Hnidy
I was just wondering today if the Bruins were in the market for one more defenseman they could acquire without subtracting anything from their current blueliner corps.
After all, in 2008-09, the top-seeded Bruins went into the Eastern Conference playoffs with eight defensemen and by the time Matt Hunwick and Andrew Ference had suffered injuries, Boston was down to just the minimum six. The Bruins are currently carrying seven defensemen and have been just about all season.
So then news trickled across the continent from Vancouver today and I had my answer. Veteran Shane Hnidy, who skated in 108 games over the course of the ’07-08 and ’08-09 seasons for the Bruins, showed up at practice today and it was announced he would stay with the team on a tryout basis.
Hnidy, a 35-year-old solid, stay-at-home defenseman, was known for two things in his Bruins days: his ability to pummel an opponent with his gloves off if provoked and a knack for stepping into the lineup after long layoffs and contributing.
He started this season with Phoenix on a tryout, but suffered a shoulder injury. According to the Twitter feed of NESN reporter Naoko Funayama, Hnidy could still be about a month away from being game-ready. He played last season with Minnesota.
Considering the Bruins’ tight salary-cap situation, if Hnidy’s willing to sign up for a prorated portion of something around the league minimum salary, and he can prove to at least be close to what he was during his previous stint in Boston, he could be a huge boost to a club that knows all too well how quickly the injury bug can infect a defense corps.
And he’s a great guy in the room, according to pretty much every one of his former teammates. Plus he can keep Shawn Thornton company at dinners now that Stuart is gone.
Thought this was a Boston hockey blog, not a Harvard english lesson. Maybe ‘we’ are taking ourselves a little too seriously.
Bruins need a scoring forward…Lucic can’t do it every game…thank the elements that Bergeron and Marchand come to play every night…
Brian and the Other Nifty,
In proper English, Brian is easily correct, as in a formal sense, we are observers and not actually on the team.
That being said, as I and others on this blog have already mentioned, we live through the team vicariously, and many of us have belonged to a sports team of some kind and know what feeling invested in a team feels like. in such instances, we have feelings, deep-seated feelings usually, of wanting our team to succeed. We feel a similar kinship, founded or unfounded, that is similar to what we feel/felt while we were on that sports team. Thus, it feels natural to say “we” as though I am a part of the team. To say that we can’t use that familiarity that we feel to the team is really insulting in an emotional way to many people, though it is not proper English, not particularly logical.
So in summary though Brian may be right, tough luck. Too many people will be intrinsically insulted by the suggestion that they are not actually a part of the team. Please, the both of you, stop the argument before it gets out of control.
please enlighten me on your deep meaning socrates.
wow you’re pissed. where do i begin?
first, why is it up to three bloggers to determine if i’m correct? this blogger doesn’t call the team we at least.
second, what the hell is a “legit” blogger? there is nothing legit about blogging to begin with, anyone can do it. there is no pulitzer prize for blogging. furthermore no one blogger is more “legit” than another, just people giving their take on a subject.
third, those people hypothetically punching me in the face are as irrelevant as everything else you’ve mentioned. just because the truth hypothetically offends them doesn’t mean they’re correct.
lastly, it isn’t “asinine logic”, it isn’t logic at all, it is factual. if you are not involved it isn’t we.
remember when we invented fire? that was sweet. now i wasn’t there, but i am a human and i do appreciate fire, so i guess by your logic that is a correct statement. let’s do one more, remember when we invented the wheel? i wasn’t there either but i do drive a car. whose logic is asinine?
My net reference goes much deeper and I’m sure some of the WE’s I’ve defended understand the underlying meaning.
This is the last thing I have to say. Here’s a test. Walk through the concourse of the Garden between the second and third and explain how they can not refer to their beloved Bruins as “we”. Explain your factual argument and I’m sure by the fourth person you will be punched in the face. Especially if I’m the fourth person. If you can find three legit bloggers that think your assinine reasoning is founded. I will never come on here again.
nifty what are you yapping about? Danish ships have been hijacked a lot. thats all i’m saying. i wasn’t on any of them. therefore i can’t say we. it is every bit as ridiculous as calling the bruins we. i can’t just say “we are sitting at my desk” in reference to anyone else despite the fact that nobody is in my office. thats preposterous. using we implies you are an active participant in whatever activity you’re yapping about. you aren’t. therefore we is inappropriate. unless of course the bruins consulted you before picking up hnidy or anyone else. it isn’t only a pet peeve, it is factually incorrect.
