BOSTON — After the Bruins held an optional morning skate this morning at the TD Garden in preparation for their game with Montreal tonight, it was learned two of the Bruins’ best players will be headed to the All-Star Game in Ottawa along with goaltender Tim Thomas.
The NHL announced that defenseman Zdeno Chara and forward Tyler Seguin would be among the 36 All-Stars available in the player draft prior to the midseason classic. Previously, Thomas was voted as a starter for the game by the fans.
Seguin leads the Bruins in goals and points with 17 and 38, respectively, in just his second NHL season. His plus-33 rating is the best in the NHL.
Chara has posted 7-18-25 totals while compiling a plus-27 rating for the Bruins.
The teams will be drafted January 26 with the game scheduled for ScotiaBank Place in Ottawa on January 29.
Bojangles
I trade Loungo in a heart beat, but I don’t know who is going to take on the contract. I think Loungo enjoys his time in front of the camera as much as Bobby Valentine or Reggie Jackson. He should watch clips of Patrice Bergeron, Zdeno Chara, or Shawn Thornton on how to give an interview in a humble manner, but with reflection about the importance of your team. (just about anyone on the Bruins will do)
Imagine, your in the Stanley Cup playoffs and your worried about what the other team’s goalie is saying. The whole franchise from the GM down continously feels victimized.
I think if the B’s can get another defenseman who is strong defensively, I think we have a good chance at repeating.
The B’s have good team chemistry and they are team first guys. I have to believe that the Bruin management will not bring someone in who is a prima donna.
B16 – Always fun playing GM.
If I had to bet – the Bs stay pat with the main roster and try and flip Hamill for another depth piece on D. I just don’t see them messing with a really solid locker room. I think this team could handle an injury to a forward, but not on D.
Anyway.. next month or so should be fun watching the teams shift around.
You gotta figure Philly’s gonna make a move to cover for Pronger, and doesn’t Pittsburgh have to do something to turn things around. Rangers are about to get stronger with Staal about to round into form. Can’t seem them taking a risk either. Washington I just don’t worry about.
The teams that really interest me though are in the West. Detroit, Vancouver and Chicago are all waiting to see who flinches first.
So here’s a question for you – If you are Vancouver, do you trade Luongo?
Bojangles
Your probably right regarding the asking price, in comparison to the one I tossed out. I think if the deal is what you’ve suggested, the B’s should jump at it. I think there are only a couple of clubs that feel they have no chance at the playoffs. The following is the list as I see it;
Western Conference
Edmonton
Anaheim
Columbus
Eastern Conference
Tampa Bay
Carolina
New York Islanders
I don’t know the Eastern Conference teams well enough, but in the West I think Anaheim has two d-men that could help the Bruins. On the other two Western Conference teams, I don’t see an upgrade. I think the deals that are made a couple of weeks before the deadline (Feb. 28th) usually work out for the team with a need.
Here’s hoping we get one guy that can help! When you have a good shot to repeat, you want to put yourself in a strong position.
Corvo would be part of that Caron + a 2.
B16 – Who knows. Corvo is an expiring contract so that’s attractive to many teams. The Bs have plenty of room to take on a contract (but they have many to sign next year too). If they are willing to give up Caron (I doubt Hamill has many GM fans) and a second they could get a solid defensive defenseman I think – it might take a little more.
The biggest question is who? Let’s not forget how tough it was for both Kaberle and Corvo to pick up the system.
If I’m a betting man (save injury) they do something minor to upgrade Kampfer’s spot and go with what they’ve got.
Way ahead of myself – It’s going to be a very interesting off-season and training camp to see what they look like going for the three-peat
Bojangles
I agree, I don’t ever see Hamill being part of a championship team, other than a healthy scratch. I think Caron might still have a chance as a winger on the 3rd or 4th line. I would like to see him more physical regarding his play; but in fairness he wasn’t playing badly when management seemed to go more with Pouliot. However, Caron may be running out of time because KoKo and Knight are looking for a chance. As well, the barn door only remains open so many times for a player to make his mark.
A number of Ranger defenseman have stepped up their play. As well, they have two lines to equal our top two. I think our 3rd and 4th lines are better, and our goaltending is a saw-off with them. We need another top four defenseman to give ourselves the edge. If we can trade Hamill, Corvo or Kampfer and a second or third round pick, for a d-man, we should do it in a heart beat. As some of you have indicated that we will probably have to anti-up more than I proposed.
