Posted by Gayle Simone, Sun Staff
After nearly seven hours of watching TSN's TradeCentre on my lap top, I'm trying to put my thoughts together for the 20-something moves that were made today. So bare with me if I miss something or spend too much time on one trade and skip over another.
Let's start with the HUGE moves:
Unable to reach a long-term deal with Ryan Smyth, the Edmonton Oilers traded away the face of the franchise to the New York Islanders for forwards Robert Nilson, Ryan O'Marra and a 2007 1st round pick - winner in that catagory is definitely NY. Remember the Isles also aquired Marc-Andre Bergeron from the Oilers last week and are currently one point out of the playoffs.
Second HUGE deal: San Jose aquires Bill Guerin from St. Louis for forwards Ville Nieminen and Jay Barriball, along with a 2007 1st round pick. San Jose is not fooling around here. Think of the offensive power on that team now - Joe Thornton, Jonathan Cheechoo, Patrick Marleau, Milan Michalek, newly acquired Craig Rivet and now Guerin. The Sharks are making a run for the Cup with their moves and are slowly becoming Bruins West (Thornton, Guerin and Kyle McLaren).
Another pretty big move was both Gary Roberts and George Laraques both waiving their no-trade clause to go to Pittsburgh. Now, Sydney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin and Jordan Staal have their bodyguard in Laraques; Roberts simply adds experience and depth in the forward category. Edge goes to Pittsburgh again.
Buffalo dealt goaltender Martin Biron to Philly for second round pick; so Biron literally went from the best team in the Eastern Conference to the worst. The Sabres then turned around and picked up Ty Conklin from Columbus for a fifth round pick. Biron will help Philly right now, but he becomes a UFA at the end of the season and questions will a rise as to what the Flyers will do with Robert Esche and Antero Niittymaki if by chance they are able to re-sign Biron.
Yanic Perreault will make yet another stop in Toronto after being traded by the Phoenix Coyotes for defenseman Brenden Bell and a 2008 second round pick. This definitely helps the Maple Leafs as they are in desperate need of a center that can win face offs.
The Bruins made some moves today as well. Swapping defensemen with the Rangers. Boston sent Paul Mara packing and will get veteran d-man Aaron Ward in exchange. While most of their numbers are pretty much the same (Mara 18, Ward 15) the big one that sticks out is the plus-minus. Mara is a -23; while Ward -3; not too mention Ward is a very physical player with 148 hits good for 16th in the league and will help in front of the net - he has 142 blocked shots (9th in the league). Also Mara makes $3 million; while Ward is $2.75 which frees up a little bit in the cap. Early to tell but I give the edge to Boston on this one.
The Bruins also parted ways with Brad Boyes, who has had a less than stellar sophomore campaign. Boyes was dealt to St. Louis for defenseman Dennis Wideman. Point production had nothing to do with this trade. Boyes is making $1.4 million this year and slated for $1.6 next season; Wideman, who will be a restricted free agent at the end of the season is only making $475 thousand - talk about clearing some cap room. Maybe that's why the Bruins didn't have to deal Glen Murray (who was subject to many rumors).
Detroit acquired veteran Todd Bertuzzi from Florida for forward Shawn Matthias, 2007 conditional draft pick and 2008 conditional 2nd round pick. The conditional draft picks are based on how far and well the Wings do in the play offs and how well Bertuzzi plays. Considering Bertuzzi has only played in eight games this season and coming off of back surgery it was pretty smart of Detroit to put conditions on the draft picks- not sure at this point which team benefits more with this deal.
There were a lot of other moves that took place today, but none that directly impact the teams the way the ones listed above do.
So, what do you think? Who made the best moves? Surprised by any of the trades? Shocked that some moves that were rumored weren't made?
Comments (10)
Good moves especially by the Islanders and Sharks. Smyth will really help the Isles as he can add grit and character - Guerin in San Jose will also provide some of that as well.
Some of the other moves are head-scratchers...
Not sure what the Bruins are trying to do here unless it is truly about salaries. Mara is much younger than Ward so would seem to be a more useful player in the future than Ward. I think the "real" Boyes is closer to last year than this year. I haven't seen enough of Wideman but is he at least a serviceable D-man? If not I don't think Boyes' salary was that much for a top 2 line forward (which is what Boyes should be).
Not sure why the Flyers want to play "Rent-A-Biron". I can't see him wanting to re-sign in Philly unless they have a huge influx of talent over the summer- maybe they will use Forsberg's salary to bring themselves some talent...
Posted by dboisver | February 28, 2007 9:34 AM
Posted on February 28, 2007 09:34
DB - When the Ward/Mara trade was first announced I was mind boggled as well ... I honestly thought they were just swapping one player for another - the only thing that stuck out with me is the plus-minus, we all know the Bruins are one of the worst clubs defending five-on-five. Chiarelli in a press conference yesterday (saw snippits in NESN) said something like (and I am paraphrasing here) "look at our goals for and our goals against"
With the Boyes trade Chiarelli said he has a surplus of youth (Kessel, Bochenski and Kobasew) up front and needed more depth on the blue line (again paraphrasing).
Curious to see who Ward and Wideman get paired up with tomorrow night against Philly. My guess is Ward will play with Chara even strength and Wideman will play with Allen/York and I expect to see Ward on the second pp unit with Ference- JMO.
As far as Philly, they have a ton of cap space now after trading Forsberg away so they may be able to find away to resign Biron before the end of the season - which is the only way that move makes sense for Philly - makes tons of sense for Buffalo.
