver, 7 p.m.

Tuesday, October 23 @ Ottawa, 7:30 p.m.

Thursday, October 25 vs. Philadelphia, 7 p.m.

Saturday, October 27 vs. Montreal, 7 p.m.

Tuesday, October 30 at Carolina, 7 p.m.

NOVEMBER:

Saturday, November 3 @ Nashville, 7 p.m.

Monday, November 5 vs. Dallas, 7 p.m.

Thursday, November 8 vs. Vancouver, 7 p.m.

Saturday, November 10 vs. Toronto, 7 p.m.

Sunday, November 11 vs. Las Vegas, 7 p.m.

Wednesday, November 14 @ Colorado, 8 p.m.

Friday, November 16 @ Dallas, 7 p.m.

Saturday, November 17 @ Arizona, 6 p.m.

Wednesday, November 21 @ Detroit, 7:30 p.m.

Friday, November 23 vs. Pittsburgh, 7:30 p.m.

Saturday, November 24 @ Montreal, 7 p.m.

Monday, November 26 @ Toronto, 7 p.m.

Thursday, November 29 vs. N.Y. Islanders, 7 p.m.

DECEMBER:

Saturday, December 1 vs. Detroit, 7 p.m.

Tuesday, December 4 @ Florida, 7 p.m.

Thursday, December 6 @ Tampa Bay, 7:30 p.m.

Saturday, December 8 vs. Toronto, 7 p.m.

Sunday, December 9 @ Ottawa, 5 p.m.

Tuesday, December 11 vs. Arizona, 7 p.m.

Friday, December 14 @ Pittsburgh, 7 p.m.

Sunday, December 16 vs. Buffalo, 5 p.m.

Monday, December 17 @ Montreal, 7:30 p.m.

Thursday, December 20 vs. Anaheim, 7 p.m.

Saturday, December 22 vs. Nashville, 1 p.m.

Sunday, December 23 @ Carolina, 5 p.m.

Thursday, December 27 vs. New Jersey, 7 p.m.

Saturday, December 29 @ Buffalo, 7 p.m.

JANUARY:

Tuesday, January 1 @ Chicago, 1 p.m.

Thursday, January 3 vs. Calgary, 7 p.m.

Saturday, January 5 vs. Buffalo, 7 p.m.

Tuesday, January 8 vs. Minnesota, 7 p.m.

Thursday, January 10 vs. Washington, 7 p.m.

Saturday, January 12 @ Toronto, 7 p.m.

Monday, January 14 vs. Montreal, 7 p.m.

Wednesday, January 16 @ Philadelphia, 7:30 p.m.

Thursday, January 17 vs. St. Louis, 7 p.m.

Saturday, January 19 vs. N.Y. Rangers, 7 p.m.

Tuesday, January 29 vs. Winnipeg, 7 p.m.

Thursday, January 31 vs. Philadelphia, 7 p.m.

FEBRUARY:

Sunday, February 3 @ Washington, 12:30 p.m.

Tuesday, February 5 vs. N.Y. Islanders, 7 p.m.

Wednesday, February 6 @ N.Y. Rangers, 8 p.m.

Saturday, February 9 vs. Los Angeles, 1 p.m.

Sunday, February 10 vs. Colorado, 3 p.m.

Tuesday, February 12 vs. Chicago, 7 p.m.

Friday, February 15 @ Anaheim, 7 p.m.

Saturday, February 16 @ Los Angeles, 7:30 p.m.

Monday, February 18 @ San Jose, 7:30 p.m.

Wednesday, February 20 @ Vegas, 7 p.m.

Saturday, February 23 @ St. Louis, 3 p.m.

Tuesday, February 26 vs. San Jose, 7 p.m.

Thursday, February 28 vs. Tampa Bay, 7 p.m.

MARCH:

Saturday, March 2 vs. New Jersey, 7 p.m.

Tuesday, March 5 vs. Carolina, 7 p.m.

Thursday, March 7 vs. Florida, 7 p.m.

Saturday, March 9 vs. Ottawa, 7 p.m.

Sunday, March 10 @ Pittsburgh, 7:30 p.m.

Tuesday, March 12 @ Columbus, 7 p.m.

Thursday, March 14 @ Winnipeg, 7 p.m.

