For Bruins to have a chance, Kelly deal better be start of big doings
Kelly made my list of trade targets in the aftermath of the decision to shut down Marc Savard. I have no problem with the Bruins adding him to bring some grit and experience, and get Seguin back out on the wing. The Bruins’ track record with bottom six forwards is solid in recent years, with the additions of Shawn Thornton, Gregory Campbell, Steve Begin and Stephane Yelle over the years.
As for their defense corps, Chiarelli has to deliver something greater than just a “solid” player. Maybe it’s two “solid players.” But he has to do something dynamic. And as I’ve said before, that mean going after someone who’s not available right now – either because he’s on a team that’s not a seller or is a cornerstone piece of a club. Chiarelli has the assets to make a team make a player “available.”
This is not time to fine-tune. This is a time to re-define. And solid just isn’t going to cut it.
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the hole a center is the number one? uh, no. Bergeron is a number one center, for sure. just because one of his linemates is old, he isn’t suddenly a number two. the hole is in the third line and it is the whole line. does Kelly fill the center gap? I don’t know, but I both hope and doubt it. it would be crazy to part with McQuaid and/or Ference (see my favorite link for why), but I’d be cool with Boychuk, Wheeler, Ryder and Hamill going for one superstar or two good players (a wing and a second-pair defender). I’d also not be happy to see Krejci or Campbell go. I’d rather we package Chara out in return for good two forwards and a decent defenseman. the Bruins only look weak on defense because they suck at offense. very little is likely, but we can hope.
Ok Matt. Lets look at your scenario. Trading C for D. Bergeron, Krecji, Seguin, Kelly, Campbell, Colborne, Hamill, Spooner – Some see Wheeler as a C – and then of course there is Savard. (This injury kills the Bs. Savard was the piece that made it all go – without him we get this Horton instead of the one we thought we were getting). If you’re playing for this year and not the future – You can’t trade Krecji or Bergeron. Not trading Seguin. Colborne, Hamill Spooner ain’t fetching nothing. So – Wheeler and Campbell. Even with the Bs #1, one of those prospects and one of Stuart/Boychuk/McQuaid/Ference, there’s no way that brings home a grad slam in my mind, unless someone out there is going to do the Joe Thorton trade we got suckered into. Might happen – we did it – but its very unlikely.
The problem is that we are arguing ‘grandslam’ like I said. A grand slam to me means we get Kaberle AND we fill the real hole at center – the one at #1! That guy doesn’t exist – or if he does, he’s injured and is a square peg salary wise.
Anyway… just don’t think you’re being fair on this one. I think the Savard injury really kills us this year. We hoped Krecji could fill that role – he couldn’t even fill the empty net when we needed him to last night (that was unfair – now we’re even.).
Other than Horton and Seguin this is the team that Historically collapsed last year. Say what you will about playing with good teams but the facts are facts. We can use the Krecji injury but like Hal Gill says ‘excuses don’t get the lawn mowed’. With that, I don’t think anyone on this team should be ‘safe’. This isn’t a tree farm. There were times when a non-playoff team dominated us last night. Is it because the guys are worried about being traded. If that’s the case they’re pretty fragile.Just another excuse.
I don’t think Chiarelli is done I expect two more depth moves not a major move.
Bo-
To me a grand slam means a trade that meets your needs. It doesn’t have to be a Pederson-for-Neely rip-off. If the Bruins have so many C but not enough D, then go out and make a C-for-D trade.
MK
Bojangels I don´t think you have been reading Matts blog lately. Maybe it was your first time. But I would ask you to go trough last posts and try to understand better what Matt talks about in here. And if there is someone that understands the cap, the trading problems, prospects and picks, this guy would be Matt.
Only use draft picks to get a young talented pmd like Bogosian. Thats the move to make, they should just make it happen.
Matt – I usually like your stuff. This is a whole lot of unfair and unreasonable.
Some reporter asked a goofy question about grandslams and you’re picking that apart? Give me a break. You make is sound like trading for Yandel and Nash is as easy as applying for a loan and getting a second job. You make is sound like if PC isn’t happy with those on the market, that he should simply don the cat-prowler mask and raid the store. This is malarky.
