Boston Bruins Secure 2011 Stanley Cup Championship

This was perhaps one of the most intriguing and awkward Stanley Cup Finals series in recent memory. Two teams that longed to hoist the greatest prize in the games; the Vancouver Canucks having never won one in its two previous tries and the Boston Bruins last declaring itself as champion 39 years ago despite every other sports franchise in its city feeling the glory of title success over the past decade.

For Vancouver, home ice advantage meant everthing. Though doing so narrowly, they took each game on Rogers Center ice prior to Game 7. Contrarily, each game held at TD Garden went Boston's way in convincing fashion. But all bets are off when its left to the do or die Game 7 - and the road team finally snagged a victory when it mattered most.

Courtesy of a two-goal nights from Patrice Bergeron and Brad Marchand, as well as another perfect performance from 37-year old Tim Thomas in between the pipes, the Bruins secured a 4-0 win and snagged the Stanley Cup for the first time since defeating the New York Rangers in 1972.

Bergeron got the scoring going late in the first period when he netted a pass from Brad Marchand that slid just to the right of Roberto Luongo. Marchand added his first goal 7:47 into the second period with a wraparound on an out-of-position Luongo. Bergeron posted his second goal of the game a bit over five minutes later with a drive into the crease that enabled him to slide the puck past Luongo. And finally Marchand popped in his second to put the nail in the coffin on the Canucks with an empty netter with 2:44 left in the game.

A four-goal night put the Vancouver fans in silent mode, but it was undoubtedly another splendid showing in net from Thomas that enabled Boston to come out on top. The Conn Smythe Award recipient for Finals MVP posted his second shutout of the series and fourth overall of this year's playoffs on a 37-save effort - a number matching the age of the Flint, Michigan native likely set to add another Vezina Trophy to his accolades of the 2010-11 season.

Vancouver's downfall was being unable to consistently come up strong against the Bruins. Key players such as Ryan Kesler, Henrik and Daniel Sedin, and Luongo were all unable to follow through on the key contributions they offered throughout both the regular and postseason prior to the Finals. They were completely flat on the road, surrendering losses of 8-1 (Game 3), 4-0 (Game 4) and 5-2 (Game 6) in Boston. It also didn't help that Vancouver provided plenty of motivation to the Bruins players when Nathan Horton, who had some clutch performances through these playoffs, was knocked out of the series with a concussion courtesy of a late, blindside hit from defenseman Aaron Rome. Rome was subsequently suspended for the remainder of the series.

Canada's drought of playoff success now reaches 18 years, with the Montreal Canadiens being the last squad from up north to take Lord Stanley on the shoulders of goaltender Patrick Roy.

Of note, this was Mark Recchi's third Stanley Cup Championship during his 22 years in the NHL. He previously hoisted the trophy in 1991 with the Pittsburgh Penguins and in 2006 with the Carolina Hurricanes. The 43-year old forward illuded in post-game interviews that retirement is likely on the horizon.

Pacioretty Stretchered Off Ice After Being Sent Into Boards By Chara



It's almost commonplace in the NHL today to see some pretty scary things go down. The physical play throughout the league has come under constant scrutiny, especially with abundance of industries - especially those of the concussion variety. The Tuesday evening showdown between the Northeast Division rival Montreal Canadiens and Boston Bruins is sure to put another black mark on the game and lead to endless debate over who is at fault, if anyone is at all.

With approximately 20 seconds remaining in the second period, Max Pacioretty and Zdeno Chara partook in a race for the puck near the blue line by Montreal's zone. Pacioretty chipped the puck down the ice and skated close the boards, where Chara met up with him and rode him into the glass extension separating the two benches. Pacioretty immediately fell to the ice, squirming at first before remaining completely motionless.

As Pacioretty was stretchered off the ice by practically all available medical personnel, the officials elected to call a close to the second period with 15.8 seconds remaining. A smart move considering the obvious all-around concern for the fallen Hab. For the incident, Chara was given a five-minute interference major, a game misconduct and a very big bullseye on his back for the next time these two teams square off on March 24.

