Peverley/By S. Bradley
Bruins general manager Peter Chiarelli revealed the bad news today.
Or maybe it’s good news considering the four to six weeks Rich Peverley is scheduled to miss should allow him to return to action this season.
But Peverley, who was sent home to be examined yesterday, suffered a third-degree MCL sprain in his right knee Wednesday night in Montreal, according to Chiarelli. Peverley was hit by Canadiens defenseman Hal Gill in the third period of Boston’s 4-3 shootout win.
The Bruins are now down two top-line right wingers, as Peverley had been filling Nathan Horton’s spot on the No. 1 line. So you can expect Chiarelli to intensify his efforts to add help up front before the Feb. 27 trade deadline. He has plenty of salary-cap space, prospects and draft picks to work with. He just needs a trading partner, which can be hard to find in a NHL that features all but a handful of teams within striking distance of a playoff spot.
Dominic Moore was already dealt out of Tampa Bay, and the Washington Capitals say they’re not moving Mike Knuble. Phoenix has pulled into seventh in the West, so Ray Whitney seems like an unlikely trade asset. Boston might be best to look West toward Edmonton, where Ales Hemsky might make a nice fit. Or maybe the Bruins could convince Colorado that it’s out of the race and pry away David Jones. There’s always the Teemu Selanne option, but there are too many obstacles there — starting with Anaheim’s continued rise in the standings. You also have to convince Selanne to OK a deal and come up with the proper compensation for the Ducks for a guy who would be the ultimate rental because he might not even play beyond this season.
In the short term, the Bruins will use in-house candidates to fill in the gaps. According to several reports from this morning’s skate in Winnipeg, Benoit Pouliot skated with Milan Lucic and David Krejci, while Chris Kelly centered Daniel Paille and Jordan Caron and Josh Hennessy jumped on the fourth line with Gregory Campbell and Shawn Thornton.
Pittsburgh has done a remarkable job maintaining its excellence without several key players for long stretches, including nothing more than a cameo by the world’s best player, this season. Now it’s the Bruins’ turn to prove that its resiliency and depth are as strong as they often brag about.
George
Pouliot might be a throw-in in order for us to help keep our first round pick. I have to believe the B’s will be asked to eat a players’ contract who has worn out his welcome in Columbus.
@Bruins16
If that report is accurate then i would trade Rask as the impact player, two prospects not named Hamilton, and a 1st seven days a week for Rick Nash. Sorry Tuukka fans but Lucic/Krejci/Nash? If Peverly and Horton come back they would be unbelievably deep with Pouliot in the press box.
Last HNIC reported that the Blue Jackets said they wanted an impact player player, two prospects, and a first round pick for Nash. Given last night’s Blue Jacket game, there might be more interest in a goalie than ever before. PC has also said he won’t part with Rask or Hamilton, I think he should re-think the former but not the latter, especially given the B’s aging defensive corps and the lack of prospects on the blue line. I don’t think they will offer Sanford his save percentage is fairly good. Here’s the deal; Nash for Rask, Spooner, Hamill, and our second round pick 2013. I think they need to move here because I think Horton is out for at least the remainder of the season. If a deal were to occur, it may get very complicated with the Bruins having to maybe eat a contract of the Blue Jackets. If that’s the case I’d rather eat Steve Mason’s than Wisniewski’s. One thing, if Horton’s going to be out for the balance, we don’t want Nash going to New York. If we don’t get Nash, we need a top flight d-man.
If Hamilton is out of play it would be more like:
Rask, Koko, Spooner, 2 1sts for Nash and Sanford
If Hamilton is in play it would be
Rask, Hamilton, 1st, 2nd for Nash and Sanford
John
Make it a second round pick next year, our second round pick is gone with the Kaberle trade. (ugh) Throw in Zach Hamill and lets get Rick a spoked B uniform.
Bruins16, I don’t think Tuukka, Spooner, and a 3rd comes close to getting Nash or Suter. I think the 3rd would have to be a 1st, and I think you would have to include another top prospect with Spooner.
No matter how you look at it, we are planning on dealing a goalie in the near future, whether that is Thomas, Rask, or Kudhobin who is signed to a 1-way deal for next season. I think we need to be careful about how we deal with our goaltending, but recent indications seem to be that Rask is somewhat out of favor with bruins management. I’d think the fact they started Thomas in back to back important games rather than trusting one to Tuukka is a sign he might be on his way out.