I wonder if PC could talk M. Chudinov to come over? He’s 3rd in scoring in the KHL.
http://en.khl.ru/players/14856/
B16 – I agree that the one area the Bs will probably look to shore up before the deadline is D – Its an interesting problem b/c one could argue they should consider improving Corvo and depth at the 7 spot. To replace Corvo and still make a run I think they’d have to give up one of Spooner or Knight and I’m not ready to to that. I guess they could trade Corvo and one of Caron/Hamill, but then they still have the depth problem at 7. Caron and/or Hamill plus a pick could get you some solid depth at 7 and I think I’d favor going that route myself and trust that Corvo’s blemishes can be covered up. I don’t ever see a spot for Hamill on this club, and maybe.. maybe Caron can flip the switch with some confidence. His game needs much more grit than he’s shown in Boston. I’ve never seen him play in Providence – maybe he shows it more in that setting, but I’d flip either one of he or Hamill in a heartbeat if it meant getting a reliable defensive defenseman to replace Kampfer for the cup run. I suppose they could always look at moving Kampfer himself with a pick to shore up that spot as well. Anyway… I’m babbling. The point is – I agree, that 4 or 7 on D is the one or two spots I really think they need to consider upgrading.
RD
The GM said everyone on the Ducks is available. However, my post was intended to stop the Bergeron vs. Seguin squabble. Just the same, I do think the B’s do need a top four D-man. Chara, Sidenberg, and Boychuk are all fine, but Corvo turns the puck over too much (tonight again). Kampfer has looked short in any of the games I’ve watched as well, in case of injury to any of the top four guys. I think the forwards have looked fine though, and our goalies have been excellent.
The Rangers have looked good and I think there biggest strength is that their defence corps has never looked better.
@Deano, like I said, just riling ya. Get all offended, freak out, just makes my point.
@Bruins16 Are you nuts??? You guys are somethinkg like 24-4 since losing the back to backs to Montreal. This is known as a winning formula. I wouldn’t change a thing. You have the best goal differential in the league. I can’t think of a stronger indicator of how strong the team is.
Also, is Fowler seriously on the market? He’d be untouchable to me.
As for Subban, clearly a flying elbow to me. He went for that hit he buried Marchand with last season but this time, the elbow clearly hit Krejci upstairs.
Bojangles
There is no doubt it would take more than I listed, but I wanted to get off the tirade of Bergeron vs. Seguin. If Fowler is available, for a fair price, he’s my first choice. There GM has stated that everyone is available.
B16 Are you crazy? Let me help you think about a more reasonable package that it would take to get fowler… What would it take for you to trade Hamilton?
No way that package brings Fowler to Boston. What ever it would take.. it would make you gulp. Like Boychuk/McQuaid, Spooner and Knight
Yeah MCK is right, I don’t know what happened to this blog over recent months. I’ll check in here every few days and find either 1)no new material whatsoever or 2)a snippet of an article telling me to basically check out ESPN.com for in depth coverage. We’re not trying to be royal pains, MK, we just miss your take on the hometown team (and don’t really feel like jumping to ESPN.com constantly)!
Is there seriously not a new article about the Bruins beating the Habs? Subban’s hit? Ference’s comments about the hit?
RD, that was funny, you are wrong.
It was not double talk. Read my comment in the order it was written, try not cut and pasting the whole thing into an order that serves your argument.
What I simply said was, the ASG game is a joke. However Bergeron still deserves the recognition of making the team. Pretty simple argument. Do you get it now or am I still double talking?
To Big Jim, your argument makes no sense based on my last response. I mentioned Bergeron had two bad years after the concussion. I never stated Bergeron was a 70 point player every year of his career, I simply said he had two 70 point seasons already on his resume.
You said Bergeron has never put up points like he has this season, which was dead wrong. He has twice before, which I showed you and both happened on worse Bruins teams, without Seguin on his line. Admit when you are wrong and put the keyboard away.
Its time to change the tone around here. I’d like to see the Bruins get another defenseman. I think Corvo coughs up the puck too much and I don’t think Kampfer has come on enough this year. I’d like to see us trade for Cam Fowler of the Ducks. Let’s give Hamill, Corvo, and our third round pick next year. Sound good?
Deano,
That’s some serious double talk:
On one hand…
-”Still, I don’t really care, the ASG is a joke.”
