2011-2012 Boston Bruins (Offseason)

[BDL]

I'm starting to become just slightly more optimistic in regards to the CBA and a possible work stoppage. If you take that initial offer the owners put out there and completely throw it away (like everyone elase has), the owners seem to be acting a little out of sorts for people expecting a work stoppage.

First there was the HUGE offer that Philly made to Weber, and then Nashville's subsequent matching offer.

Now, the Oilers just re-sign former #1 pick Taylor Hall to a 7yr deal.

Now, I don't know if these are a couple of owners breaking rank or if they are just ahead of the curve. But I am cautiously optimistic.

 

[BDL]

The optimism continues. The NHL has offered their 2nd proposal. And for once, Bettman isn't chest thumping. I really hope both side can come to a LONG TERM arrangement. The last work stoppage all but killed the NHL.

On the brighter side... The Hockey News has released it's pre-season rankings found HERE . I don't know if I agree with all of their rankings, especially in the West, but, you know what they say about "OPINION"s .

I won't spoil the rank number, but here is what they had to say about the B's:

" Why: The Bruins still have most of the components of the team that won a Stanley Cup championship and are the class of the Northeast Division, but that doesn’t mean they don’t have challenges. Getting by without “retired” goalie Tim Thomas and leaning solely on Tuukka Rask is the most notable, but the expected improvement of youngsters such as Tyler Seguin and their all-important depth at center should keep them in the upper echelons of the Eastern Conference. "

 

[bellanotte10]

I feel like I went under a rock when it comes to sports. What's going on now?

 

[BDL]

I feel like I went under a rock when it comes to sports. What's going on now?

No worries. A lot of people went into a Red Sox coma this Summer.

I'm just really hoping that the owners went through a Rectal-Cranial Inversion Surgery with their latest offer. That 1st offer was a literal slap in the face if they expected it to be taken seriously.

 

[BDL]

I started a new thread. So if you feel like venting about the current NHL CBA Negotiations/Pending Lockout, you can CLICK HERE and try to relieve some stress.

 

[BDL]

It's official. The B's have signed Malcolm Subban to a 3-yr developmental contract. I first read the article HERE , care of stanleycupofchowder.com .

Out of respect to Canadien fan readers, and as an effort for a unified front against a lock-out, I will refrain from the flopping jokes, P.K. vs. Malcolm.

 

[bellanotte10]

There was a special on NESN about the big bad bruins. Anyone else catch it?

 

[BDLSGAL]

There was a special on NESN about the big bad bruins. Anyone else catch it?

It has been on before, but yes, I watched last night. Gives you the chills when you see the old days of hockey!

 

[BDL]

The Bruins news just keeps on coming...

The Bruins have just announced that they have signed a 4yr extension for Brad Marchand. He will be averaging $4.5 million per year til the 2016-17 season.

For all you conspiracy theorists out there, does this set off any alarms? They sign Malcolm Subban yesterday. They extend Marshmont today. Could they be setting the table to sign P.K. when his Habs contract expires (signing his brother and his juniors friend in consecutive days)?

Stay tuned...

 

[BDL]

First Marshmont, now Seguin.

The Bruins have announced that they have signed Tyler Seguin to a 6yr $34 million extension. A big raise from the $800k+ that he was making this year. Now he can build on the RUMORED burgeoning romance with Ali Raisman (just kidding. This was a twitter rumor when he congratulated her at the Olympics).

In the past week or so, the B's have cut off 2 of their restricted FA's before they could test the waters.

So, with Bergeron, Seguin, Marchand, Chara, Boychuk, McQuaid and Seidenberg (along with the best 4th line in the NHL) all locked up for the next 2 yrs, should make it a good time at the Garden.

IF... There is actually any hockey played.

 

[BDL]

And Looch makes 3. Mere hours before the lockout, the B's "locked up" Milan Lucic. Looks like the Bruins have the core they want.

As for the lockout itself,

By this time... The team should have been in camp and be gearing up for the pre-season games. But no. The only thing going on with the bruins... Is the Bruins are GOING! All the way to Europe. Teams in the Czech Rep., Switzerland, Germany, Finland and Russia are reaping the benefits from of the Bruins talent pool.

Does anyone else hope the NBC and NBC Sports Channel will broadcast some of those games, as kind of a huge middle finger to the NHL owners? Because, besides the players being locked out, I'm sure NBC has sold ad space on for the games and now have to return or compensate the money. At least it would give us something to watch besides (blecht!!!) the NBA.

As for the list of players going to Europe, so far for the Bruins...

Tuukka Rask
David Krejci
Anton Khudobin
Andrew Ferrence (I wonder how he will bike across the Atlantic)
Tyler Seguin
Rich Peverley
Dennis Seidenberg

For those keeping score, this list includes 2 top 6 F's, the 2nd pairing of D's, a speedy special teamer and both goalies.

COME ON J.J.!!!!! Get with the program. You aren't winning here.

