The Bruins Saturday night shipped Stuart, along with forward Wayne Primeau and a conditional draft pick to the Calgary Flames in exchange for defenseman Andrew Ference and forward Chuck Kobesaw.
The Bruins were expected to deal Stuart to a Western Conference team but many believed that team to be the Flames rivals, the Edmonton Oilers.
By acquiring these two, the Flames have bolstered their defensive depth in what can be seen as a serious move for another run at the Stanley Cup.
Stuart joins an already impressive Flames blueline corps, and his two-way play should help take some of the load off Dion Phaneuf and Roman Hamrlik. Primeau is an experienced checking line forward whose grit should be invaluable down the stretch and into the playoffs.
Both Stuart and Primeau are unrestricted free agents this summer and weren’t in the Bruins future plans. One or both could end up as merely playoff rentals for the Flames this season, depending on their performance in the upcoming post-season.
Like Stuart, Hamrlik is an unrestricted free agent this summer, so it’s possible GM Darryl Sutter was thinking beyond this spring’s playoffs with this move. If Hamrlik opts to move on, Sutter could replace him with Stuart.
In return, the Bruins are receiving two good, young and affordable players, who could still blossom into stars in their own right. Kobesaw has good speed and shows a promising scoring touch whilst Ference plays a very good physical style.
Their combined salaries are worth less than Stuart’s was for this season and both are signed for next season, giving Bruins GM Peter Chiarelli the cap space to either make more additions at the trade deadline, or to go shopping for more depth in this summer’s free agent market.
As for the Oilers, their search for a puckmoving defenseman, or any player who can bolster their sagging playoff hopes, goes on.
WOW!!!! Like you spector, I've been fighting off a cold for the past few days too (hence some of my spelling mistakes) This looks like a great pick up for the flames! I wouldn't have dreamed stuart playing for the flames, and the other day I was singing praises to Keith Primeau, and his little bro is going to fit in well with us.
Going the other way is a good dman in Ference, he wasn't exactly a big hitter like Phaneuf, but still gritty with a bit of a scoring touch. As for Kobasew, I couldn't be happier with him leaving, he's over paid and has produced the way we thought he would since the we drafted him, as much as I like to bash this guy, I'm glad to see him get a chance to play with a new team he might fit in more with.
I'm not sure what elese hockey god Darryl Sutter has in store for us, but I'm verry happy with this trade. I can see Primeau staying with us for a bit and like you mentioned, if Hamerlik opts to move on, we might try to re-sign Stuart.
This move really shows the flames mean buisness, AGAIN and are gonig to make a serious push AGAIN. Just wondering Spec, do you think Darryl is done, or is there maybe one more trade coming for the flames?? If the leafs fall out of contention, I could see maybe Tucker.....Either way, I am PUMPED about this trade, thanks again for the update.
Ive noticed on a lot of message boards people trashing Peter Chiarelli for this trade.
All I can say is they are flat-out wrong to do so.
As a Bruins fan I am very happy with the way this turned out and also when it turned out. Stuart was leaving and he knew he was going to be traded. His play had fallen off considerably, and as a regular watcher of the Bruins he only showed flashes of the reason why Mike O'Connell traded for him in the first place his whole stay with the B's.
As Chiarelli said, his stock may only have fallen if he waited longer, as scouts witnessed his decline in play this season. Whether he can regain his form (and indeed meet the potential he never really has in my opinion) for the Flames is moot. He wasn't playing well in Boston lately, he wasnt going to be here next year, and now the Bruins have a defencemen in return who quite frankly can't be any worse than B-Stu has been lately and indeed was the subject of hype in Canadian media especially during the Flames cup run. And we have him for three more years at 750k? Brilliant move by Chiarelli.
And Kobasew I havent seen play much. He is a bit of a wild card, and perhaps will replace Sturm if he moves (I truly hope he doesnt move, he's a heck of a player but the writings probably on the wall).
