Ference/By S. Bradley

While one of the NHL’s premier players continues to delay his decision on which team he’ll let pay him upwards of $100 million for the next decade or longer, a key Bruins performer took time today to do something much more meaningful.

Bruins defenseman and devoted environmentalist Andrew Ference and his wife Krista joined a group of athletes and representatives of the Sierra Club on a visit to areas in Louisiana affected by the BP oil disaster in the Gulf of Mexico.

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Andrew Ference/By S. Bradley

Ultimately, Andrew Ference will be graded on how smart he makes the Bruins look for signing him to a three-year contract extension worth $2.25 million per season some two months before hernia surgery and four months before unrestricted free agency.

All we have to assess him on now is another injury-plagued year that saw him emerge as no better than a third-pair defenseman who, based on his salary and experience, is going to be counted on to play in the top four for the rest of his stay in Boston.

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Ference

BOSTON — If there’s a Bruins player that knows what it’s like to return from a lengthy injury absence, it’s defenseman Andrew Ference.

The veteran has had to battle back from numerous ailments the last three years, including the groin/hernia problem he is playing through right now. After practice today, Ference provided some insight into why Marc Savard, who will play Saturday against Philadelphia in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference semifinal series, should be all right for his first game since March 7.

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Ference

BOSTON — First he was punched and knocked over by Craig Rivet and then he was also knocked over by a blow from Raffi Torres.

But with 6:13 left in regulation of the Bruins’ 2-1 win over Buffalo at TD Garden in Game 3 of the Eastern Conference quarterfinal series, Andrew Ference received a 10-minute misconduct along with Torres. (more…)

Ference

WILMINGTON, Mass. — Head coach Claude Julien said during his noon media briefing that there’s been no update in Andrew Ference’s status, even after the Bruins defenseman made it through a second full-squad practice at Ristuccia Arena this morning.

“I haven’t been given the green light on him yet. Hopefully we’ll know sometime today or tomorrow. And right now I haven’t been given the green light by anybody,” said Julien. (more…)

Ference

WILMINGTON, Mass. — After taking part in the Bruins’ first postseason practice, defenseman Andrew Ference said it was up to the medical  and coaching staff to determine if he’ll be available for Thursday night’s Game 1 of the Eastern Conference quarterfinal series with Buffalo. To that end, head coach Claude Julien classified Ference as a”possibility” to return from his groin/hernia injury to face the Sabres. (more…)

BOSTON — Bruins coach Claude Julien provided an update on injured players Marc Savard and Andrew Ference this morning after his team skated at TD Garden in preparation for their evening game with Florida. (more…)

As per the Twitter feed of NESN reporter Naoko Funayama, Bruins center Vladimir Sobotka skated during practice today at Ristuccia Arena. Sobotka, it was revealed, suffered a “slight concussion” against Atlanta Tuesday night. He did not play Thursday against Tampa Bay.

Defenseman Andrew Ference, however, did not practice. He told reporters that he will probably take days off between games to make sure his balky groin holds up for the rest of the season.

The Bruins host Calgary in a matinee Saturday.

Ference

BOSTON – One of the things general manager Peter Chiarelli will be paying Andrew Ference $2.25 million per season over the next three campaigns is veteran leadership. And some of Ference’s fellow blueliners can attest to what the 31-year-old brings to the locker room and on the ice in terms of guidance.

“He’s someone that goes out and competes and he doesn’t necessarily have to say a whole lot when he’s on the ice,” said defenseman Matt Hunwick after the Bruins’ morning skate at TD Garden today. “He’s showing other guys what needs to be done. It’s always good to have veterans in place.” (more…)

Ference

Here are a few more notes from the Peter Chiarelli-Andrew Ference conference call:

•Ference acknowledged he asked for, but did not receive, a no-trade clause. Obviously, that’s a relief for the Bruins, who have been hamstrung in terms of trades because of such provisions in deals given to players like Marco Sturm and Michael Ryder. Most recently the Bruins weren’t able to get market value for Derek Morris because the defenseman would only waive his no-trade for one team, Phoenix. (more…)

Somewhat fairly, Bruins defenseman Andrew Ference has been tagged as “injury-prone” since arriving in the Hub.

However, that hasn’t always been the case. And the Bruins are counting on Ference returning to his one-time durable ways after signing the 31-year-old to a three-year contract extension worth a total of $6.75 million Wednesday.

“He plays a hard game and he does have injuries as a result. But that’s part of the package. But he takes very good care of his body and he’s an important cog on our defense,” said Bruins general manager Peter Chiarelli during a conference call. (more…)

Ference

Entering their ’09 training camp, the Boston Bruins had very few questions about their roster. On defense, the only slight question was whether Johnny Boychuk, signed to a one-year, one-way deal during the summer, would be ready to at least assume the No. 7 defenseman job in Boston

So far, Boychuk has accounted for himself well. And with 10 days until opening night, the only question on the Bruins’ back end is whether Andrew Ference will be healthy enough to be a part of it when the Washington Capitals visit the TD Garden. (more…)

As for as cringe factor, Andrew Ference’s postseason groin surgery topped the charts. As it turns out, the best way to allow him to get back into the fold with the Boston Bruins after suffering a slight adductor tear was to just snip it to finish the tear and then let him get to work re-strengthening the area.

And that’s where Ference stands at this point, as he has returned to Boston after three weeks of skating with fellow NHLers in Vernon, B.C. (more…)

Ference

WILMINGTON, Mass. — After a handful of Boston Bruins players went through an informal skate this morning at Ristuccia Arena and Andrew Ference updated us on his recovery from groin surgery, he then addressed the issue of the firing of Paul Kelly as the Executive Director of the NHLPA.

Ference, one of Boston’s most open players, respectfully declined to reveal the specific reasons for the move because he and his fellow union reps are in the midst of informing the rest of the players. But he did shed some light on the subject. Here are Ference’s post-practice comments: (more…)

Ference

LAS VEGAS — Boston Bruins defenseman Andrew Ference underwent successful surgery today, the club announced, and I made it to Las Vegas for tomorrow night’s NHL Awards without a hitch.

So it was a good day in Bruins Land. Although, I’ll have to fill you in on some funny details of my trip later.

As for Ference, the club’s release says Ference “underwent successful surgery to repair an abdominal hernia and to perform an adductor release. The surgery was performed by Dr. David Berger and Dr. Peter Asnis at Mass General Hospital and will force Ference to miss approximately four to six weeks.”