Wheeler/By S. Bradley

Every day seems like an endless barrage of email senders, feedback posters and talk-radio callers repeat the same opinions of Blake Wheeler.

Blake Wheeler isn’t tough enough. Blake Wheeler doesn’t go to the net. The Bruins should just dump Wheeler, he’s not worth the material his uniform’s made of.

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Wheeler

As expected, the Bruins and Blake Wheeler made it official today by agreeing to the $2.2 million, one-year award from the arbiter that was announced Thursday.

This was a fair ruling, and the Bruins aren’t in any bigger of a bind cap-wise than they were before the hearing. Considering Wheeler’s numbers and age in relation to comparable players and their production, the Bruins aren’t overpaying or underpaying for a legit top-six forward.

I’ll have more on as the weekend unfolds.

Wheeler

It took a little longer than the expected 48 hours, but it seems Blake Wheeler’s arbitration award is finally official.

The second-year winger was awarded $2.2 million by an arbiter in Toronto, his agent Matt Keator confirmed. The hearing was held Tuesday.

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The Bruins’ trip to Belfast and Prague this fall should be an exciting time. Now if you’re planning to travel with the Black and Gold, AAA is offering “Fan Experiences” to travel overseas and watch Boston take on the Phoenix Coyotes in the first two regular season games of the season, in addition to sightseeing and preseason contests.

I’m proud to welcome AAA as a new advertiser with TheBruinsBlog.net. Advertising is the lifeblood of this site. So if you’re thinking about traveling with the Bruins, and/or you’re enjoying the content I post here every day, please be sure to click the ad in the left rail. And be sure to tell them you heard about their packages at TheBruinsBlog.net.

Chicago-based agent Scott Norton announced via Twitter today that defenseman Ryan Donald has signed a deal with the Bruins’ Providence (AHL) farm club.

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Wheeler

So what are you doing while waiting to hear what an arbiter thinks Blake Wheeler is worth?

Do you have candles lit, are you twiddling your thumbs, or maybe you’re debating trading in your Wheeler sweater for one that says Horton or Seguin?

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At its announcement press conference for the 2011 Winter Classic in Pittsburgh, the NHL declared the Penguins-Washington Capitals rivalry as the “fiercest” in the NHL.

I think this is preposterous. Let me know if you agree by answering the poll below. If your favorite rivalry isn’t listed, write it in the comments section.

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According to multiple reports, the Bruins’ arbitration hearing with Blake Wheeler and his agent Matt Keator ended this afternoon. Keator told several outlets the hearing was “professional.”

The arbiter is required to rule on a one-year award for Wheeler within 48 hours. Try not to lose too much sleep waiting for this one, folks.

I expect Wheeler to get $2.5 million. Can you guess the award without going over, Price Is Right style?

The temperature is supposed to touch 90 in Boston today, and the most exciting thing happening with the Bruins is an arbitration hearing in a Toronto court room to determine how rich Blake Wheeler is going to be after his disappointing sophomore NHL season.

In Pittsburgh, the NHL cognoscenti converged to officially announce the previously released news of the 2011 Winter Classic pitting Washington and the Penguins at Heinz Field next season on New Year’s Day.

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I’m sure many of you have followed my Bruins prospect rankings and you’ve agreed or disagreed with some or all of my player placement. When you next peruse the list, remember that it’s ranked based on the odds of making it as an NHLer this season, not on overall talent or future potential.

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The agent for Bruins forward Blake Wheeler confirmed this morning he is in Toronto for his client’s arbitration hearing.

“I think there will be a hearing,” Matt Keator wrote The Bruins Blog at around 9:30 this morning.

The Bruins and Keator were scheduled to talk over the weekend. Keator did not comment on those talks.

Seguin/By S. Bradley

No duh!

There is only one Bruins prospect that could top the list of players closest to earning a job as an NHL regular — No. 2 overall pick Tyler Seguin.

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Thornton/By S. Bradley

The Bruins and Shawn Thornton aren’t the only ones that are going to benefit from the two-year contract extension the rugged winger signed with Boston earlier this summer.

Now that he has been able to put down roots in Boston for a little while longer, Thornton will be able to do more for the community, including research and awareness of Parkinson’s disease.

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Marchand

You never want to say that a 22-year-old player is entering a make-or-break season, but Brad Marchand’s 2010-11 season could go a long way toward determining whether he has a long future with the organization.

Marchand is entering the final year of his entry-level contract, and will have to show this season that he can build of the experience he accumulated as an occasionally-used call-up to Boston and a Providence (AHL) veteran last season.

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