All in all, Primeau was a good character guy, locker room guy, but maybe this gives room for Brad Boyes to step in on the third line. It might not be the case, as they traditionally have used it in a checking role. But they need to get Boyes going and this might free up that chance to get him the
I really doubt that this deal is an upgrade for the Flames' lineup. Kobasew is gone - okay, but I would not have traded Ference away. Zyuzin maybe, but not Ference...
One last thing (sorry for the length) this move frees up 1.6 million in total for the B's in direct salary comparison. Im wondering if perhaps (I know it sounds crazy) Chiarelli might look to add another defensman soon. He jettisoned Jurcina as well.
Its a heck of a longshot but I wouldnt be surprised if they tried to make a run for the playoffs. Theyve played better lately (winning 3 of last 4) and it would be devestating in an already dwindling original six market to miss the playoffs again. And keep in mind they have three games in hand on most of the teams ahead of them (four on Carolina I think).
Regardless, a heck of a deal by Chiarelli for the present and the future. He did the best he could out of this situation.
I think most Bruins fans should realize that this is a different GM than the one that traded Thornton. We must, alas, let him go.
And I honestly don't think many of the legitimate rumours about B-Stu were any better than this. Sure, there was talk of the Oilers giving up Torres and a defenseman and possibly (gasp!) draft pick. But that was a pipe dream. Stuart is an unrestricted free agent that is likely going to sign in LA in the off-season so nobody will give that much up and have him walk, just as the Bruins couldn't afford to let him walk for no return. Keep that in mind.
I agree that you cannot hold Chiarelli accountable for the Thornton trade, however this trade is salary dump plan and simple. This trade weakens an already unstable defense by adding another #4-6 guy and removing a legitimate #2. While Stuart was not playing well, the trade talk has more than likely affected his play, and my guess is despite what Chiarelli has stated in the media, there were never any real attempts to sign him.
Kobesew is yet another attempt by the Boston organization to drum up interest in this team by trading for a Boston area college player. Kobesaw is at best another 3rd line player on a team with at least 7 third line players to begin with.
In listening to the press conference last night, It does not take a genius to realize Sturm should be packing his stuff too. My guess is Chiarelli will use that Harvard degree of his to land another "energy guy" who has a little "sandpaper" and "grit" to his game. Hey Pete, how about someone who can score some goals or heaven forbid, stop them.
I seriously doubt Chiarelli got the best return possible here. Ference is a 5-6 D-man. Kobasew is not a proven talent yet, and "untapped potential" is not a phrase that will endear most Bruins fans to Kobasew or to this trade.
I've heard Lou Lam offered up David Hale, Barry Tallackson and Rod Pelley for Stuart alone. They might not be household names, but certainly represent a far better return that the one Boston accepted from the Flames. If that rumour was true, then Chiarelli could certainly have done better, even considering the teams are Conference rivals.
Last edited by DevilMax on February 11th at 7:19 AM.
According to Pierre Lebrun of the Canadian Press, a highly esteemed hockey writer, Brad Stuart basically told management that he wasn't going to be returning. If that is the case, and I dont doubt that it is, ya cant say that the guy didnt do well with the return. The B's need depth on defense, and they werent going to get a #2 guy, plain and simple. Perhaps they can sign one in the off-season, but it just wasnt realistic to think they could have done that well. I think people might be underestimating Ference here, and the fact that he has three years on his contract.
Kobasew is a twenty goal scorer who might score more in the future.
Think of nothing (which is what they would have after this season if they didnt trade Stuart and Primeau)and now think o####ood number four defenseman (I guarentee you that hes at least that good) and a twenty goal winger locked up for multiple years.
How can you possibly argue with that? And if people think it means throwing in the towel this year theyre wrong. Those guys werent getting it done for them and its no good to have people in the dressing room who arent committed to staying around either.
Whether or not the devils did offer that: Tallackson is even less proven than Kobasew and only a year younger, and Pelley doesnt sound like more than a spare part.
Keep in mind he likely didnt want to deal Stuart to an eastern conference team.