Saturday, March 16 vs. Columbus, 7 p.m.

Tuesday, March 19 @ N.Y. Islanders, 7 p.m.

Thursday, March 21 @ New Jersey, 7 p.m.

Saturday, March 23 @ Florida, 7 p.m.

Monday, March 25 @ Tampa Bay, 7:30 p.m.

Wednesday, March 27 vs. N.Y. Rangers, 7:30 p.m.

Saturday, March 30 vs. Florida, 7 p.m.

Sunday, March 31 @ Detroit, 7:30 p.m.

APRIL:

Tuesday, April 2 @ Columbus, 7 p.m.

Thursday, April 4 @ Minnesota, 7 p.m.

Saturday, April 6 vs. Tampa Bay, 12:30 p.m.

Boston Bruins Rumors To Start And Put To Sleep

Boston Bruins Season has been over for a little more than a month now and the rumors have already started about sign this guy or trade this guy. Some of them are feasible and many are far-fetched. I will give my opinion on some current rumors and maybe start a couple.

Let us start off with some easy stuff Brian Gionta, Paul Postma and Kenny Agostino are gone officially. Now the others have not been ruled out the main ones being Rick Nash, Riley Nash, and Anton Khudoban and Tim Schaller Also, Austin Czarnik, Tommy Wingles, and Nick Holden are up for free agency.

Don Sweeney has said that talks are ongoing with all of these guys. He also said in an ideal world he would like to keep all of these guys. This is not an ideal world, although the Salary Cap is rumored to be increasing for the 2019 season. All of these guys with the exception with Rick Nash who was acquired in a trade with the Rangers at the Deadline had career years.

Keepers If Price Is Right

The big guy is Rick Nash. Will he be resigned? I think Nash wants to stay and show he is better than what we saw. Also, he is a good fit for David Krejci. I see him being signed if the Bruins feel that none of the prospects is a better fit that Rick. Again as always, the big question will be about the salary. Last year he was a $7.8 million cap hit. Sweeney cannot afford that. If he is willing to take a cur then he will stay if not they will shop around or plug in a prospect.

The problem is that the power forward id dying. There is a rumor that they are going to bring Milan Lucic. Let me just say no no no no, absolutely not. He has done nothing since he left and is just about as bad of a cap hit as Nash. At that point just keep Nash.

Now to the real world and who should they keep. I would keep Riley Nash if the price is right. Yes, it is that way with any guy but him in particular because he only had a salary of $900,000 last season. Now coming off a career year he is going to want anywhere from $3-5 million.

Now he is in the right to ask for that as he produced 41 points for the team. If he would take $2-2.5 I would love to have him if not, I think he could be replaced with a guy like Ryan Donato or another prospect.

Another guy they will most likely want to keep is Anton Khudobin who also had a stellar year which allowed Rask to be a ton better this year. His cap hit was only $1.2 million. If it is possible to stay close to that number it would be awesome. Khudobin fits in well and there are not really any other choices at the moment as the B’s prospects just are not ready yet.

The final guy to keep but is a bit far-fetched is Czarnik. He is a great player but has just been lost in the shuffle the past couple years. He for sure test the waters but I will not be disappointed if he gets signed and slots in on the Third or Fourth line.

Thank For Coming

Tim Schaller is out. He is a great player but there is room for him anymore. Schaller does fit that mold for a fourth line guy but I Think they can do better. The other guy that we will see go is Tommy Wingles, who was acquired at the Trade deadline because of injuries.

Be Loud Or Stay Quiet?

Sweney has two option this offseason and those are staying quiet and keep your money or spend spend spend. Now by this, I mean going out and either trading and signing a big name guy to bring in. I see him being relatively quiet as the new mentality is youth. They also still have David Backes‘ contract to worry about especially with his career in question with his concussion suffered in the playoffs.

The Bruins prospect pool is a very large pool and paid off this year with guys like Danton Heinen and Jake Debrusk, and Matt Grzelcyk. Other guys had a shot but wither did not make the cut or got hurt. I am talking about JFK and Anders Bjork. Then on top of that, we got a little taste of Ryan Donato at the end of the year. All this leads me to believe that Sweeney will stay quite this off-season and stick with the youth.