Pacioretty was taken to a nearby hospital and it has since been reported by the Canadiens that he was moving his hands and feet, regained consciousness and was talking. That's pretty much as good as anybody could ask for right now considering the how devastating it looked when his head went crashing into the glass.

While the primary concern is Pacioretty's health, there is sure to be plenty of focus over what happens to Chara now. Was this a purposeful play on the defenseman's part, or was it simply an accident resulting from Pacioretty's own momentum and location?

It's going to be very difficult to pin this down as an intended hit by Chara, who I don't believe is the kind of player seeking to injury others. He's a big man who plays a physical game, but he's not known for succumbing to dirty plays. He's always better player and person than that.

But there is history between these two players from when Pacioretty scored an overtime game-winner in Montreal back in early January. And revenge is always a motive to make even smart people do dumb things.

Plus, there are certain aspects of the play that make me question just how accidental it was.

Chara looks up as he's riding Pacioretty across the boards and should have full awareness of where he is on the ice and the nearby surroundings. It should be clear to him that the glass extension is right there. Plus, this wasn't a simple check into the boards, whereby Chara runs his body into Pacioretty. Instead, he pushes Pacioretty with his hands in a matter that appears to be aiming for that extension.

Of course, this is all speculation on my end (noted by the shoulds in italics), which is what all analysts are doing at the moment. But certain intracies of that play don't smell right to me and are hard to overlook in favor of granting Chara absolute innocence. And by simply saying it was all just a matter of time and place, there's almost an element of blame being put on Pacioretty for nothing being in a different spot on the ice to accept the hit.

My gut tells me the NHL will review the play, but won't ultimately hand down a suspension. Chara was remorseful and called the incident "unfortunate" several times, according to Connor McKenna of Team 990 in Montreal. And, again, he doesn't have the reputation for being the kind of player to pull of dirty hits.

But there will still be a lot of debate as to whether Chara should receive some sort of extra punishment or if what went down Tuesday night was just a by-product of being in the moment.

Bruins Acquire Kaberle, Peverely and Valabik

One would think that today was the NHL trade deadline considering the amount of deals that went down really over the last few hours. The deadline is still a week and a half away, but that did not stop the Boston Bruins from tinkering with their roster now. In two separate deals, Boston brought in defensemen Tomas Kaberle and Boris Valabik, as well as center Rich Peverely.
The Bruins acquired Kaberle from the Toronto Maple Leafs in exchange for forward prospect Joe Colborne, Boston's first round pick this year and a conditional second rounder. Kaberle, who has been on the block for a few years now, has previously been reluctant to waive his no-trade clause in past seasons. But he did so this year to head to Boston, which ends a 12-year run with the organization that drafted him 204th overall back in 1996.

“On behalf of our entire organization I would like to thank Tomas for all of his many outstanding contributions to the Toronto Maple Leafs on the ice, and in the community," general manager Brian Burke said in a statement released by the Maple Leafs. "He has been a model citizen and it’s never easy to trade a player that has conducted himself as professionally as Tomas has for the past 13 years.”

In 58 games this season, Kaberle has posted three goals and 35 points for 38 points. He has yet to register a goal on the power play, though 22 of his helpers have come on the man advantage. The Bruins will benefit from that offensive upgrade on the blue line from the 32-year old pending unrestricted free agent.

The price tag was also relatively cheap for what will probably be a rental player. Colborne is a good prospect who was taken back in 2008 by Boston at the 16th overall position. But there's no guarantees with prospects and the Bruins still have plenty of depth in their system. Giving up the first rounder to Toronto also isn't a big deal since they still possess the Maple Leafs' first round pick this year from the Phil Kessel trade. And that selection will be high on in the draft - possibly even a lottery pick.

The Bruins also completed a separate trade with the Atlanta Thrashers that netted them Peverely and Valabik in exchange for Blake Wheeler and Mark Stuart. This deal will aid both teams as they compete for vastly different positioning in the postseason.