As much as I hate too, I have to disagree with Spector that Kobasew "shows a promising scoring touch". There have been hopes in Calgary that he would be the second coming of Brett Hull, but with his hands like rocks and pop-gun shot, Chuckie has fallen far short of expectations. His four goals in 40 games attest to that. However, he is a really fast skater. Taken together with his fearlessness and second-to-none character, he has turned out to be an important defensive player this season. As Scotty Bowman once said about Sergei Fedorov: "he does a lot of good things that doesn't show up on the scoreboard." Kobasew's energy, if not his scoring ability, will be sorely missed in Calgary. Likewise, Boston should be glad to have him.
Also, to disagree with Stevo808, I for one will not miss Andrew Ference. It is hardly no surprise that Sutter has traded both Jordan Leopold and Ference, as those two were the ones who had a tough time handling the physical aspects during the 2004 cup run. They have been replaced, in turn, by Dion Phaneuf, Roman Hamrlik, and now, Stuart -- defencemen who are all better equipped to protect Miikka Kiprusoff, and all of whom are more skilled than Ference.
Still, Stuart will have to live up to his potential if he is to convince me that giving up Chuck Kobasew was worth the bother. He better, or this will turn out to be a bad deal for the Flames.
Kobasew has scored 20 goals once. in 03-4 he potted 6 and this year he is on pace for 7 goals.
Hopefully, some of the other rumors are true and Mara will be shipped out. That guy is a slug. No way he is worth $3 million/year. Dump his salary, too.
Kobasew a 20 goal scorer???? well maybe, if you ad a few years up.....I honestly think calgary got a steal here, there could have been a bidding war if edmonton were to through their hat in the mix. If i was in boston, I would have just shoped him around and said "this is what they are offering, what do you got" Now that might have been the case, but I doubt it, Stuart comes as a good addition to any team PERIOD. Ferrance was good to have around, but its the same as Mcclenana, good to have on the team, but not a good player. Fact of the matter is we got 2 solid players in Primeau and Stuart. Just like Huselius, these players might just need to be in the right system to accel. Primeau will bring his face off skills and size up front with an added scoring touch, and Stuart...well he's Brad freakn' Stuart. I honestly think they will both resign with the flames if they do well. Darryl loves the guys who played for him in SJ and for him to go out after them, he must see something in them he likes.
Boston could have gottne more for these 2 players, instead they got what SlowBrewin said "another 3rd line player on a team with at least 7 third line players to begin with". I think the B's are done this seasn and really need to re-do their whole team next season. If the flames cut some of their lagging salary (zyuzin and friesen) they should be able to keep the core of this team and make some additions.
I would like you to consider why people think this was not a good deal. Compair the actual trade to the offer from NJ.
Ference vs. Hale- both 3-4 defensemen. Advantage Hale a disciplined stay at home dman from NJ waiting to make a name for himself.
Kobasew vs. Tallackson- Both young unproven players with "potential". Advantage Kobasew for actual NHL experience.
Nobody vs. Pelley- This spare part as you call him is exactly what every rumor said the B's wanted, an energy forward. Solid defensivly and good on the pk. Advantage Pelley.(duh)
Add to this the fact that Devils were only asking for Stuart, leaving Primeau for other potential trades. That would be why people on the message boards are trashing Chiarelli, because he deserves it.
Ference was definitely the best d-man, perhaps the best player in Calgary's short-lived playoff run last year...
Kobasew played on Boston College's 2001 NCAA championship team. He is stoked to be in Boston!
I am not so sure Calgary wins... Stuart has not been very impressive and I am not sure Primeau will fit in, on a team that now for the first time in a long time has strength at centre (Langkow, Conroy, Lombardi, Yelle, Ritchie)
Maybe Sutter has something additional in mind? A stalwart defenseman for Nagy or Prucha????
I see what your saying. However, the devils trade is speculation. Also, Pelley is not a regular NHL player. He's basically the equivalent of Bruins recent callup Jeremy Reich, who has been doing a decent job in his role so far.