This Kelly trade is a good one. We had a whole at 3rd line center. Neither Wheeler or Seguin were filling it to satisfaction. I’ll bet Kelly does. He plays the PK – he works hard – he’s respected and is a leader. His salary is a veritable wash with Wheeler. So that frees PC up to trade one of his desired assets.
But if you think he should just whip up a grandslam – well… there’s a reason they don’t happen very often. There are requirements for a grandslam – say loaded bases – from all I’ve read, the bases don’t look loaded in this market and hockey world of capped salaries.
Or maybe you expect that the Bs can trade Barry Pederson for Neely and the 3rd overall pick whenever they feel like it.
I’m not sure why Chia fell in love with Sidenburg. The last time we played T.O he was a turnstile for Kessel. This time Grabo goes by him like the house on road that he is. He had some good shifts and he blocks shots but…..
Do people assume Chia is done?
I like the tone today Matt and also agree with GR90 – opportunities are being generated – they have to find a way to finish. After seeing the last 3 games, let’s not trade the seed corn for the magic bean.
Flyers get versteeg and we get kelly, nice!
We gain Ryder’s space at the end of the year and will also lose at least 1 d-man in the acqusition of another> I find it very likely we deal one of our forwards to make room for young talent next season and by doing so we should be able to improve our d corps. I see no reason 1 extra d-man is a limit when we have at need for another 2 top 4 d-men and a real #2 (sidenberg does a pretty good impression of one though). Like the Kelley move, and by Cam’s tone, I doubt that was the trade he was speaking of.
So we get another Paille, awesome! 39 years and counting, why do I do this to myself?
I would go for Bogosian! If we are dealing for a Dman let it be the 20 years old kid. He can help us a lot right now and on the future. For him I would not mind trading my 1st round. But for Kaberle??? Forget about it. I don´t think he is the answer at all.
Plus we need a center or a winger much more then we need a D. Maybe trade “Lazy” Krecji for a big name, maybe Richards or something like him.
I think if we are going for the Cup, this team needs a change right now.
kyle, becuase i doubt the bruins have the cap space to re sign him.
Seems like Chia is already setting it up so that when he does squat to improve this club he can say he told us so.
Why does everyone assume Kaberle would be a rental. If its true he only let Toronto talk to Boston then he obviously wants to play here. Why wouldn’t he sign?
I am not impressed by Kaberle. I mean, I would never deal a first rounder for him. Ever.
Save that pick for the draft or use it to get Bogosian, Richards or Iginla. No way would I use it to get Kaberle.
I have no problem picking up another defenseman that isn’t highlight reel. I just don’t want another old guy. They need someone to fill the gap in between Chara and Seidenberg, which is a huge gap.
I wonder if Wheeler is in these talks. God bless the team that takes him.
this team does not need to go crazy to rent thomas kaberle. they have a very solid foundation of youth and i don’t want to see them blow it for one guy this year. they are not a cup winnin team with out a legit goal scoring winger. horton did not fit the bill and that is weighing heavily on their chances to do anything this year.
I like the tone of your article Matt. What the hell it’s time to make a splash. I thought we were aquiring assets for a reason. It’s time to cash some of them in.
I wonder if Chiarelli would put Kaberle in the solid or the grand-slam category. Top ten in points among the league’s defensemen three quarters of the way through the season isn’t exactly nothing. I know there are lots of non-fans of Peter, but part of this could be semantics…he’s not exactly demonstrative by nature.
Matt the glib reference was my Tom Cruise (Matt Lauer) impression. Internet impressions are just like Vantrilquists on the radio. A rare thing indeed.
I’m not being glib I just think most teams are happy with their bottom six. It’s the top six that are hard to aquire. They are the ones that over the long haul determine if you’re any good or not. No one on the bottom six play on the power play. Oh wait Campbell just scored. Get the puck.
The bottom of anything is the easiest to fill.
Well-put, Matt. I’d almost say that at this point, the PMD isn’t as important as the scoring winger. CJ’s schemes on getting the pick thru transition have shone through brilliantly at times, and completely failed in others. But the Bruins generate a decent number of chances now… they just need a guy who can finish, and bring confidence to the whole club. I’d rather we get a solid d-man who could eat up minutes at a + rate, along with the aforementioned winger, than have Kaberle.