It's hard to say which side "won" this trade, as the Bruins were able to bring in a better offensive player and center in Peverely. Yet, they gave a bit on the defensive end by dealing a good two-way player in Wheeler and a better defender in Stuart. This trade just feels like a tinkering move between two general managers and should drastically change the fortunes of either team. If anything, the Bruins were able to cut a litlte payroll.

A Reason Why The NHL NEEDS Ray Emery

Goalie fights are always fun. Though rare, few things in hockey are more exciting than watching one goalie rush down from his crease to the opposition's in order to lay the hurt into the other team's netminder. And even with all of the pads that they wear, it's not always just fun and games for these guys when they do decide to drop the glove and blocker. Sometimes, they do get hurt. Just ask Rick DiPietro, if he can even hear you after getting his face destroyed with a one-punch KO from Pittsburgh Penguins backup Brent Johnson.

Just one week after that scrap that, surprise surprise, put DiPietro back on injured reserve, fans were treated to yet another goalie brawl. I use the term 'brawl" loosely on this one. This time it was between Montreal Canadiens starter Carey Price and a man who should be lock to pick up the Vezina this year, Boston Bruins starter Tim Thomas. Unfortunately, this fight was a major letdown and shows that not every goaltender is capable of living up to the standards set by Dan Cloutier and Ray Emery as it pertains to goalie fights.

That was simply awful and makes me even more thanful that the Anaheim Ducks signed Emery. Here's to hoping Emery proves himself in the AHL to get a callup. The NHL needs him desperately to set things right in the world of goalie fights!

Savard Out At Bruins Training Camp With Post-Concussion Syndrome Symptoms

An already eventful summer for Boston Bruins center Marc Savard added another twist on Friday when training camps opened around the NHL. While the Bruins watch 56 players hit the ice for the beginning of their camp, Savard was not one of them. General Manager Peter Chiarelli announced that the 33-year old informed the organization "during the latter part of the summer" that he had been suffering from symptoms consistent with post-concussion syndrome.

Savard suffered a concussion on March 7 when the Bruins played against the Pittsburgh Penguins. While taking a wrist shot from near the point in the Bruins' offensive zone, he was clocked with a now infamous blindside hit from Penguins agitator Matt Cooke and had to be taken off the ice on a stretcher.

Obviously an injury of that nature needs to be handled with care. But this absence comes as a bit of a surprise considering Savard was cleared to play in the Eastern Conference Semifinals opener against the Philadelphia Flyers after having missed all of the Bruins regular season and playoff games since being taken out. Savard netted the game-winner in overtime to give the Bruins a 1-0 lead in the series.

Trading For Savard, Carter Emerges As Top Option For Center Help In Light Of Weak UFA Class

When the San Jose Sharks re-signed Patrick Marleau to a four-year deal, they took the most highly-coveted unrestricted free agent center off the market before it even opened for business. Before that, the Montreal Canadiens took the second most sought after UFA center Tomas Plekanec out of play with a new six-year contract.

With those two players off the board, few high-end options exist for teams in need of help at center. Sure, there are second-tier options like Saku Koivu, Olli Jokinen, Peter Mueller and Matt Cullen. But none of them have the potential to have as much offensive, and even defensive in Plekanec's case, influence on an organization like the two guys just extended by their current organizations.

In order for team's to rectify situations down the middle, they might have to look toward the trade market for more high-end options. Two players that might very well be up for grabs are Marc Savard of the Boston Bruins and Jeff Carter of the Philadelphia Flyers.

As Expected, Bruins Pick Seguin Second Overall

 

With Taylor Hall taken off the board by the Edmonton Oilers, the obvious choice at No. 2 for the Boston Bruins was Tyler Seguin of the Plymouth Whalers. General Manager Peter Chiarelli made the selection of the center official, and added Seguin to the Bruins family.

There seems to be a logjam at center with the pick of the Seguin, but it was a pick that had to be made. With Hall gone, he was the next clear-cut best on the board. Pierre McGuire suggested that the Bruins could move a center now with Marc Savard, Patrice Bergeron and David Krejci already in the mix. Bob McKenzie chimed in to say Chiarelli was already testing the market, and could possibly move Savard with his $4 million annual cap hit.