George
I agree about Hamilton. Teams only have so many years/windows to win the Cup. If we can get Nash or Suter, for the price I’ve mentioned, we need to go for it. Columbus is looking for a net-minder, so maybe there is a chance. As long as we have our present nucleus is intact, we have a chance to win it. As well, I think Caron needs to improve/play better and more physical, so that we have more balanced attack. Early in the year we had four lines going strong, that hasn’t been the case lately.
@Bruins16,
I would trade Rask if Hamilton did not have to be included, for Nash (Sanford coming back to Bruins in the deal).
My reasoning is this: Having Nash on the team makes some prospects expendable to get a goalie after this season in trade if necessary. Peverly has a serious knee injury and his entire game hinges on his speed. Horton’s concussion problems are a huge question mark.
Like I said, my rationale is based on not moving Hamilton so if he had to be included the deal would be off for me.
Well if we’re going to advance to divsional finals, we have to make a deal. I’ll be alone here, but I wouldn’t mind parting with Tukka. I’m sure someone is going to grap onto this and say we are selling our future netminder, but there seems to always be some decent netminders come free agent time. I believe that Thomas still has two good years left, especially he forgets his political activism he feels the need to make. I checked the NHL farm report and says we are short when it comes to netminders, so probably another deal/sign will have to be done in order to stay competitive. The team needs a little bit of a jump, so lets get ourselves a top six forward, or a top 4 d-man. If you have a legitimate shot to win the Cup, you don’t want to pass on the chance. The team needs to keep Lucic and Hamilton, so they should be off the board. Tukka, Spooner and a third round draft pick for Nash or Suter, lets make it happen.
John, my first thought was Malone too. But then I checked his health and he is hurt a lot! But he is a Bruin style guy for sure. I also believe he has a huge contract too if I remember correctly. This is really going to be interesting. Whitney would be a nice fit too but we have to root for the Yotes to tank in the next 10 days…And any deal that includes Hamilton is a mistake in my mind.
David, one player that I believe is available, but not sure what it would take to get him is Malone on TB. He would look great in Black and Gold. Going to be a steep price, but I don’t think it would take Hamilton.
Yeah, I know what you mean John, but still, are there any players on the market besides Nash that would look good in Black and Gold and be a top 6? Hemsky isn’t it, and I lean that Nash is a little too pricey (in terms of assets, I’d say he at least close to worth his contract because of consistency.) I’d love to see Whitney or Ruutu, but I doubt either one comes our way.
David, I don’t see them going after Nash. 7.8M for another 6 years is a lot to stomach. Plus it would likely be something more along the lines of Tuukka or Lucic, Hamilton, and a 1st. Very steep price to pay IMO. There would be a lot of moving parts probably, but I get the sense that Hamilton would have to be in deal. Too rich for my blood.
I think if Horton hasn’t make progress, or doesn’t make it soon, we need to pick a guy up. If you’d go after Hemesky (for whom the oil is asking a fair amt if the rumors are to be beleives), why not go after Nash who is just as untested as Hemesky but a whole lot better? I have to believe that Chia is looking into getting Nash if the Bruins really are one of the teams he named, because how can he NOT look into that? It’d an amazing addition, but would cost something like Krejci or Lucic, Caron, 1st rounder and Koko(or other top prospect), and that’s to make sure the salary works. (They’d never take Horton with a concussion, and he has an NTC according to capgeek.) We’d have to take away from our depth additionally to pick up a replacement player for Caron as well. So overall, I’m not sure if it’s worth it or not but it would make a pretty powerful statement if they did pick up Nash. Maybe I’m dreaming.
I agree George, it will be interesting to see what PC does. I’m wondering if he will look to a bigger name than he would have before Peverley’s injury and with Horton still out. I would love to see them get Ray Whitney, but I doubt Phoenix will make him available, as they are currently 7th.
I think it’s a good move to break up the 4th line temporarily, no NHL games for Hennessy this year so it would be unfair to put hi anywhere else. At this point I wouldn’t mind Hemsky because 2 guys are out hurt now. Selanne would be the ideal move IMO but too many factors working against it. Can’t wait to see what PC comes up with.
Am I misguided with this thought, and I trust people will tell me if I am, but wouldn’t it make more sense to put a guy with a 49gp 15/15/30/-8 stat line on the 3rd line (Kelly/Caron), rather then break up your 4th line? A line, that’s arguably, been your second most consistent troika, behind the Bergy line, all season.
I don’t know anything about Hennessy, so maybe people can fill me in, and maybe my ignorance about this bloke makes this entire post pointless, but it just doesn’t seem right to me.
Not good news very curious to see this Hennesy play never seen him play