I think it’s been said PC is trying to find a deal for a better D-man. I only expect Hnidy to get signed if that doesn’t happen, which would be Monday at just before 3pm (so he’d be eligible for the playoffs). I don’t see a problem with this approach.
He’s only depth…that’s it, there is nothing wrong with getting a dependable guy for the stretch run. I like the move.
A poor and imature attempt at humor. All in fun though.
@Brian. Sorry to beat a dead equine but…. In the morning do you have a coffee and a “we” . I think that Somali pirates reference was a little overboard. Heeeeeeeeeey O. Yeeeeeeeees.
Ok so Pittsburgh just got Kovalev from the Sens.
I guess that give us a chance on Zherdev! Come onn Chia don´t let this one goes byyy!!
They may not be done trying for a real defenseman. The thing about that is now you have to trade a roster player and I’m not sure that’s as easy as getting rid of someone you don’t want. By the end of the week you will see top 8 defensemen in play because you can aquire some insurance and all it costs is money.
he isn’t a top 8 defenseman. they don’t need him. they have enough. if they didn’t waste cap space on kelly they could afford to pick up a real defenseman if they felt they needed depth. they need a forward more.
If something like what’s happened in Van. where D-men are going down left and right I don’t think it hurts to have a guy who has at least played here. He knows the city and is a good foot soldier. I know he’s not top 4 material but like Chris says it’s an option of youth or experience. The more bullets we have the better. Even if one is old and rusty it can still be loaded.
yes hnidy sits but someone better than him is already sitting. whether it be boychuck, kampfer or mcquaid. why bother with this?
Using ‘we’ and ‘they’ when referring to our local team and their opponents is all about living vicariously. Whether that’s a good thing or not is another discussion entirely.
If Hnidy can get back in shape and be able to keep up with opposing skaters and is willing to take a prorated minimum contract, I say sign him. To whoever asked if you sign him, who would sit? Easy, Hnidy would. He’s there for depth. A few games in Providence and maybe a few games for the big club to get back up to speed, then he’s the scratch until someone gets hurt, or if one of the young guys gets completely overwhelmed in the playoffs.
When people say ‘We’ it’s just a figure of speech. My net reference is to your sensitivity over such a simple gesture. In my entire life you are the only person Ive heard make such a frivilous argument.
take my net and go home? what the hell does that mean in this context? it is a matter of principle, you aren’t on the team. i may be a big fan of the french foreign legion but i don’t refer to them as “we” when discussing their role in world affairs. i’m also Danish, but when a Danish ship is hijacked at sea by somali pirates i don’t proclaim that “we” were hijacked again. i’m also a huge fan of the allman brothers, does that mean i can say “we” haven’t released a studio album in quite some time? no it doesn’t. if your paycheck doesn’t say boston bruins on it you aren’t part of the team and therefore should not be referring to THEM as “we”.
i don’t need to pick through the posts, just reading them is enough.
Remember the guy on the street who had the hockey net? He was the one when things didn’t go well he’d threaten to take his net home. Eventually you’d get fed up and tell him to take his f@#*’n net home. Is it really worth the while to go through posts and pick apart the fact someone used ‘WE’? I’ve never heard such a useless complaint.Really? I appreciate the fact you said ‘please’ but really? So take your net and go home.
Reports from Philly suggest that Zherdev was a problem in the locker room and on the ice. His minutes were decreased because of a bad work ethic and plays virtually no defense. My opinion is if the Bruins were thinking of adding a purely offensive depth winger, Zherdev does not seem like the type of player who is just happy to be on the team and would work hard to fill a small role (Satan).
Hnidy wasn’t good when he was here last time. who sits for him? they have enough defense. I wouldn’t be opposed to adding one for depth but hnidy? really? this is a joke. they do need help up front but have to move an underperforming guy (ryder, horton, krejci) to achieve that. zherdev could be nice but ryder has to go for that. does anyone really see that happening after all this time of watching him loaf?
PLEASE STOP REFERRING TO THE BRUINS AS WE. YOU AREN’T ON THE TEAM.
All set with Zherdev, his numbers have been pretty brutal thus far this season. I dont think we need any more help up front, even if they explored moving Ryder or Paille as someone suggested.