 

[bellanotte10]

Sad face! I was going to go to a few games this year courtesy of my birthday..... Not anymore! Arg... This is so frustrating. With the red sox playing horribly, I thought I'd have the pats and the bruins and my Liverpool fc. I have no teams. Sports teams just hate me now

 

[BDL]

As for the list of players going to Europe, so far for the Bruins...

Tuukka Rask
David Krejci
Anton Khudobin
Andrew Ferrence (I wonder how he will bike across the Atlantic)
Tyler Seguin
Rich Peverley
Dennis Seidenberg

For those keeping score, this list includes 2 top 6 F's, the 2nd pairing of D's, a speedy special teamer and both goalies.

COME ON J.J.!!!!! Get with the program. You aren't winning here.

Now we can add Z and Bergeron to the list. Chara will be playing in Prague and Bergie will be playing in Switzerland. That means that all of the letter wearers (except for Kelly) are now over seas.

 

[BDL]

Tragic news from the NHL today. All games til Oct. 24th have been cancelled. With the owners locking the players out. And the players heading over seas to skate for foreign teams. It seems that the coaches have been lost in the shuffle. I am reminded of this by an email I received today.

"WIN CLAUDE JULIEN AS COACH FOR THE DAY FOR YOUR YOUTH HOCKEY TEAM

How would you like to have Claude Julien, head coach of the Boston Bruins, coach your child’s youth hockey team? Here’s your chance to offer your child’s youth hockey team a once in a lifetime experience, all while gaining valuable insight from the head coach of the 2011 Stanley Cup Champions and the 2009 Jack Adams Award winner.

The winner will have Claude Julien coach a mutually agreed upon game on Sunday, October 28th at 2PM at Haverhill Valley Forum"

I think this raffle is the NHL coach's version of "Will work for food".

 

[DebbieB]

Tragic news from the NHL today. All games til Oct. 24th have been cancelled. With the owners locking the players out. And the players heading over seas to skate for foreign teams. It seems that the coaches have been lost in the shuffle. I am reminded of this by an email I received today.

"WIN CLAUDE JULIEN AS COACH FOR THE DAY FOR YOUR YOUTH HOCKEY TEAM

How would you like to have Claude Julien, head coach of the Boston Bruins, coach your child’s youth hockey team? Here’s your chance to offer your child’s youth hockey team a once in a lifetime experience, all while gaining valuable insight from the head coach of the 2011 Stanley Cup Champions and the 2009 Jack Adams Award winner.

The winner will have Claude Julien coach a mutually agreed upon game on Sunday, October 28th at 2PM at Haverhill Valley Forum"

I think this raffle is the NHL coach's version of "Will work for food".

The Penguins coach, Dan Byslma, is out working with the AHL team in Wilkes Barre. It's just the players who are locked out, I assume coaches and front office still get paid.

 

[BDL]

Since there seems to be an impass. Here are a couple of videos that harken back to a better time (as long as you are not a Habs or Canucks fan)

VIDEO 1

VIDEO 2

 

[stevea20]

Hi. Haven't posted in a while because there's been nothing to talk about. The lockout s***s. I can only watch my DVD's so much and DW gets so annoyed when I do watch. But I think this is all we have because I see no chance that the season will be played, even limited. When the owners rejected all three counterproposals within ten minutes and then declared there was no point in talking again until the NHLPA agreed to their proposal as the staring point, they declared there would be no hockey this year. Well, that's how I read it.

 

[BDLSGAL]

Hi. Haven't posted in a while because there's been nothing to talk about. The lockout s***s. I can only watch my DVD's so much and DW gets so annoyed when I do watch. But I think this is all we have because I see no chance that the season will be played, even limited. When the owners rejected all three counterproposals within ten minutes and then declared there was no point in talking again until the NHLPA agreed to their proposal as the staring point, they declared there would be no hockey this year. Well, that's how I read it.

Agreed about reading it as no hockey this year. BDL watches the replays they have on NESN but I don't want to watch. Just makes me sad that we won't have memories from this season, and everyone will have a bad taste in their mouth if there is a season. It really is a shame Corey Schneider was on 98.5 last week and he said the players feel they have a date in their head where they will start to feel pressure to resolve things, but no one can figure what that date is.

 

[stevea20]

I've got NHL network on right now and they are showing the last game played at Boston Garden against the Canadiens. It's funny to hear all the names you forgot that played at that time. Also that Mark Recchi played in that game for Montreal. Hoping they show the Final Skate too.

 

[BDL]

I've got NHL network on right now and they are showing the last game played at Boston Garden against the Canadiens. It's funny to hear all the names you forgot that played at that time. Also that Mark Recchi played in that game for Montreal. Hoping they show the Final Skate too.

I was watching that game too. I remember those days, looking at how bad the Garden was and thinking "Why can't the B's play in someplace cool, like the Nassau Colisseum." Little did I know, that the Islanders would hang onto the Colisseum until it was worse than the Garden. But, if the league ever gets started again, they now have a new home in "The House that Jay-Z Built".

On to current news...

Now, every Bruin that wears a letter on their chest is playing overseas. Kelly signed a month-to-month contract in Switzerland.

What happened to ESPN broadcasting the foreign games?