I dont have to add the years up for Kobasew. He scored 20 goals last year. This season he hasnt done as well certainly, but he has been injured for a bit. Like I said, hes a wild card, but I think he will be a good third line contributor (to replace Primeau) at the very least.
And yeah, ference for Stuart isnt a good player for player swap, but this is the sort of return you get for rental players. Thats just the way it is. The oilers werent going to give the Bruins a good top four defenseman because they are looking for more defensemen (they dont have a lot of depth). The flames do have that depth, and so the Bruins were able to get what they wanted, a good defenseman who will be a solid contributor to their blueline for three years.
The flames fan must be forgetting the hype Ference was getting during the cup run. I remember people were wondering how the heck the Penguins let the guy slip away for nothing. He was a big contributor for the flames then and maybe his playing time has slipped and he hasnt been doing as well. But i think he will be good in boston, he'll play a bigger role.
It would be foolish to say the Bruins 'won' this trade. I didnt suggest that at all. Never in rental deals can anybody giving up the player 'win'. Otherwise there'd be no point in the person acquiring the rental player to get him in the first place.
To say that Ferrance was the best dman on calgary in last years playoffs would be a bit of a stretch...He played well, but all in all, he wasn't one of our best. As for Kobasew being happy to be in Boston, well of course he's going to say that, not too many people (and no one in his position) would reject a team who picked them up! But being happy and being able to play well are two different things. I'd be happy to play in Calgary, but I'd still stink it up out there! And as for being solid up the middle, for sure we are, but most of those guys can play the wing just as well. If we were going to trade another dman, I don't see him going after a european, maybe another gritty scorer like as I mentioned before, Tucker, or Doan (I wish!) or York or even Andrew Ladd. They are and always will be a "lunch box" team, they show up, play hard and do what has to get done....I'm going to have to disagree with anyone who says Calgary didn't win this trade. If Boston trades Boyes, that'll really show what kind of GM they have.
You are right about Pelley not being a regular on the devils roster. However he is a player ready for the NHL and there is no spot on NJ's roster for him. He belongs on a defensive checking line and that line for the devils is full. He was brought up to showcase his ability and played on the pk in his very first NHL game. I would say that shows the confidence they had in his ability to play at the NHL level.
I believe the deal was more than speculation. However in my opinion the dev's don't need another defenceman. They are already struggling to find room for Matvichuk's salary.
Spector,
As a Canuck fan living in Banff, and a Hockey Guide who gets to watch the Flames regularly, this trade is amazing for the Flames. I`ve seen 15 games since the New year and Stuart is major upgrade over Ference, while Primeau is the type gritty player Sutter enjoys having for the playoffs, especially if Yelle were to get hurt again. They gave up Kobasew who seems to have been replaced by David Moss, while Dustin Boyd is ready for prime time too. It seems like a win/win. Boston gets young legs, under contract for a few seasons and Kobasew could thrive playing with Bergeron, Savard or Kessel.
Stuart will have a tough choice if the Flames try to re-sign him, he is an Alberta boy and Sutter seems to like him too, this is regarding all the folks claiming he`s back to San Jose in the summer.
Sutter sure seems to understand this new CBA and what it takes to make lineup changes without messing up too much depth.
I hope this shows Nonis in Vancouver he needs to do something, the unfortunate thing is he doesn`t have the depth to swing a deal like this. He`ll have to be more creative Bulis/Salo to Tampa for Sambel(college) and Alexeev then pick up Babchuck from Carolina for a 4th rounder or less (i hope anyway). The we could send Morrison & Burrows and a pick to Chicago for Smolinski and Lapointe. We could also try and pick up Modin from Columbus if the asking price isn`t too high. Hey its all wishful thinking, and jealous thoughts of the hated rival Flames who keep picking up peices that seem to make them stronger.
Burf in Banff AB
After getting past the double depression of this news item -- Stuart ain't coming to Edmonton's rescue and instead he's going to the hated Flames -- this should be a good deal for both Calgary and Boston.
