Bruins’ D corps, fourth line will look different tonight vs. Kings
Paille/By S. Bradley
BOSTON — Regardless of whether Daniel Paille is cleared to play tonight, Bruins head coach Claude Julien is leaning toward using Zach Hamill to fill in for Gregory Campbell as the team’s fourth center tonight against Los Angeles as the TD Garden.
So the team’s energy line will have a different look either way.
As of the end of the team’s morning skate, the Bruins were awaiting medical clearance for Paille. The speedy forward suffered a mild concussion last Thursday against Florida and skated for the first time yesterday. He hasn’t had any symptoms since the initial hit from Krys Barch.
If Paille’s cleared, that would probably put Jordan Caron in the press box and create a line of Paille, Hamill and Shawn Thornton. Julien said that Hamill’s center experience makes him a more useful replacement for Campbell, even though the former first-round pick has played wing all season with the Providence (AHL) farm club.
Campbell is out with a fractured foot. He won’t play tonight and is questionable to travel with the team after the game for tomorrow night’s game in Ottawa.
Zdeno Chara is out with a leg injury and will be replaced by Steven Kampfer. Julien said that Chara is scheduled to make the road trip, which continues on to Philadelphia for a game Saturday.
In response to John,
First of all, I was wrong and I am amazed at how well they have banded together without Chara.
I agree both Evander Kane and Erik Johnson would require quite a haul in a trade and won’t be moved. However, if Kane or Johnson wanted out of their teams there is a way the Bruins could acquire one of these two players. Both Players are RFA’s next year and the Bruins can sign an offer sheet for either player this offseason. The Bruins would have to give draft picks to acquire the player if they outbid their respective teams. I realize this is not likely but it would be just like what Phil Kessel did to the Bruins.
On Iginla; I think this would be far more likely. The only problem with Iginla is his contract; a 7m cap hit this year and next. However, if Bruins brought him in this season, they could put Savard on IR opening up just over 7m in cap space. Then they could extend Iginla’s contract and lower his annual cap hit (like they did with Savard) to something reasonable starting next season and still have enough cap space to bring back Rask, Boychuk, Thornton, Campbell, and have to watch Kelly, Paille, Corvo walk. I think if the Bruins offered Caron and Hamill or Kampfer (or maybe Nathan Horton which would help with the cap increase dramatically) plus 1st and 2nd round pick they could acquire Iginla no problem and this would still improve their roster significantly. Iginla is the goal scoring power forward, tough physical leader that would fit perfectly on this Bruins team. Iginla has never won the cup either and would give them that veteran drive to win another cup.
McTeagle
Caron has played okay on the penalty kill.
If its Caron,Hamill,Thornton…which one would win the race?
“Zdeno Chara is out with a leg injury and will be replaced by Steven Kampfer. Julien said that Chara is scheduled to make the road trip, which continues on to Philadelphia for a game Saturday.”
What about tomorrow in Ottawa? Any idea if he’ll suit up?
Guys – It’s December.
@Deano
To get Kane, Iginla, and Johnson the Bruins would have to literally trade their entire team. They are attractive options because they are all really good players. Kane isn’t going anywhere. Iginla might move, but the price would be very steep, and Johnson was just traded last year in a huge deal. He’s not moving.
Losing Chara on this Bruins team is a huge loss. Without Chara, the Julien trap style of play is significantly diminished. Hopefully this is a short term non nagging type of injury.
This illustrates the team’s need to add one quality player at the trade deadline at both defense and forward. Here are some players on crap teams who are UFA’s or RFA’s next 2 seasons (players likely to be on the trade block) that I think the Bruins should look at at this year’s deadline.
1. F Evander Kane – WIN (RFA Next season, I would go after E Kane like Crazy, if there is any way Bruins can acquire him they should look into it. E Kane on a line with Lucic would be unfair to everyone they play against. Prolly a very high to impossible asking price though)
2. F Jarome Iginla – CAL (Would have to extend his contract and lower his annual salary cap hit)
3. D Erik Johnson – COL (Good young player, maybe too high an asking price)
4. D Pavel Kubina – TB (Should be acquirable at the deadline, rent a player)
5. D Milan Jurcina – NYI (Prolly not looking to trade away younger players)
6. F Dominic Moore – TB (He will probably get traded)
7. F Brian Rolston – NYI (Most likely to get traded, has a no trade clause though)
8. F Tuomo Ruutu – CAR (Will prolly get traded)
There are others but i did not like what I saw for options and I did not look at players with more than one year left (after this season) on their contracts.
I think the Bruins could add one or two of these players to improve in the short term playoff run and the long term with players like Kane, Iginla and Johnson.
See y’all at the game tonight. Go Bruins!
Better stay off the PK, especially if Danny P isn’t cleared.