We'll see what happens on that front. But for now, the Bruins have a talented young center who is maybe a year away from making the roster but should steadily grow into the top line pivot once he gets there.

Another Season For Mark Recchi

 

At 42 years old and having already spent 21 seasons in the National Hockey League, Mark Recchi is ready for another go with the Boston Bruins. He has signed on for another year with the Bruins at a reported price tag of $1 million - the same salary he made last year. It is also expected that this deal will include bonuses.

Even at his advanced age, at least by sports standards, Recchi is still an incredibly productive player. On a Bruins team that finished dead-last in scoring last season, Recchi posted 18 goals and 25 assists for 43 points, good for fourth place on the team. He added six goals and 10 points in 13 games during the playoffs, where he has proven to be a valuable commodity due to his leadership and experience.

The Bruins have somewhat limited cap space (just over $7 million, according to NHLNumbers.com) and are currently shopping a few players in order to gain more flexibility. But bringing back a player with the character and skill of Recchi is a great move on General Manager Peter Chiarelli's part.

News From Around The Crease

 

~ TSN's Darren Dreger is reporting that the Toronto Maple Leafs have received at least five offers for defenseman Tomas Kaberle. As they stand, none are good enough for General Manager Brian Burke to accept. But some finagling between the draft on Friday and the middle of July, when Kaberle's no trade clause is back in effect, could entice Burke to pull the trigger.

It is believed Burke is looking for a first round pick in a deal, but that is not necessarily a deal breaker. More importantly, Burke wants a scoring threat that can be plugged right into the lineup. While it's likely Kaberle will end up being traded, it is still possible that the Maple Leafs could retain his services and sign him to an extension.

~ The Phoenix Coyotes would like to build upon their shocking turnaround last season and have already made moves to bring back some key components, such as defenseman Keith Aucion, left wing Taylor Pyatt and left wing Scottie Upshall. General Manager Don Maloney focused his attention on mid-season acquisition Wojtek Wolski on Thusday, signing the 24-year old winger to a two-year, $7.6 million contract. The deal will pay Wolski $3.8 million per season - a raise from the $3.1 million he earned last year.

Wolski was acquired by the Coyotes from the Colorado Avalanche at the trade deadline this past March. The Avs received Peter Mueller and Kevin Porter in the deal. In 18 regular season games following the trade, Wolski netted six goals and a point-per-game pace, while adding five points in seven postseason games against the Detroit Red Wings. He totaled 23 goals and 65 points last year between the Avalanche and Coyotes.

Horton, Campbell Dealt To Bruins For Wideman, 15th Overall Pick

“Players [that] want to be here will be here,” Florida Panthers general manager Dale Tallon expressed when he was hired in May. “And players that want to play elsewhere will play elsewhere. That’s what is going to happen here.”

One of the players who fit into that latter group was 25-year old right wing Nathan Horton, who informed Tallon upon his hiring that he wanted to be moved.

“Obviously he was frustrated with what has gone on in the past and (wanted to know) if we could help him out to see what is out there for him,” Tallon said in a conference call following the trade. “That’s how this all began. He showed frustration and felt it would maybe be better if he was able to go somewhere else.”

On Tuesday, Tallon granted the wish of the former third overall pick, and continued making good on ownership's vows to re-shape the organization, by shipping Horton to the Boston Bruins along with center Gregory Campbell in exchange for defenseman Dennis Wideman, the Bruins’ 15th overall pick in Friday’s NHL Entry Draft and a third round selection in 2011.

With this move, Horton will try to deliver a much needed goal-scoring boost to the lowest scoring team from last season with 196 goals. Horton has produced at least 20 goals in each of his last five seasons and has the ability to put in over 30, as witnessed by his 2006-07 campaign of 31 scores. He will go a long way in replacing the offense lost when Phil Kessel was traded to the Toronto Maple Leafs last summer. Horton has three years and $14 million remaining on the six-year deal his signed prior to the 2007 NHL Draft, with an annual cap hit of $4 million per season.

