Boston sends Sobotka to Providence Bruins
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September 2009 ArchivesSeptember 30
In a surprise move, Vladimir Sobota was sent to Providence by the Boston Bruins on Wednesday afternoon, according to Providence coach Rob Murray. Sobotka played very well late in training camp and all indications were that he had won a job as Boston's fourth-line center. Sobotka had 1-6-7 totals in 48 games in Boston in 2007-08. He had 1-4-5 totals in 25 games in Boston last season, but spent most of the year in Providence.
"He got caught in a tough situation,'' Murray said. "Another contracted player is coming down and the numbers don't gibe. (Pineault) did everything he could in camp. He played well." 
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By MARK DIVVER PROVIDENCE -- No cuts. No signings. No decisions. No changes. In other words, says Providence Bruins coach Rob Murray, it's "Groundhog Day.'' Though Wednesday at The Dunk was the much like Tuesday, there was one exception. Twenty-six players skated, instead of 27. Goalie Adam Courchaine took a sick day. "We're just waiting to see how a few things shake out,'' Murray said. "In the big picture, you want the answers yesterday, but . . . . there's no hurry.'' Among the issues that are still undecided: And while Murray said that he and assistant Bruce Cassidy will probably go to the game to get a look at the Falcons, they will probably travel in separate cars. Murray, who lives in South Kingstown, will take backroads through Connecticut. Cassidy, who lives in Providence, will head north to the Mass. Pike.
September 29
By MARK DIVVER PROVIDENCE -- Twenty-seven players strong -- 5 lines, 4 defense pairs and 4 goalies -- the Providence Bruins practiced at the Dunkin Donuts Center this morning for the first time this season. Coach Rob Murray worked his players for a total of about 90 minutes, with a short break in the middle while ice was made. As of shortly after noon, Murray had not heard from Boston on any personnel changes or contract negotiations with unsigned players.
wrote, 5 lines, 4 defense pairs and 4 goalies... Read the rest, write another... September 28
By MARK DIVVER Just six days before Sunday's season-opener against Springfield, the Providence Bruins roster is still a work in progress. Free-agent forwards Adam Pineault, Jimmy Fraser and Brett Clouthier are being offered 25-game tryouts, coach Rob Murray said. "I like what he brings as far as scoring ability,'' Murray said of Pineault, who played for Syracuse and Rockford of the AHL last season. Fraser, a Harvard co-captain last season, is a gritty center. Clouthier, who had four fights in the exhibition season, brings toughness. The Bruins released forwards Jason Lawrence and T.J. Fox and sent defenseman/forward Scott Fletcher and defenseman Jared Ross to Reading of the East Coast Hockey League on Monday. That leaves 27 players in camp -- 15 forwards, 8 defensemen and 4 goalies. Unsigned draft picks Alain Goulet, a defenseman, and forward Lane MacDermid are also without contracts, so where they start the season remains to be determined. Free-agent defenseman Mike Stuart, older brother of Boston's Mark Stuart, has not been offered either a PTO or a contract, but remains in camp. The roster: Forwards -- Brad Marchand, Zach Hamill, Drew Larman, Guillaume Lefebvre, Trent Whitfield, Jamie Arniel, Matt Marquardt, Jordan Knackstedt, Mikko Lehtonen, Jeff LoVecchio, Kirk MacDonald, Adam Pineault, Jimmy Fraser, Brett Clouthier, Lane MacDermid Defensemen -- Andrew Bodnarchuk, Jeff Penner, Drew Fata, Andy Wozniewski, Rob Kwiet, Adam McQuaid, Mike Stuart, Alain Goulet Goalies -- Dany Sabourin, Kevin Regan, Matt Dalton, Adam Courchaine
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The six players waived by the Boston Bruins for assignment to Providence went unclaimed by the noon deadline. Drew Fata, Drew Larman, Lefebvre, Dany Sabourin, Trent Whitfield and Andy Wozniewski worked out off the ice at the Dunkin Donuts Center while waiting to hear if they'd been claimed, said Providence coach Rob Murray. They will practice on the ice with the team on Tuesday.