The best blueline in the NHL gets a little bit better and Calgary even gets a little more help up front to boot. Boston gets a pair of solid young players who can step into the line-up straightaway and frees up some free agent dollars for the summer.
Now, does this deal vault Calgary into the rare air of Anaheim, San Jose and Nashville? Not quite. But it moves them a little closer.
The Bruins lost this deal. What did they get in return? Kobasew is another Donovan except younger and comes at a higher price tag. And Ference is, well, I said my piece on him.
I wish I could be as optimistic as some others, but this was a horrible deal. Lord willing Chiarelli and Lewis will not be around long enough to do any more damage this franchise.
I had the Flames as big contenders at the start of the season, they picked up Conroy, again, and now this. The Calgary Flames will be the team that comes out of the West. Darryl Sutter is a wicked GM and only he could have pulled off such moves. I see the Flyers coming out of the east...Go Flyers Go :)
Hey-Boston gets younger, gets players under contract, and saves cap space. They gave up 2 guys that weren't going to stay! I'd call this trade win/win for both teams.
Slow Brewin-I think yopur negativity is unjustified. Your owner spent 12 million dollars on 2 of the big-name free agents of last year and yor new GM just got roster players in return for players that you were going to lose for nothing! How is that "damaging" the franchise? Did you ever stop and think that some of the reason for not being able to attract free-agent interest is because the Boston fans are so negative? I mean, Chara knew he would be captain and he might be worth the money, but, as good as Savard is, no other team was going to come close to 5 million per for him. I grew up in Methuen MA and followed the Bruins for many years. I can tell you taht Brian Leetch and Alex Zhamnov weren't their first choices for free agents a few years back. They had to overpay for marginal talent becauce NOBODY WANTS TO PLAY FOR SUCH NEGATIVE "POOR ME" FANS!!!!Why do you think Forsberg and Modano said "no thanks".
I'll second hockeyhick. As far as Im concerned, the moves Chiarelli has made have been a vast improvement to the product he inherited. In all fairness to him, he took over what was in many ways a broken franchise. I expected them to be better than they were this year, but I also realize that he is still molding the team. They are right up against the cap, theyre spending and they do want to improve this team.
P.S. if thornton were still there they wouldnt have had the money to get savard (savard and he are neck and neck in the scoring race by the way, and dont tell me thornton brings other aspects to his game that savard doesnt, because he stopped playing physically after a few years and was never a good leader). And if you watched the bruins at all the year he was traded, the guy simply wasnt getting it done for them. Im not saying it was a good trade in itself, but i am saying that thornton would never have brought winning ways to the team. Basically, we need to get over Thornton and it honestly shouldnt be that difficult.
ok, I think some of you fans out there don't get it...Stuart and Primeau would have walked away as free agents, theres no debating they didn't want to play for that team. All I'm saying, and I'm sure others are saying this too, is that Boston could have gotten more from another team. You are looking at it in a sense that this was your only deal possible, IT WASN'T!!!!!!!! As noted earlier, NJ made a better offer for just Stuart. I'm pretty sure Edmonton would have offered a dman they could spare and a "gritty forward" that they seem to have many of. Boston would have gotten something in return for Stuart no matter what, they knew he was going to walk as a free agent and they knew they had to trade him. All we are saying is that they could have gotten substancially more then Ferrance and Kobasew. As a flames fan, I'm glad that Bostons GM was....how shall I say this..."not smart enough" to get more for Stuart because now he's on a great team that is going to go places and hopefully he'll resign there.
Bottom line is, Boston would have gotten something for both Stuart and Primeau from any team looking for a great defenceman and a checking forward. They just didn't get much.