News From Around The Crease

~ Cam Neely will be taking over a position vacant for almost four years with the Boston Bruins, Team President. One of the most popular and physical members of the Bruins organization, Neely will now lead aggressively in this executive role. According to TSN, his main focus is to "oversee business and hockey operations with [general manager Peter] Chiarelli continuing to make personnel decisions." Neely has served as team vice president since September 2007 and brings with him 13 years of playing experience in the NHL, all with the Bruins.

~ The Bruins have an idea of which player they wish to select with their No. 2 overall pick at NHL Draft on June 25. But Chiarelli doesn't believe the gap between Taylor Hall and Tyler Seguin is big enough to make a deal swapping picks with the Edmonton Oilers.

"If I decide that the gap between who we have No. 1 and who we have No. 2 is large enough then, potentially, I would consider a move to bridge that gap," Chiarelli said. "Right now, that gap is very small and I can't see it changing."

~ Oilers general manager Steve Tambellini is getting calls for that No. 1 overall selection, according to Darren Dregor of TSN. He's listening to offers, but won't put an exact price on what it will cost teams to acquire it.

~ Both GM Ken Holland and assistant GM Jim Nill were given five-year extensions by the Detroit Red Wings.

"Kenny and Jim have been the core of our front office for well over a decade and cornerstone to this franchises success," said team owner Mike Ilitch.

This is an asbolute no-brainer for the Red Wings, who have become perhaps the most successful franchise in the NHL under Holland's watch. The team has never missed with the playoffs with him as general manager and went on to win the Stanley Cup three times in 1998, 2000 and 2008. They also won in 1997 when he was an assistant. When Holland moved up to general manager, Nill took over as assistant GM and has remained in the position for the past 13 years.

~ Outside of inking his own extension on Wednesday, Holland took the time to get Todd Bertuzzi's name on the dotted line and re-signed him to a two-year, $3.875 million contract. At 35 years old, Bertuzzi still brings something to the table on the ice as a decent offensive producer, physical presence and veteran leader. Last year with the Red Wings, Bertuzzi netted 18 goals and 44 points during the regular season, adding 11 points in 12 postseason games. If he can continue the approximately 40-point a season pace he's posted over the last three years, this will go down as another terrific signing for Holland at about $1.937 million per season.

Impossible Contracts Lie Ahead For NHL GMs

Teams have already begun the process of evaluating their rosters to determine what changes need to be made by the time the puck drops on the 2010-11 season. The time for upgrading talent will come at the end of June via the draft and at the start of free agency on July 1. But the most immediate part of the process for NHL general managers is to determine what dead weight should be shed from their respective organizations. Who needs to be let go, and how should they be discarded?

The most difficult situations for general managers to deal with when it comes to needing roster and cap relief is when the particular player they are looking to unload comes along with an inconvenient contract. Players who haven’t performed up to expectations and have large contracts will likely go unclaimed through the waiver process and are going to be tough sells to other general managers through the trade route. Though the latter is not impossible – just as Glen Sather about Scott Gomez.

The buyout process is another option for general managers, and the two-week window where that is allowable began today. According to TSN, the Edmonton Oilers, Ottawa Senators and Montreal Canadiens are each expected to explore that avenue with one or more of their players. But for players with a lot of money still owed, and several years accompanying it, buyouts can become a bigger burden to an organization. Teams will still owe a player two-thirds of the remaining money left on his contract (or one-third for those 26 years of age and younger) over double the amount of time left on the deal. And that’s not ideal for teams who want to spend as much as possible on players that will actually suit up for the team.

Then there’s this new revelation that hasn’t really been put into practice about simply demoting a player to the minors so that they don’t play for the NHL club and their salary doesn’t count against the cap. In theory, that sounds tremendous. But I don’t really think that method has been adopted by many teams thus far. And that’s probably out of respect for the player.

A few players around the league carry with them impossible contracts. They cannot be easily waived or traded, nor does it make financial sense overall or for the cap to pursue a buyout. Instead, teams seem stuck with these deals unless the general manager can get really creative or find a sucker somewhere amongst the other 29 squads.