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BOSTON (AP) -- The Boston Bruins are honoring late play-by-play announcer Fred Cusick by naming the home TV broadcast booth at the TD Garden in his honor. The "Fred Cusick Broadcast Booth" will be dedicated during the second period of the Bruins game Saturday against the Carolina Hurricanes. The club will also install a silver microphone in a black and gold frame on a facade beneath the broadcast booth -- similar to a microphone that exists in honor of former Boston Celtics broadcaster, Johnny Most. Cusick began his career with radio broadcasts of the Bruins in 1952. He moved to television in 1971 and retired from calling games in 1997. He died Sept. 15 at age 90 after battling cancer.
The Providence Bruins opening night lineup just got a lot stronger. Zach Hamill and Brad Marchand were assigned to Providence by Boston this morning. Providence's opener is Sunday at 4 p.m against Springfield at The Dunk.
September 27
The Providence Bruins cut five players after Saturday night's 5-1 loss in Springfield in the final exhibition game. Released were Tyson Marsh, Nick Tuzzolino, J.F. Boucher, Danick Bouchard and Chris Stevens, according to coach Rob Murray. Marsh and Tuzzolino are headed to Alaska of the East Coast Hockey League, while Boucher, Bouchard and Stevens will join Reading of the ECHL. Earlier on Saturday, the Boston Bruins promoted Don Sweeney to assistant general manager and trimmed their roster to 24. Forwards still in Boston from last year's P-Bruins team are Vladimir Sobotka, Brad Marchand and Zach Hamill. As expected, Tuukka Rask won the backup goalie job and Johnny Boychuk is the seventh defenseman. Boston waived six players for the purpose of assignment to Providence: Drew Fata, Drew Larman, Lefebvre, Dany Sabourin, Trent Whitfield and Andy Wozniewski. If they are not claimed by another NHL team by midday Monday, they will report to Providence. Mikko Lehtonen, Jeff LoVecchio, Adam McQuaid and Kirk MacDonald also were sent to Providence. Providence will make additional cuts on Monday, Murray said. Here's how Providence's roster shapes up as of Sunday morning: Providence players under contract: Forwards -- Jamie Arniel, Matt Marquardt, Jordan Knackstedt, Mikko Lehtonen, Jeff LoVecchio, Kirk MacDonald. Defensemen -- Andrew Bodnarchuk, Jeff Penner, Rob Kwiet, Adam McQuaid. Going through waivers: Drew Fata (D), Drew Larman (F), Guillaume Lefebvre (F), Dany Sabourin (G), Trent Whitfield (F) and Andy Wozniewski (D). The following free agents are still in Providence's camp: Adam Pineault, Jimmy Fraser, Brett Clouthier, T.J. Fox, Jason Lawrence, Scott Fletcher, Jared Ross, Mike Stuart and Brian McGuirk (injured). Unsigned draft picks in Providence: Alain Goulet, Lane MacDermid.
September 25
By MARK DIVVER NORTH SMITHFIELD -- Former Boston University winger Brian McGuirk's quest to win a job with the Providence Bruins out of training camp ended on a check by a former Hockey East rival early in Thursday night's 2-1 shootout win over the Lowell Devils. McGuirk suffered a high ankle sprain when he was hit by ex-UNH defenseman Chris Murray midway through the first period, said Providence coach Rob Murray. "He might be out awhile. He got hit real hard,'' Rob Murray said. "A guy stepped up on him. Good hit. Clean hit. It was a suicide pass. . . . It was a decent hit. (McGuirk) just twisted his ankle.'' Providence's Brett Clouthier went after Chris Murray after the hit and the two drew five-minute fighting majors. The timing of the injury couldn't be worse for McGuirk, who came to camp on a tryout after playing for Syracuse last season. McGuirk had played well all week. "It's unfortunate because we liked him,'' Rob Murray said. Of Dalton, who led Bemidji State to the Frozen Four last spring, Murray said: "He had a hell of a game. He's engaged in the game. He's on his toes. He gets out, he gets pucks. Does a good job. He played very well.'' Footage of Clouthier's bout with Riley Emmerson of Springfield is up on YouTube. Thanks to reader Matt Stopa for sending along the link Thankfully, all is forgiven between the two, though not forgotten. "He's my roommate in the hotel, and we joked around about (their fights),'' said Fletcher. "You know, we were on rival teams and we both knew that. We're on the same team now and we're really good buddies now.'' MacDermid also fought Clouthier's younger brother, Andrew.
