Chiarelli
While his players are in Vermont for “team building” (probably climbing trees and forming a drum circle), Bruins general manager Peter Chiarelli held a conference call this morning.
Here a couple of the highlights other than his failed attempt to convince anyone that Michael Ryder isn’t on the bubble.
•Chiarelli gives rookies Matt Bartkowski and Steve Kampfer a legit chance to make the team. I’m still not buying it. Keeping a kid straight out of college on the NHL roster goes against everything the Bruins have tried to preach under Chiarelli about developing players, in particular defensemen. Not to mention, who’s going to sit to provide either of those two guys enough ice time? There are six guys on one-way deals, so I’m still pretty certain Bartkowski and Kampfer will start the season skating with a ‘P’ on their chests.
•Blake Wheeler, Zach Hamill, Ryan Spooner and Tyler Seguin are all in the mix to be the fourth center, the GM said. I’ll assume Chiarelli left out Joe Colborne because it was Sunday morning and he was drowsy. To me, moving Wheeler to the middle really weakens the Bruins on the wing, unless you think Jordan Caron is ready to both play and produce points in the NHL. To me it makes the most sense to let Seguin settle into the third-line center role with a consistent pair of wings — maybe five, six games with Wheeler and Ryder — and let him get comfortable in the NHL. I can’t imagine Hamill making this team, and Spooner might get a nine-game look before heading back to junior but I doubt he’s a long-term answer for this season.
•Chiarelli was heartened by Marc Savard working on his sticks yesterday in the locker room. But the Bruins should really be more careful about creating false hope here. Just as it’s irresponsible to declare him out for the season, creating excitement every time he does something that could be construed as a milestone creates the same atmosphere that caused Savard to rush back in the first place. Until he decides to quit on a comeback, or starts to work out without symptoms, Savard should be left to his own devices without any outside expectations influencing him either way.
•Just to re-iterate on the Ryder situation, when Chiarelli answers a question about the player’s current camp and mostly bases his answer on what the guy has done in two dozen playoff games the last two years, he’s reaching like a contortionist trying to scratch the middle of his own back to find a positive. Make no mistake, Ryder is in trouble here.
I think you may be misreading the article. Wheeler is in line for the 4th center position, but Campbell is basically set as the 4th line center. Basically they are trying to fill the third line center, which they see as a combo energy/offensive line, not necessarily a defensive/shut down line, or even soley an energy line. A quick look at the lineup makes it obvious that there are too many skilled forwards to call the third line one dimensional, unless that one dimension is trying to score.
I have seen two games this year so far, both with Caron playing. Nearly every time he was on the ice, I saw him make on of the following: a good, well timed defensive check, a great setup pass, or a good attack on goal. Sometimes two of the above, sometimes three. My point in saying this is that if Ryder plays like he did last year, just waiting for the puck to be passed to him so he could try to pick a corner he invariably missed, the it’s obvious that we should pass around the collection pot to get ready to pay for Ryder’s lodging and transport to Providence.
Also, Wheeler at center, especially your fourth line center, seems idiotic. I will say he is a good defensive forward, which is what you want in a third-fourth liner, but the Bruins are paying waaay to much for him to be on the fourth line. Not only that, but putting him on your fourth line greatly limits his potential to maximize on his scoring talent and great hands. I believe that this is simply Julien’s way of telling Wheeler to shape up and be ready to play really hard every night, or you know what your punishment will be. Hopefully this will motivate him and we see Wheeler have a breakout season.
On a side note, this might be a way to teach him how to check, which he does little of, and yes I am a fan of Wheeler.
Agree with most of the article.
I am still a little surprise hamill made it farther in camp then Sauve. Probably because they really need Hamill to produce to at least get some trade interest. Man what a lousy draft year that was.
Defense is set. 6 one way contracts and college kids providing the comp. Kampfer has outplayed Hunwick this preseason so far.
I would do anything to keep Seguin away from Ryder. I would put him on the wing on a line with Horton and Krecji. I don’t know who then centers Wheeler and Ryder, but I don’t want that much pressure on Seguin and I don’t want him near the laziest and most selfish player on the team, Ryder.
I think Chiarelli, like most of us, is simply heartened by the fact that Savard is hopefully taking small steps out of his depression. I seriously doubt Chiarelli is pushing for him to get back on his skates. Anyone who cares about him — and Chiarelli obviously does — just wants him to get back on an even keel before even thinking about anything else.
“Until he decides to quit on a comeback, or starts to work out without symptoms, Savard should be left to his own devices without any outside expectations influencing him either way.”
Hallelujah. I hope everyone in Boston — media and fans — reads this. If he’s not ready to come back, then he’s not ready to come back. Period.
I actually like the thought of Wheeler at center and Seguin and Caron on the wings. Even if Caron is just until Sturm or Savard come back.
As far as who Kampfer/Bartkowski could replace, you’d have to think Hunwick is the obvious choice, Kampfer has looked like the best of those 3 so far. Of course, its hard to judge from pre-season, but based on what I saw of Hunwick the other night it’d be hard for either of the youngsters to instill less confidence.
don’t forget trust falls.
Well thank Christ you ain’t GM or coach Matt.
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