Thats why Darryl Sutter will be remembered as a great GM and Peter Chiarelli will be remembered as....well lets face it, he probably won't be.
nah man, the oilers wouldnt have given up a d-man of Ference's quality who had that long term lined up, and they definitly wouldnt have given up both a forward worth having and a defensman for a guy thats going to be gone in a few months. I guarentee that. The New Jersey offer was the only one in question. But like I said, they didnt want to trade him in conference. They have a couple more games against New Jersey, so there's no point in helping an opponent out. And again, we dont know that was an offer anyway, and I question whether it was any better, I really do. Its also very possible New Jersey couldnt swing the deal because they couldnt fit him under the cap. They may have wanted the B's to take on salary so that they could make the deal. Perhaps Lou wasnt savvy enough to make Chiarelli bite on this one.
I think you guys might be oversimplifying the business of trading, where cap considerations, etc. have to taken into account.
The big thing here is that Sutter had a lot to work with. He was able to give the B's what they wanted.
I guess we're both hearing each other, but we differ in two areas: First in our estimation of the worth of Ference and Kobasew.
Second in our estimation of the strength of a rental player as an asset. There is no definite indication that the flames are going to be able to keep this guy. The reason why he wasnt worth as much as might have been otherwise is because it is highly possible he could be signed by any of the 28 other teams in the league, and a good chance that it'll be LA. Theyve certainly freed up the salary for such move
There's no way you can say the B's could've absolutely gotten a better deal. If you've read anything in the days leading up to this deal you would realize that the B's had to settle for what they got. The Devils package for Stuart was A nothing special a B they didn't have much cap room to support taking on Stuart so it was a mere pipe dream. Also, yes Edmonton may have had parts, but the best they could've gotten was probably Marc Andre Bergeron and Raffi Torres, which you could probably argue is better, but I doubt they could've even got that. If you haven't noticed lately the Bruins have a lot of people who can't score lately, Bergeron had been in a slump, Sturm was, Boyes, Axelsson, just to name a few (wow that's like all their top line players). Glen Murray, their leading scorer is also ailing, what it seems like the Bruins might be thinking is hey we need some guys who are just downright scorers. So they brought in Bochenski and that's paid off so far and I see the same with Kobasew as another guy who supposedly is a scorer. Ference is obviously no Brad Stuart, but Kobasew sounds like quite an upgrade from Primeau and Ference is really a pretty solid defenseman. Not to mention the B's got some guys with contracts and cut some cap. I say what more can you really ask for??? Good deal by Chiarelli and the Flames don't leave empty handed at all either.
By the way the next move for Chiarelli is to find a way to get a defenseman maybe packaged with a forward for Sturm because Jason York is god awful, case closed.
Just a thought: (maybe a bad idea in conference) sturm to the canes for one of their many D (hutchinson, babchuk, kaberle) and a young forward
Last edited by mace2797 on February 11th at 3:57 PM.
Calgary gets even more impressive and deep on the blue line, but is it me, or did Calgary need a scoring winger instead? They have been solid all year defensively, yet have lacked decent scoring outside of Iginla and Tan####. If the Flames expect to get far in the playoffs, a more balenced offensive threat is absolutely necessary.
Do you delete every post you don't agree with?
Jacobs is a money grubber deleting my comments will not change that,or the fact that the Bruins are the laughing stock of the NHL
Your previous post was deleted because it was deliberately antagonistic. I have no problem with your second remark. Feel free to post your opinion as long as it's done in a respectful manner. Childish schoolyard taunts won't be tolerated. Cheers.
well done Spector, grit and panache, just like ole #4 Bobby Orr.
I must say I am become a bit nervous about the trade deadline this year. It looks to me like we may not see many trades this year, and the players that do move may be pricey, as most teams may think they are in the hunt up until the last. I guess this is one aspect of the shootout I dont think anyone forsaw. Still, anytime a d-man moves and the Bolts arent involved it makes me cringe a little.
Hey boltsfan, don't worry rumor has it now that Paul Mara's name is hot on the rumor mill and it's almost a lock to see Sturm leave soon too unless he gets resigned between now and the deadline.
I'm not sure if anyone saw how Stuart and Primeau's first game turned out in Calgary earlier tonight. Calgary got lit up by Detroit and one of the goals Jamie McLennan threw his arms up in dismay as he seemed angry at Stuart for screening him while trying (and not succeeding) to block a shot. I'm sure the trade will work out in the long run tho.