"He's raw. That's what's intriguing the organization and people in general about him. He shoots the puck well, passes like a man. You know, you don't have to tell him. He snaps that thing. No soft passes with him, almost to a fault sometimes. He needs to put a little more of a touch to it. "The skill level, the skating, he's maybe not the prettiest skater but he gets around OK. His first couple of steps backwards has to improve. He's one of these guys who's probably a long way away from the NHL right now, but he's a guy who's got size, offensive ability -- sees the offensive side of the game very well. There's a lot of things to intrigue you about him. "Basically, right now, he just has got to get better in all areas and play at this level. He's got to learn what he can and can't get away with. What he probably got away with in college or junior, he can't do that here. It's going to be a learning experience here. The tools are there, it's just a matter of shaping the right way and hopefully you end up with a player. "He's probably a guy you might see spend some time down in Reading just because the ice time he'll get there he wouldn't see up here. If our defense corps shapes up the way I expect it to, he'd be on the outside looking in right now . . . . "At the end of the day, he needs to play. He might be a guy who ends up going down and playing some games in Reading and kind of get his feet wet that way. Still too early to tell where he's going to fit into the whole thing.''
Read the rest, write another... September 24
NORTH SMITHFIELD -- Just back from Boston, Jamie Arniel and Andrew Bodnarchuk will be in the lineup tonight when the Providence Bruins play the Lowell Devils at Iorio Arena in Walpole. Sitting out tonight will be Jeff Penner, Rob Kwiet, Matt Marquardt, Scott Fletcher and Kevin Regan, according to coach Rob Murray. Arniel, Bodnarchuk, Penner and Regan were sent down by Boston on Wednesday. Regan will get the start in Springfield on Saturday night in the P-Bruins final exhibition game, Murray said. The former UNH star, who underwent surgery for a hip-flexor problem during the summer, appears to be ahead of schedule on his rehab. "He's cleared with the doctors and he's cleared with the training staff in Boston,'' Murray said. CUTS COMING? With Boston playing three games in three nights starting tonight, no reinforcements are expected for a few days. "I don't think we'll get anybody until after Saturday night,'' Murray said. "A lot of guys we're trying to get looks at showed well last night,'' he said. Pineault, Kwiet and Alain Goulet had the goals. "I played a third-, fourth-line role last year,'' McGuirk, 22, said on Thursday morning. "Energy guy, checking line guy, which has been my game for awhile. It wasn't a great year, last year, but it was a good learning experience, my first year as a pro. I learned what it takes to play at this level and what it takes to play at the next level.''
September 23
By MARK DIVVER NORTH SMITHFIELD -- Phil Kessel. Patrick Kane. Eric Johnson. Jack Johnson. Peter Mueller. All are Americans. All were high draft picks. All are expected to be NHL and international superstars for years to come. But when this collection of America's best and brightest young players were together in the U.S. National Team Development Program, they looked to Jimmy Fraser for leadership. Fraser, who is trying out with the Providence Bruins, was captain of the U-17 and U-18 teams. "It was really an honor to play with those guys and to be elected captain was the best achievement of my life,'' Fraser said Wednesday morning. "That was a great group of guys. Still keep in touch with most of them, and a lot of them have gone on to have successful NHL careers. It was a pretty special time.'' At 5'11'', 185 pounds, Fraser doesn't have great size. And with 15-39-54 totals in 108 career games at Harvard, he doesn't have a scorer's pedigree. What Fraser brings to a team, he says, is "a little bit of everything.'' "I've always prided my self on being a defensive forward, taking care of my own zone first. And the last couple of years at Harvard I've tried to develop a little more offensive skill. Teddy Donato did a great job teaching me all aspects of the game. I've always been an all-around guy, so hopefully I can contribute at both ends of the ice,'' he said. A native of Port Huron, Mich., Fraser played in the powerhouse Honeybaked youth hockey organization from mite through bantam. He majored in psychology and government at Harvard. When asked about that unusual pairing of majors, Fraser smiled and said, "Who knows what's going to happen after hockey?'' P-Bruins coach Rob Murray said Fraser was one of the better players in Monday's practice, but the undrafted free agent faces an uphill climb to make the team. Providence should be strong at center, with Zach Hamill, Jamie Arniel, Drew Larman and Trent Whitfield projected to be in the lineup, though Hamill is having a strong camp with Boston. For now, Fraser said that he is not thinking too far ahead. "I'm just trying to concentrate on this right now and take care of the rest when it comes,'' he said. "I think he'll do well. He's the type of kid who just loves to play the game. Obviously there's a lot of pressure on him after signing a five-year contract and going to Toronto, the capital of the hockey world. I think he'll have a lot of pressure on him, but he's the type of guy, he won't even realize it at the time. He'll just play the game and contribute to the team. He's going to have a great career (in Toronto) and it's going to start as soon as he recovers from his shoulder surgery.''