Hnidy, while hes not going to wow you with points is a very capable defenseman who I loved in his role a few years ago. Getting some more depth on the blueline for cheap money can never hurt, especially with the toughness he brings to the table. Do it CHIA
I could see Pittsburgh taking a look at Zherdev.
Rivet is too high-priced to fit into our scheme, and is a defensive d-man. We have plenty of those and at his price, and inability to move between the minors and NHL is not a good option for us. I expect someone will pick him up to try and solidify the back end.
Also, Zherdev is a risk, and we would need to make some cap space. It will be interesting to see who takes that risk, and I think we might, though given our current streak I somewhat doubt it.
Craig Rivet is on waivers. Any takers?
doesn’t sound like a good idea…he’s a month out and even at 100 percent hes not that good.zherdevv in sit ryder out. will he clear waivers? If so might be worth it we have till the 28th to clear some cap space
Pleasseeeeee goooo for Zherdevvv!!! He can score, is a sniper and a finisher!!! Pleaseeeee!!! he can fill Ryders spot perfectly and the Bruins would not give up anything for him!!
Pleaseeee Matt tell Chia to go for it! that´s our chance!
Brian,
Hnidy would be an insurance policy, on the off chance that we burned through our d-men like we did last year during the regular season.
Also, I can’t admit to having seen Zherdev enough to get a good reading on him, but if Chia thinks he isn’t another version of Ryder than I’m all for it, and if he were to work out, even if just so-so we would get a player who would just be heading into his prime. all this is speculation, but I bet Chia has a sense of the guy, and my guess is that we probably won’t pick him up, but for the low price of free, I’d certainly think about it.
I think the Sherriff would be a great addition. He’s dependable, tough as nails, kind of like a poor man’s Mark Stuart. If he signs cheap, the league minimum, then I’m all for it.
there is absolutely nothing less appealing than shane hnidy.
Matt must not remember Satan the same way I do. I don’t see him like Ryder nor Wheeler. my point is that is you are going to call somebody in for the stretch, it should be somebody who can add something to the team. I’d certainly rather see Satan bump Ryder or Seguin to Providence than have Hnidy back for any reason. but, hey, what do I know. shit, I want to see Krejci play left wing and I liked Sobotka and would’ve kept him over Savard, so I must be weird.
—
“If you’re a Bruins fan and you want them to win something, why the heck would you be pining for Zherdev, or Satan? Useless. Unless maybe you’re just tired of complaining about Horton
and Ryder and missing Wheeler so you want the Russian or Slovakian version. Next thing you know, someone’s going to suggest the Bruins get Soderberg over here for the stretch run”
I would absolutely give Zherdev a try.
we seem to always get depleted at d come playoff time. perfect insurance move bringing back jack edwards’ sheriff.
Totally agree with Aaron. Hnidy would be a good depth addition at no cost if a couple of Ds get injured in the playoffs. As for Zherdez: except chemistry problems in the room, I don’t see what this lazy underachiever could give to the Bruins at this time of the year
Wouldn’t mind showing Ryder the door. The two fill the same roll, and Ryder hasn’t really gotten the flack he deserves in the past 10 games or so. Maybe we’re all already looking forward to an offseason without him. since we now have another grinding forward in Kelley, we could alternatively get rid of Paille to free up enough room for Mr. Zherdev.
Shane Hnidy…really, or are we just reaching a little here. This is a 35 year old guy that isn’t good enough to get a call from one other NHL team since September, admits he isn’t in shape and really can’t add anything to this team. I think we have enough toughness, Thorton, McQuaid, Lucic, Horton, Ference, etc. Please tell me this is a joke.
An insurance move that costs nothing. Another guy that is a pro and will fill whatever role he is asked. When the playoff rosters are increased that gives the B’s another option.He won’t be asked to shut down Ovie and may not even play a game.
And you’re going to bounce who from the 12 forwards for Miro or Zherdev?
Hnidy for depth, as long as he gets healthy is a fantastic addition.
a friend just suggested Hnidy may be an AHL mentor, mostly, and a possible injury crisis stopgap, secondarily. that makes sense, I guess.
makes a bit more sense than Hnidy, to me. I just do not see the appeal. Miro, please.
Just saw:
Zherdev is on waivers. if Chia can make some quick room, he might be worth grabbing at $2million. No loss to the team structure, and if the brass assesses him as possibly having a future here (or would like to assess the possibility) he might be a good pickup.