Good post here, Spector; I think this move makes the Flames a serious threat in the playoff chase, although it did not do much good for them today; anyway, what do you think the Avalanche will do now that they are 10 points off the pace? Do they just cut ties with Theo the Zero and release him? I don't see any team wanting to take him and his salary.
I would like to think that they make a final push and try to pick up some experience players in an attempt to nail down that final 8 spot - maybe get Peter Forsberg back in the fold - that may be an unlikely situation since I am sure, if traded, Forsberg would like to go to a team with a shot at winning the cup. What do you think?
hockeyhick, Do you really think that Forsberg and Modano didn't come to Boston because of the fans?
I think the more likely reason is that they did not want to be stuck in an organization who's ownership has been quoted saying that winning a championship is not their first priority.
The Boston Bruins will NEVER win another champion ship under the current ownership. This organization has not put a legitmate hockey team on the ice in nearly twenty years. during this period Jeremy Jacobs has charged among the highest ticket and concession prices in the league. About the only thing you can say negative about the few remaining Bruins fans is that thier not very paticular about what they spend thier entertainment dollar on.
Last edited by 54fulltiltfulltime on February 12th at 5:15 AM.
54 you're right on target. after the thornton trade, sinden, a jacob's bros lackey, called thornton a competent player. competent? he was mvp. all they got for him was a bag of pucks and gump worsley's goalie mask.
To all the people saying that the B's were gonna lose Stuart and Primeau for nothing, you obviously can't read. Perhaps you can read and just can't comprehend what is being said.
At no time has anyone on this post said that the B's should have tried to keep these two players. Everyone knew they would be traded. The problem is they didn't get the value from this trade that they needed.
The second argument about dumping salary and having players signed is rediculous as well. If they wanted to dump salary they should have tried for draft picks. As far as having players signed well I guess you can be happy to have another 3-4 dman and another 3rd liner signed for a few years.
Bostons fans should be calling for Chiarelli's head. This is possibly one of the worst trades I've seen in all my years of watching hockey.
HockeyHick,
It's not negativity, it's pessimism. For 30+ years I have watched this team just get by. And heaven help me I'll still watch every game and root for them. However, if a change is going to be made...make it. Chiarelli needs make up his mind and decide whether he is rebuilding or going to build a team via free agency. This trade did neither, just added more warm bodies that are under contract.
And in your response you made my point, Chiarelli got roster players. This team is full of roster players. In fact, short of a few it is a team built of roster players. Career 3rd and 4th liners, has beens, never beens and wanna bs'.
Yes, Chiarelli went and spent big this summer, which was part of the problem. He said in his press conference on Saturday that he knew when he took this job that he was going to have to deal with signing these three players. So, why go and spend $12 million on two players when you know you are going have to shell out for these three pending UFAs? Unless you knew you were not going to sign them a long time ago. Chiarelli planned poorly. The Chara signing was an attempt to get bodies in the seats. And while Savard has been a pleasant surprise, he should not have commanded $5 million.
And to say it was the negative fans that kept Modano and Forsberg from coming to Boston.. Right it had nothing to do with an organization with a well documented history of low-balling players, drawing out contract talks and not putting a championship caliber team on the ice. I might have been born in the morning, but it wasn't yesterday morning.
Haven't put a legitimate team together in 20 years?? 2 cup final appearances in the past 20 and 2 division titles in the past 5 and they haven't iced a legitimate team? I'll be the first to admit that Jacobs/Sinden/OConnell have made some awful decisions and the current product is in need of some serious improvement, but I can't stand when Bruins "fans" are so bloody whiney.