Turns out Providence Bruins coach Rob Murray was right when he said this morning that he thought he might get some players back from Boston today. The parent club has sent goalie Kevin Regan, defensemen Jeff Penner and Andrew Bodnarchuk, and center Jamie Arniel to Providence. All played either all or part of last season in Providence. Regan is till rehabbing from hip surgery and won't be ready to start the season.
The Providence Bruins worked on special teams during a 40-minute skate at 146 Wednesday morning. The team will hop a bus to Marlboro this afternoon for tonight's preseason opener against Springfield. Coach Rob Murray said that Adam Courchaine will start in goal and play the entire game. Matt Dalton gets Thursday night's game against Lowell in Walpole. Tonight's lines and D pairings: Jimmy Fraser, Jordan Knackstedt and Adam Pineault Alain Goulet and Rob Kwiet J.F. Boucher is still sick and will not dress tonight.
September 22
By MARK DIVVER NORTH SMITHFIELD -- Lane MacDermid says that his first Bruins training camp has been a good experience so far. The youngest player in Providence's camp -- he turned 20 a month ago -- was unable to play in the rookie tournament in Kitchener, Ont., in the first week of September because of an ankle injury, but is healthy now. He's been skating on a line with free agents Brian McGuirk and Brett Clouthier, and coach Rob Murray has liked what he's seen of the trio in the first two days of camp. "That's a big, strong line,'' Murray said. MacDermid, a fourth-round draft pick in June, and his teammates will get their first taste of game action Wednesday night at 7 when Providence plays the Springfield Falcons in Marlboro, Mass. A 6'3'' 205-pound left wing, MacDermid is billed as a banging forward who is willing to fight. He had 15-20-35 totals with 197 penalty minutes in 64 games with Owen Sound and Windsor of the Ontario Hockey League last season. He is eligible to go back to the OHL if the front office decides he's not ready to play in Providence. MacDermid spent about a week in Boston's camp before being sent down. "The opportunity to play with the guys from the (Boston) Bruins, that was pretty neat, to see how they go about things at the rink,'' MacDermid said after Tuesday's practice. MacDermid mentioned Byron Bitz as a player that he would like to emulate. "He is a guy that works hard. He's the type of player I should look up to to make it to the next level,'' MacDermid said. Asked to pinpoint parts of his game that need improvement, MacDermid said he wants to be "more patient with the puck. Making the right plays.'' MacDermid's father, Paul, who played nearly 700 NHL games with Hartford, Washington, Winnipeg and Quebec, had some words of wisdom for his son while driving him from Ontario to Boston for camp. "He gave me a little bit of a lecture on the way down. He gave me some pointers on how I should go about myself, during the games, what I should watch for. He just gave me advice on how to be a pro, I guess,'' MacDermid said.
September 21
BOSTON -- The Boston Bruins announced Sunday that Adam Courchaine, Matt Dalton, Jordan Knackstedt and Matt Marquardt have been assigned to the Providence Bruins of the American Hockey League, who also are receiving Scott Fletcher and Rob Kwiet (who have been released from their tryout agreements with Boston) and Alain Goulet and Lane MacDermid (unsigned draft choices) from Boston's training camp. In other roster moves, Ryan Button, Jordan Caron, Michael Hutchinson and Tyler Randell are unsigned draft choices who are being returned to their respective junior clubs. The Bruins also released Chris DeSousa, Brad Good, Mark Isherwood, Jason Lawrence, Taylor MacDougall, Peter Stevens, Jason Wilson and Marc Zanetti from their rookie camp tryout agreements.
