Bruins bag one of ‘biggest disappointments in NHL history’ Habs F Pouliot
Pouliot
Well, this should make things a little awkward when the NESN announcing crew shows up to do interviews at Bruins training camp this fall.
Heck, it might be awkward just when the players show up for camp.
After losing Michael Ryder to Dallas as a free agent this afternoon, the Bruins have reportedly signed former Montreal winger Benoit Pouliot to a one-year deal worth $1.1 million, according to TSN.
In addition to being a healthy scratch for the Canadiens in the playoffs last spring vs. Boston (like Ryder before he signed with the Bruins), he was also the source of one of the greatest rants of NESN play-by-play man Jack Edwards. The excitable Bruins backer declared Pouliot as one of the “biggest disappointments in NHL history” after his questionable hit on Johnny Boychuk.
Pouliot’s act was so egregious, he even got typically diplomatic color commentator Andy Brickley to call him “gutless.”
Watch here:
Pouliot’s hit on Boychuk wasn’t the only controversial play he was involved in against the Bruins last season. In one game, he fought Bruins center David Krejci and put a beating on the pivot. You’ll remember that late in the Zdeno Chara/Max Pacioretty game in Montreal, Milan Lucic tried to seek out Pouliot for a fight but was rebuffed by the Habs forward.
Pouliot was picked fourth overall by Minnesota in 2005. He has scored just 37 goals in 183 NHL games over parts of five seasons. While Edwards might’ve exaggerated Pouliot’s failures a bit, he has been a bust. At 6-foot-3, 195 pounds, he’s not overly physical. And his stats tell the tale about his hands.
Head coach Claude Julien will have his hands full trying to get this guy to play to his potential, whatever that potential is these days.
We’ll here how general manager Peter Chiarelli spins this signing during a 5 p.m. conference call.
Can’t wait for Caron to show this schmuck up in training camp. Never liked Pouliot, and I admit because of that it will take me a while to get used to this – if I ever do (a la Begin, if you will.) Glad its a one year deal w/ a low cap hit, but I feel like they could’ve found a better “13th forward” kinda guy to come in and provide some competition. Now we need a vet d-man to compete with Kampfer/Bartkowski!
Pouliot has been a disappointment in Montreal. If he doesn’t check or takes stupid penalties he will NOT play, in Boston. Julien evidently feels he can turn this player around and we should give him a chance. We all know of players, not just Bruins, that have had a change of scenery and done much better. However, I still like our young guys, Caron and Seguin, and I hope both get more ice time next year.
Not to mention the contract is only for a year-it won’t affect at all what we want to do with current roster players who are hitting UFA and RFA next summer-unless Pouliot turns into a real steal and they opt to keep him, but in that case the cap hit would still be worth it.
The more I think about it-the more I see this as one of the wiser moves any GM has made today (on a day when I think a lot of them way overpaid and likely won’t get their money’s worth). I still don’t care at all for Pouliot though-he is going to have to work hard to get me to like him.
I doubt he will be on the super duper long leash. The more I think about this, the more I think Chia is just getting some competition getting cooked up/ getting a 13th forward going. He might as well use some of those oodles of cap space, and this doesn’t limit him from making a big move if he wants to. I don’t like the player, but Julien must think he can get something out of the kid. It’s a risk. I might like this move better than I do if I actually liked the player.
He could also turn into a reasonable part of a trade package if need be.
Although I too would prefer to see some of the younger players get their shot, the one thing with Pouliot is that the change of scenery may light a spark in him and he may turn into a huge bargain, and he does have some experience the younger players don’t.
I just don’t want him to have the super, duper long leash that Ryder did. I think Pouliot competing with the young players for the roster spot is good. Not to mention no team goes through a whole season without some injury-this trade in that context may prove useful.
Eh, I would rather see Caron and the other young guys compete for that third line spot but at 1.1 mil for one year, if he’s sucking it doesn’t hurt that much to bench him or send him down to the AHL.
@Sandog
The contract is not bad, its like a tryout on a player that might need a change of scenery. One year deal is fine, no performance = no commitment. So many players have been overpaid grossly today I think PC has done good staying away. I don’t like the player and would rather see a rookie instead of Pouliot if PC is spending low dollar amounts.
here we go again with claude’s hab fetish. paging steve begin.