On the other hand…
-”Patrice Bergeron not making the All Star team is an absolute joke.”
-Absolute disgrace.
-He deserves to be on the All Star team more than half the roster including the other Bruins players who made the team.
You have a right to your opinion but if it’s just a joke, why all the gnashing of teeth? I’d hate to see you in the lunch room when they run out of stir rods for the coffee.
“Oh the humanity!!! This company’s coffee supply strategy is a COMPLETE JOKE!!! I bet all the other company lunch rooms in Boston have more stirring rods than they could possibly need etc etc”
Just riling ya…
Big Jim
I think your right about Bergeron having a sub-par year, but that was the year after the Jones/Philly cheap shot. It took some time for him to bounce back. I think Horton is playing better the last two weeks than he has since last year’s playoffs. The concussions take time to get over and its not always the same for everyone.
I thought that Seguin shoud play center on one line, while Bergeron centering another line, after training camp. If Claude would follow my advice today, he would break-up one of best lines in hockey. Both players have played better as a result of being on the same line.
If there’s an injury, I hope Bergeron gets asked to play.
so mid 60′s with marchand and recchi, mid 70′s with marchand and seguin. seguin has no effect on that? he was a -3 and -28 i believe in the two career years you point to. sorry but if you’re whole argument is that the dude is so awesome in both ends you can’t leave that out when pointing to the routine numbers he puts up.
and i don’t think i said seguin was a better all around player but to deny that he helps bergeron is assinine.
deano, which one of those seasons was patrice a -28? interesting that you left that out.
Also, BigJim where do I ever say Seguin is a bad player? Please find that in my comment. I am pretty sure I never said anything like that. My point was clear, Seguin benefits more from playing with Bergeron than vice versa. Read it again.
Dear Big Jim,
I am sorry but in my opinion, right now Bergeron is a better player than Datsyuk, defensively. I’ll even grant you Datsyuk is still better offensively. Bergeron has a better plus minus that last two years, better face off %, more time on ice last season by a lot, and is more physical in terms of hitting, also Bergeron has 5 SHG to Datsyuk’s 1 in the past two seasons. Bergeron is better at creating turnovers and is a faster skater at this point in their careers. Eye of the beholder possibly, I mean you could ague for either.
In terms of Bergeron putting up unusual number this year thanks to being on a line with Seguin, you could not be more wrong. Just look at the stats, I mean do you actually watch the games. Do I really need to explain to you why Bergeron is a better overall player right now than Tyler Seguin? Open your eyes, it is obvious. Don’t insult me with pants tent comments, what are you five? Try holding a conversation without insulting someone for no reason, don’t be a troll, real tough doing that online from your mom’s basement.
Bergeron’s actual stats:
2005-06 81 GP, 73 P
2006-07 77 GP, 70 P
Then the major concussion, took him two years to get right. Starting improving without Seguin.
2009-10 73 GP, 52 P
2010-11 80 GP, 57 P
2011-12 40 GP, 36 P (On pace for 82 GP, 73 P) So statistically speaking, his best season was 2005-06, because he was on pace for more points per game. Also he was on pace for somewhere in the high sixties, playing with Recchi and Marchand. Next time you want to make a point, check the facts.
Still, I don’t really care, the ASG is a joke. I just wanted to make the point because I am bored at work and fantasy football is over.
i’m not worked up. this nesn push to convince the world that bergeron is the best player alive is ridiculous. he’s a damn good player, deserved to make the team but didn’t. he’s not the only one in the league, or for that matter on the bruins. based on numbers a case could be made for rask and marchand as well. seidenberg should be in a la girardi.
go back and read deano’s bonerific post about bergeron where he implies that seguin would be nowhere without bergeron. there is a large contingent of bruins fans and media around here who feel that way. the fact is the kid is pretty damn good in his own right.
players like bergeron typically take YEARS to earn any recognition because they aren’t flashy. real hockey people appreciate him but the kids stuffing the ballot box in ottawa and dallas and where ever else don’t. the all star game is about flashy players and big names. that’s why there are always guys who don’t belong but make it over guys that do belong. think ovechkin/bergeron.