By MARK DIVVER NORTH SMITHFIELD -- A decade ago, Adam Pineault was the talk of New England youth hockey. Pineault -- who is trying to earn a contract in training camp with the Providence Bruins -- was the leading scorer for the '86 Minuteman Flames team that reached the semifinals of the world-famous annual international pee wee tournament in Quebec City. At 14, he was playing for the Boston Junior Bruins against players as old as 20. After a couple of seasons with the U.S. National Team Development Program, Pineault appeared to be on the fast track to stardom. Heading into his freshman year at Boston College, he was touted as a possible first- round pick in the 2004 NHL draft. But after scoring 4 goals in 29 games at BC, Pineault slipped to the middle of the second round as the Columbus Blue Jackets selected him with the 46th pick. Trying to get back on track, Pineault left BC to play for Moncton of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League. A 6'1'' 201- pound right wing, he helped Moncton reach the Memorial Cup in 2006 and was selected as a tournament all-star. Pineault turned pro in 2006, and though he has never blossomed into a prolific scorer, he has developed into a physical, two-way forward in the AHL. His best season was 2007-08 when he had 21-27-48 totals in 74 games with Syracuse, and earned a three-game NHL callup to Columbus. After two and one-half seasons in Syracuse, Pineault was traded to Chicago in January, and he finished the year with Rockford of the AHL. Now 23, Pineault is a free agent looking for a fresh start. A native of Holyoke, Mass., he is without a contract, but for now he's happy to be much closer to home. Pineault said that he had other offers but welcomed the opportunity to come to Providence when it was presented by his Warwick-based agent, Jerry Buckley. "When I heard the Bruins were involved, I jumped all over it as fast as I could,'' Pineault said Monday morning after skating for two hours on the first day of camp. Pineault described himself as a power forward. "I'm going to bring the more physical role. I'm going to definitely use my body often and stick up for my teammates, and hopefully put the puck in the net as much as I can,'' he said. Of his short stint in the NHL, Pineault said, "Like they say, it's something you'll never forget. So that memory kind of motivates me to get back there someday.'' Of the 21 players -- 12 forwards, 7 defenseman and 2 goalies -- in attendance Monday, only two skated a regular shift last season, Jordan Knackstedt and Matt Marquardt. Most of the players who will spend the winter in Providence are still up with the Boston Bruins. Coach Rob Murray said that Boston is keeping extra players for a stretch of four exhibition games in five nights this week. Murray said he has plenty of bodies for Providence's exhibition games, which start Wednesday night against Springfield in Marlboro, Mass. "We got enough to make a team down here, so I'm not concerned about it,'' he said. "There's going to be a few,'' said Murray. "I don't know whether it's going to be one, two or three, but something can come up all of a sudden. You look at Levi (Nelson). He's not going to be back until well after Christmas (broken collarbone suffered in Kitchener, Ont., rookie tournament), so there's a roster spot right there that maybe wasn't available two weeks ago. Things change real quick. . . . I really believe there's gonna be some spots open. It's not all cut and dried as far as contracts go.'' ****FIRST-DAY STANDOUTS: Murray said he was impressed by defenseman Tyson Marsh and forwards T.J. Fox and Jimmy Fraser on Monday. Last stop for Marsh, 25, was Alaska of the ECHL. Fox, 25, played in Worcester last year. Fraser, 22, was a Harvard co-captain last season.
Read the rest, write another... September 19
The Canadian Press Phil Kessel is excited about playing in hockey-mad Toronto. The 21-year-old forward met the media for the first time Saturday, a day after being acquired by the Maple Leafs for three draft picks. "Toronto is the best hockey city in the world, the fans are great and the Leafs are a first-class organization," said Kessel during a press conference at Air Canada Centre prior to Toronto's pre-season game with the Philadelphia Flyers. "They just know their hockey here in Toronto. I want to be a part of it and be a part of this organization." The Leafs sent their first-round picks in 2010 and 2011, plus a second-round pick in 2010 to the Bruins after Boston was unable to re-sign the speedy winger. After the trade, Kessel signed a $27-million (U.S.), five-year contract with Toronto. "Obviously there's going to be pressure, but I'm going to work as hard as I can and try to help get this team into the playoffs," said Kessel, who scored 36 goals in 70 games last season. "I want to be considered a great player in this league, and I'm going to work as hard as I can. I'm here to help this team win." Kessel isn't expected to play until November because of off-season shoulder surgery, but said his recovery is on schedule. "My shoulder is doing well," said the native of Madison, Wisc. "I started skating again about a week ago, and shooting the puck around, and it's been good. I'm going to check with the doctor (Sunday). It looks like a month or a month-and-a-half". Leafs GM Brian Burke added the Leafs