@George If that is your reasoning then I get it. Caron, Sauve, Arniel and Spooner will only see ice time if someone is hurt or Kelly is outperformed in camp.
I honestly thought he wouldn’t have been taken out of the line-up if not for the bonehead hit on Boychuk. He was skating well and hustling up until that point. I do wish he was a right handed shot though.
Honestly looking at most of the contracts being signed-I think a lot of teams are overpaying.
I really like Leino but I think he is being overpaid.
Some of this overpaying makes me wonder just what these GM’s are thinking. Some of these contracts look like they are going to have regret written all over them as teams try to get other roster players signed at the end of next season or the 2013 one.
I dont think it’s the best move ever, but considering the length and price it’s a gamble worth taking. But honestly, I won’t doubt PC again unless we miss the playoffs or something, he brought us a Cup! How can anyone doubt him now?
I like the move. Claude can work his magic with another Habs castoff and he has potential.
This contract doesn’t bother me at all. I don’t think any of the forward contracts out there over 1 million have been good ones. Ryder at 3.5 is too much, Leino at 4.5 for 6 is too much for too long, the only pick up I’m jealous of is Brunette at 2.
I kind of wish if they were taking a little gamble like this that it would have been Souray who just signed for 1.65 with Dallas.
If the change of scenery does BP good then its a win, if he gets buried in AHL its essentially zero consequence move. Players move between rivals often enough that it’s not going to be an issue.
@Sandog
If I said Paille is a waste then I was wrong about him. Great role player/PK guy perfect 4th liner.
I would rather see a rookie get a chance than see Pouliot in a Bruins jersey.
I’m cool with this signing. I think there is something with the Montrael water that makes certain players into diving, cheap-shotting, complainers. Get Poulit in a Bruins uniform, and I think the nonsense will disappear.
And $1.1 mil/1 year is about right for an experiment on a guy who once had potential.
Hahaha, I totally forgot about the Edwards rant. That was awesome. All I remember is Pouliot calling the Bs “bush league” after the 8-6 battle royale in the reg season. He’s got a good shot and is not bad in the shootout, but it’s going to take a while to get used to this one.
The contract doesn’t bother me too much. It’s next year and beyond that we really have to worry about.
Chiarelli better go after gagne to make up for this excuse of a signing.
stop freaking out
It’s a one year deal and 1.1m isn’t that big of a cap hit especially the way the B’s salary situation is this year. That said, I’m not a fan of BP, but anything can happen so let’s see how it goes, yknow?
Add me to the list of people scratching their heads.
The cap hit is certainly a motivation, but I would think there would be somebody else on the market. Maybe Julien or Chia thinks Julien can do something to get the best out of him. That is possible I guess-but not sure I am super impressed with this signing.
I would much rather have a defenseman, but they seem to be commanding ridiculously high paydays, so I would rather sit tight and look for the last man standing or somebody who fits in a trade.
Yah Chiarelli hasn’t looked good lately with his signings and moves comical. Same thing was said of the Begin signing “how will Jack react ?” or “How will Savard react to the signing ?” then nothing festered at camp.
It’s a one year deal at 1.1M that’s it if he lights it up then it’s worth it, if he doesn’t then he’s gone. Emotions have to be taken out when wheeling and dealing as a GM and fans. PR with fans means nothing if Benoit plays well with Bergeron.
@George Didn’t you say Paille was a waste of space as well ? 1.1M really ?
I guess I’m not as outraged as many fans seem to be. I see it as a 1 year deal at a pretty low cap hit for a still relatively young top 5 pick who had 13 goals. Who knows, maybe a change of scenery does him good. If not, 1.1 mil is not an overly burdensome contract to stash down in providence.
What the hell is going on here? This might be the strangest signing made today – for a variety of reasons, obviously.
I really don’t get this move. Not only has he been a complete bust, but most Bruins fans can’t stand him. Flabbergasted. That would describe how I feel right now.
I’m not impressed so far. I hope the B’s have something bigger up their sleeve.
Nice waste of cap space PC. Ridiculous.