We might have a magic number
Paille/By S. Bradley
Where would we be without CapGeek.com?
Buried under a bunch of notepads and calculators? Actually demanding the NHL share salary cap info?
Well, thanks to the folks at CapGeek.com, and their Twitter feed, we now know that the Bruins have to clear about $1.1 million in cap space to make room when Marc Savard is ready to be activated off of Long Term Injured Reserve. That should occur within the next couple weeks now that the star center has been cleared for contact.
Coincidentally, Daniel Paille’s cap hit is just $25,000 shy of that. Paille, who has been a healthy scratch for all but seven of Boston’s 19 games, would require waivers to go down to Providence (AHL). I highly doubt anyone would put a claim in on a one-dimensional (two if you count skating and penalty-killing as separate dimensions) making seven figures. And shipping him down would be low risk for the Bruins, because if they wanted to call him back and he was claimed on re-entry waivers, they’d have to just pick up half the money and cap hit for the rest of this year, plus next.
Some have suggested the Bruins just demote Adam McQuaid, and/or Matt Hunwick, but the Bruins know that NHL-ready defensemen are tough to come by and they cannot risk losing one for nothing — especially with the rate at which some of their blueliners get hurt.
And if anyone’s wondering about Trent Whitfield’s LTIR status, as CapGeek reported, he has been on LTIR all season, so there’s no extra cap relief available there.
I’ve been saying Paille for sometime now. I like him but seriously, there isn’t a place for him here. I didn’t realize he could get us that close alone, but I suppose my math has included Sturm coming back too.
As for Marchand and Caron. It simply comes down to consistency. Sure Caron (MAY) have more upside, but he’s struggling the way most 20 year olds do, trying to put his A-Game together on a nightly basis. In Jr., even on an off night, Caron was still good enough to contribute. This is the NHL though. I think people forget just how big of a step that is. Even from the A’…
Marchand has proven he will bring it nightly, he has great leadership qualities, he’s a winner and likes to go to the dirty spots and mix it up. I love watching him play way above his talent level at times. Not to mention our 4th line has been the best in the league thus far. Happy Thanksgiving my US friends…
Why give back players that have energy and focus? Both Caron and Marchand help the team and are not part of the slacker brigade
I disagree Patrick. Every game that I have watched both players are playing their hearts out. I Say that Marchand should go not becuase I don’t think that he is a good player I just see that the upside and versility of Caron is greater. Therefore it only makes sense to send down Marchand in order to put a little more firepower on a fourth line that seems to have more scoring potential this year.
i’m looking at cap geek and caron’s cap hit is $25k greater than paille’s so send down the former.
Sorry Ben but…sending down Marchand instead of Caron is a mistake. Most nights Marchand seems like the only guy on the ice who cares if the B’s win or not.
I disagree with you, it seems that you haven’t been a big Paille fan from the begining. I find nothing more frustrating then when “hockey fans” jump on the band wagon and lable a player because of the politics involved. He is a good solid, fast player that gets to the net. He’s physical in his game and is strong mentally ( something many players would not be after being benched on and off again). If he is waived he will be picked up and that would be the best thing for him if there not going to play him. Why sign him if they had no interest in him to play. He is one of the best defensive forwards and will be picked up because of his elite PK skills.
Sending down Paille is a no-brainer. The other move will not involve sending anyone down to Providence. It will be a trade(s) involving Hunwick and/or Ryder. Just hope we get something in return, not just cap space!
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Send down Marchand. He and Caron are very similiar with the scoring touch and size going to Caron.
Caron can go back to Juniors.
Send down Hunwick bring up Steve Kampfer. Way less money and man that kid is doing great in Providence. I just want to see this kid with a B on his jersey so theres probably no sense to what im saying
He is on a rookie contract, should be able to go up and down like an elevator. He just can’t go back to juniors
I agree with Tom….obviously Paille will be waived, but we still have to find 25k more. If the B’s are unable to make a deal to clear cap space, Caron would be a likely candidate to be sent down. Correct me if I am wrong Matt, but Caron would not have to clear waivers. If I am wrong, then I would have to retract my statement, losing Caron by waivers would be a huge mistake.
How about sending Caron to the AHL since he hasn’t done anything in the past month?
enjoy federal hill, danny. should still see some competition between caron, ryder & wheels for the last 2 winger spots.
if ryder continues to produce, i see no reason to rush sturm back into the lineup.