Posted by Lady Bruins Fan | February 28, 2007 10:30 AM
Posted on February 28, 2007 10:30
Just an FYI Peter Chiarelli will be a guest on the Dale and Holley show today at 1:30 p.m. to discuss the moves made yesterday- If you can't listen live (which I won't be able to because of assignments) you can listen to it on the 'EEI Vault.
Posted by Lady Bruins Fan | February 28, 2007 10:35 AM
Posted on February 28, 2007 10:35
You know what's telling...no matter how much Bruins fans cry about the lack of a true #1 goalie (and I agree, we don't currently have one), Chiarelli has chosen to completely revamp the defense in the last couple of weeks, rather than go after a band aid like Biron.
I'm more encouraged now than ever that they're headed in the right direction. I think Chiarelli really gets it.
The B's have allowed the second most goals against, and the problem starts with the defenseman and forwards. They could stick Ken Dryden in net, and they'd still give up too many goals to be a Cup contender. By building up the back line, they'll be in good position for when they finally do pick up a number-1 in the offseason.
Posted by Teddy Panos | February 28, 2007 1:58 PM
Posted on February 28, 2007 13:58
WOW Teddy, did you really just say something positive about the Bruins? Did I read that correctly???
Posted by Lady Bruins Fan | February 28, 2007 2:29 PM
Posted on February 28, 2007 14:29
Supposedly the big thing with Ward, I guess, is that he is used to Lewis' system but Mara is not. Otherwise I don't think it makes a lot of sense as I can't see Ward playing for more than another couple of years at most. Will the B's be in Stanley Cup contention by then? I could see Mara being a part of the team for another 4-5 years at least which is why I question that move.
I'm all for getting more solid defensively but if you have a guy that's a pretty good offensive D-man I'd think you could get more for him than Ward.
Wideman is all about the $$$ savings- I just don't know that I would have given up on Boyes at this point for a guy like Wideman.
What is the deal with the guy (Rask?) they got for Raycroft? Could he come over to the US next season and vie for a spot on the big club? I know they were high on him when they dealt for him. They need a #1 goalie that can make up for mistakes from the "D". When your GAA is as high as it is it has to be a combination of defense AND goaltending. Improving one should help the other but improving both really should be on Chiarelli's agenda.
Exactly what goalies are free agents next season (besides Biron)? I think I need an idea of who's available to get me excited about these moves- if enough $$$ was freed up to sign a good guy I can be a little more optimistic.
Posted by dboisver | February 28, 2007 2:54 PM
Posted on February 28, 2007 14:54
DB- from what I gathered, the Bs were not happy with Mara's offensive output and like Teddy said the Bruins are second in the league behind Philly in the goals against category (244) and with a -22, Mara was anything but a solid defenseman - at least not this year. They (Mara and Ward) are signed through next year - by then, maybe Matt Lashoff or Mark Stuart will be ready for full-time duty on the big club.
The Bruins have a lot of defensive prospects in Providence that may or may not be able to step in the next couple of years. And to be honest, Stanley Cup experience goes a long way with guys in the locker room - Ward has won three, two with Detroit and one last year with the 'Canes.
Again with depth up front they didn't need to keep Boyes. I for one have been extremely disappointed and unimpressed with his sophomore campaign and maybe he can get out of it, but again defense can help keep the puck out of the net and the Bruins desperately need "d" in front of their goaltending. And to comment on your "$$$ saving" point, I agree and I welcome it of it helps the Bruins get another top player, like last year with the signing of Chara and Savard.
As far as UFAs at the end of the season for goaltenders, besides Biron only Jean-Sebasstien Giguere will be a UFA. Not sure, honestly who will be a restricted free agent at the end of the year - but only Biron and Giguere will be UFAs. I really don't think Biron would be willing to stay in Philly - unless he knows something we don't know.
From what I understand Tuuka Rask just finished miltary stint in Finland and at best will be in Providence next year.
Posted by Lady Bruins Fan | February 28, 2007 3:33 PM
Posted on February 28, 2007 15:33
Yes Gayle, you read that correctly. I also wrote a very complimentary piece the day they signed Chara and Savard...but please don't let anyone know I'm really a Bruins softie at heart!
Posted by Teddy Panos | February 28, 2007 5:18 PM
Posted on February 28, 2007 17:18
I have a feeling that while most people are down on the organization, most are a "Bruins softie at heart." And like I have said time and time again becareful because those that jumped off the bandwagon through the MOC/Sinden era because as a true Black and Gold fan, I may not let you back on. But Teddy, through it all you have not bashed the Bruins - but showed your knowledge of the sport and the team and I respect that - so if this team starts winning in the next couple of years- you are welcome back at any time LOL
Posted by Lady Bruins Fan | February 28, 2007 5:37 PM
Posted on February 28, 2007 17:37
Anyone who can recall the days of Fred Cusick, Emerson, Lake, and Palmer's "Nutrocker" at the start of a TV38 Bruins game, or any other similar nostalga will always be a Bruins softie/fan at heart.
I think it's tough, when thinking back to those days and how much fun hockey and the Bruins was and how I'd look so forward to watching a game for as long as I could stay awake, vs. today when I hardly can remember where/when they are playing, who plays on that team, etc. Just makes me long for the "good old days".
Posted by dboisver | March 1, 2007 1:49 PM
Posted on March 1, 2007 13:49