As for the trade, face the facts. Edmonton wanted Stuart but weren't willing to part with decent roster players (Torres) + pick/prospect for a UFA who'd walk. The NJ package wasn't nearly as attractive as Calgary's. Hale/Ference is pretty much a wash ... I'll give the edge to Ference as Hale's apparent upside could easily be a factor of the Devils defensive system. Tallackson = 4th line bruiser and Pelley is projected by hockeysfuture.com as a 4.5 C (translates to "questionable if he'll even make it in the minors"). I'll take Kobasew in a heartbeat.
Aaron
- Note that for some reason my screen name doesnt show up either, not the same person from above with no screen name ... although I do agree with pretty much everything he/she's said
Why is everybody so sure that the Flames won this trade? Let's not talk about the B's, but what did Calgary get? Stuart has stated very firmly and clearly that he (and his WIFE especially - remember Pronger???) wants to move to California in the summer and Primeau is also an UFA in July. The Flames can easily end up watching both of them walk away after the season and in that case they traded Ference and Kobashew for... well... nothing. In my book it's a good deal for the Flames ONLY if Stuart helps them win the Stanley Cup this year because he is sure to leave in the summer. So please wait until July before praising Darryl Sutter for making this deal.
Cheers Aaron, Im in total agreement. And yeah, Ive been trying to figure the name thing out too. (my name's, coincidentally, Stuart)
Hockeyfan30: Apparently youre the expert. Media people have praised the deal though. Spector said it was a good deal.
I am not misinterpreting your argument. I know youre not saying they should have kept the players, what I am saying is that you are overestimating the value of Brad Stuart on the market. The argument of cap space releif is merely an addition to my argument that it was a good deal. I liked the players they got, and I like that they added space. I bet Jerseys deal wasnt realistic for New Jersey (they didnt have the cap sace to add Stuart) and Craig MacTavish is on record today (see trade rumours section) saying he thought the Bruins were asking for too much. I think your arguments are ridiculous and its insane to be saying things like 'they should have Chiarelli's head for this', or 'this is one of the worst deals ive ever seen'.
And SlowBrewin: I can guarentee you that what Stuart goes for on the market (probably about five million) he wont be worth. Meanwhile, Savard has proved his worth and then some. He's been their best player and has been a glue guy in the locker room. He will likely end up in the top three in scoring (he is tied for third in ppg ratio) As for Chara it was a good signing. They do need to add more D to compliment him though. And they will try to do that. But right now, Stuart just wasnt worth what he is asking, and its very possible he simply didnt want to live in Boston (his wife's from California
It will be interesting to see what other UFA d-men fetch now. Brewer is the one who comes to mind, but St Louis is apparently trying to re-sign him. That will be the real test of if this was a good deal or not since its the first move for this type of player.
While I am not an expert and never claimed to be, I do have a right to my opinion. The only thing I will put up in my defense is that all the major news organizations said Stuart was the best dman on the trading block. If that was the case, then with all the teams that were looking for defensive help, Boston could have done better. I feel Chiarelli was impatient and that a better deal almost certainly would have come by the deadline. I won't go back on my statements because I do feel this was a bad trade that doesn't help the B's now nor will it in the future. Maybe time will prove me wrong but I doubt it.
Gatto75,
Calgary gets a draft pick if Stuart walks as an UFA. So not only did they get the rental players but insurance for if/when they walk. I would say that makes them the winner.
Last edited by hockeyfan30 on February 12th at 9:24 AM.
How do you know other teams would've offered a better deal? Lowe came right out and said he wasn't willing to pay Chia's asking price. One would conclude that Chia wouldn't bend and the other offers he got weren't as good as the Calgary deal. You are entitled to your opinion for sure but there is no indication from any source that any other teams were willing to give up more.
I'm Lyle Richardson, also known as Spector, Foxsports.com 's "Prince of Pucks".,which is based on the fact I live in Prince Edward Island, Canada and I couldn't think of a better byline. I've been an NHL hockey commentator since 1998 on my website, Spector's Hockey, and I'm a contributing writer for Foxsports.com , The Hockey News and Eishockey News. I'm also a regular on The Faceoff Hockey Show and a frequent guest on "The Late Crew" on The Team 1200 Ottawa.