BigJim…this has you really worked up doesn’t it? I don’t think anyone is saying that they aren’t happy Seguin is going it’s just that Bergeron should have been ahead of him on the depth chart. But the ASG is a game of shinny as RD says. So danglers and goal scorers get invites and two-way guys stay home. However to say…
“but all this “the best two way player” and “should” have won the selke talk is absurd. he’s not the best two way player. datsyuk still is. thats like vancouver saying they “should” have won the cup. “should have” talk is for losers. you either won or didn’t win.”
I would like to point out to you that the Cup is won by scoring goals, playing defense, and winning more games than anyone else. The Selke is voted on. There is a huge difference. And this is a Bruins Blog…we are going to think our guys deserve every award. We are “fans”…short for “fanatic”… Not “logical, weighing the factors and drawing a solid fact based conclusion game critics”. However I am with you that people need to start admitting that Seguin is a great hockey player. His defensive zone play this year is outstanding. I might not have used the word idiot to describe people who feel otherwise though…
The allstar game is a joke. It doesn’t affect the standings and they throw sticks in a pile and play shinny. Why are we upset about this?
LOL@ pants tent.
I think the all star game is really a joke. If i were Bergy I would take the time off then travel to Ottawa and get mixed up with a bunch of overated players. Hockey does it’s best when it is team against team. There is no Gretzky in the league and what do they want to show case the great Sedin sisters who can rack up 10 points each cause it’s a game of flag football. This could be a night when cspan is more exciting!
BigJim
Not every one here is anti-Seguin, but Bergeron should have made the team as well. Here is the list of forwards who should have been selected AFTER Bergeron; Benn, Koivu, Pomminville, Couture, OVECHKIN, and Daniel Sedin. They need to put Steve Yzerman on the selection committee; he at least understands defensive play.
We all have to remember that we have or had no one in the top 30 regarding scoring. Some people who select are adept at reading the newspaper, (looking at the scoring leaders) but beyond that they have little feel for defensive side of the game.
All B’s fans should take a look at the all-stars and ask yourself how many and whom would you want to wear the spoked B. For example, how many 2012 ALL-STAR wingers would you trade Milan Lucic for? Enough said!
P.S. Dennis Sidenberg should be on the team as well.
deano knock down that pants tent for bergeron. bergeron is putting up numbers he’s never approached before playing with seguin too. they help eachother immensely. i don’t understand why there are some idiots around here who have such a hard time admitting seguin is a damn good player.
but for the record everything that he did in the playoffs LAST YEAR, that you reference) has no bearing on this all star game you’re so bent out of shape about.
listen patrice bergeron is a damn good player. but all this “the best two way player” and “should” have won the selke talk is absurd. he’s not the best two way player. datsyuk still is. thats like vancouver saying they “should” have won the cup. “should have” talk is for losers. you either won or didn’t win.
and be honest with yourself. the all star game IS about numbers, not the intangibles that win games that patrice certainly possesses. meaningless game so who gives a shit.
Yeah, I know the All Star game is a joke anyways.
Look on the bright side. Our 19 year old, 2nd year guy made the All Star Team! That’s pretty cool.
Listen, I love Bergey as much as anyone, but he doesn’t need to make the AST.
He is getting iincreasing recognitition around the league.
Many worthy players were left off the roster.
Patrice Bergeron not making the All Star team is an absolute joke. He is the best all around player on the best Team in the NHL. It is not just about statistics and how many Canadiens you have voting for your player. Occasionally when someone absolutely deserves to make the team it should be considered. He should have won the Selke last year, and he should win it this season. Statistics are not everything, Bergeron contributes in so many areas that do not show up on the stat sheet which is why he is such a great player. Absolute disgrace.
Why should every team be represented if guys like Bergeron don’t get to play? Bergeron is a star player, he is one of the most popular players in Boston, which is one of the largest sports markets in the US. Nevermind one of the largest hockey markets in the US. Just look at the ticket and merchandise prices, soldout seats, huge ratings for Bruins games this year. On a team that won the Stanley Cup last season, in which he scored the game 7 winning goal. He deserves to be on the All Star team more than half the roster including the other Bruins players who made the team.
Seguin did greatly improve this year, but without being on the line with Bergeron there is no way he puts up as many goals this season. Bergeron sets up so many offensive rushes by using his body to get the puck defensively, which is Seguin’s biggest weakness. Then Bergeron starts the transition, and Seguin’s biggest strength is scoring on transition plays in open space. It is a great pairing but Seguin needs Bergeron far more than Bergeron needs Seguin to be successful.
That must have killed Kalman to write that.