The Boston Bruins Hockey Boston Globe beat writer Fluto Shinzawa has this over on his blog today. It would appear that the Bruins are going to have a tough time signing both former Michigan star Matt Hunwick former Gopher Phil Kessel. I suppose someone could be traded to make room for them. Personally if I was the general manager I would trade Marco Sturm and 3.5 million dollar salary for a draft pick or for a less expensive forward so the B's could free up some salary cap room. Sturm has never scored thirty goals in a season and Kessel had 36 this past season.
I also don't see a lot of teams offering Kessel more than the 3.75 that Krejci is making. I think the five million a year is a little unrealistic. Heck! Zach Parise is set to make 3 million dollars next season and he scored (45g-49a-94 points)last season. I just don't see the current market letting Kessel getting paid more than Zach Parise.
I also don't see a lot of teams offering Kessel more than the 3.75 that Krejci is making. I think the five million a year is a little unrealistic. Heck! Zach Parise is set to make 3 million dollars next season and he scored (45g-49a-94 points)last season. I just don't see the current market letting Kessel getting paid more than Zach Parise.
With Steve Begin, Mark Recchi, and Byron Bitz in the fold, the 2009-10 roster is rounding into form. Here's where the Bruins stand:
Forwards
Marc Savard, $5 million
Patrice Bergeron, $4.75 million
Michael Ryder, $4 million
David Krejci, $3.75 million
Marco Sturm, $3.5 million
Chuck Kobasew, $2,333,333 million
Glen Murray, $1,383,333 million (buyout)
Mark Recchi, $1 million
Blake Wheeler, $875,000
Milan Lucic, $850,000
Steve Begin, $850,000
Byron Bitz, $687,500
Peter Schaefer, $566,667 (buyout)
Shawn Thornton, $516,667
* Phil Kessel is a restricted free agent.
Defensemen
Zdeno Chara, $7.5 million
Dennis Wideman, $3.875 million
Aaron Ward, $2.5 million
Andrew Ference, $1.4 million
Mark Stuart, $1.3 million
* Matt Hunwick is a restricted free agent.
* Because Johnny Boychuk is considered a bubble player (similar to Vladimir Sobotka), he is not included in this model.
Goalies
Tim Thomas, $5 million
Tuukka Rask, $850,000
Current cap hit: $52,487,500.
ANALYSIS: The Bruins have $4,312,500 of cap space under the $56.8 million ceiling with Kessel and Hunwick yet to sign. Just about impossible to sign both unless movement of existing salaries takes place
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