have high hopes for their new sniper. "We look at the 36 goals he scored last year as a platform to what he can accomplish, not a peak," Burke said. "The way we play, it's like someone wrote a script that this is the team he'd want to be on." Earlier Saturday, Bruins general manager Peter Chiarelli said he did his best to keep Kessel. "This is not about frugality," Chiarelli said in Boston on Saturday. "There were some significant (contract) offers made." Chiarelli added Kessel told him in July he no longer wanted to play in Boston. The Bruins were less than $2 million under the salary cap and re-signing the restricted free agent would have required moving one or two players. Kessel disputes Chiarelli's claim he wanted out of Boston. "I never once asked to be traded," he said. "It became a mutual thing for both parties, it was time to move on." Chiarelli, who cited the trade request and "threat of an offer sheet" as the two reasons behind the trade, said Kessel had ``concerns" about his status with the Bruins. It is believed Kessel's problems with the team started when coach Claude Julien benched him for part of the first-round 2008 playoff series against Montreal. Julien was unhappy with Kessel's two-way play, something the coach said improved last season. "My first year here (2007-08) was really trying to convince him that we were really trying to make him a better player and that he needed to just understand that," Julien said on Saturday. "Obviously, he did because he scored 36 goals the next year (and was a plus-23), but I even told him in a conversation that I didn't get a bonus for making him a bad player, so that he had to understand that everything I did was to try and make him a better player and I think that message was understood." The Bruins had several options with Kessel. Besides trying to sign him, they could have waited for him to sign an offer sheet elsewhere and either matched it or accepted three drafts picks: a first-, second- and third-rounder. They also could have put him on the long-term injury list as they worked out the roster situation. When Toronto GM Brian Burke came forward, the Leafs were the only team involved, Chiarelli said. Another, unidentified club came in late, but didn't match what Toronto was offering. The Bruins now have five picks in the first two rounds of what is projected to be a strong 2010 draft. For now, though, Boston loses a 36-goal scorer, a young talent, and it traded him within the division. "He's going to score goals," Chiarelli said. While Julien labelled Kessel as a player with "superstar" talent, the coach added, "We just gotta really focus on moving forward here without him and not thinking for a second that now we've turned from a good team into a bad team because I think we'll be just fine." The Bruins will look elsewhere to replace Kessel's offence. Marco Sturm, who is returning from injury, is a likely candidate. The players were ready to move on, too. "We are all happy with what we have, the group of guys we have in this room," captain Zdeno Chara said. "I can't really make comments on Phil's behalf, what he felt, why he decided not to be part of it. It's absolutely Phil's decision. It's part of the business." With files from The Associated Press
BOSTON (AP) -- Prospect Artem Anisimov had a short-handed goal and an assist Saturday, leading the New York Rangers to their first preseason win, 5-2 over the Boston Bruins. Ales Kotalik, who signed a three-year, $9 million free agent contract during the offseason, and AHL All-Star P.A. Parenteau also had a goal and an assist for the Rangers, who got two assists from veteran Vinny Prospal, another free agent signee. The 21-year-old Anisimov's second two-point game in as many days featured a highlight one-man effort that capped a three-goal first period against Vezina Trophy winner Tim Thomas, who was making his preseason debut. Anisimov's second two-point game in as many days featured a highlight one-man effort that capped a three-goal first period against Tim Thomas. The Vezina Trophy winner gave up the five goals on 19 shots in his preseason debut. Kotalik opened the scoring with a power-play goal and assisted on Enver Lisin's second-period goal, while Parenteau assisted on Anisimov's goal and then closed the scoring with a late goal. Sean Avery also scored for the Rangers while Marc Savard and Zach Hamill scored for the Bruins. Thomas went all the way, yielding five goals on 19 shots. Stephen Valiquette and Chad Johnson split time in the Rangers' goal, with Valiquette giving up the two goals on 14 shots. Johnson stopped 12 shots. Boston's Milan Lucic was ejected for spearing New York's Michael Del Zotto at 16:06 of the second period. The game was played the day after the Bruins shipped restricted free agent Phil Kessel to Toronto for three high draft picks.
BOSTON (AP) -- The Bruins did their best to keep restricted free agent Phil Kessel before acceding to his desire to be traded and making a deal with Toronto. "This is not about frugality," Boston general manager Peter Chiarelli said on Saturday. "There were some significant offers made." Chiarelli said Kessel told him in July he no longer wanted to play in Boston, and the Bruins traded the rights to the 21-year-old former first-round pick to the Maple Leafs for Toronto's first-round picks in each of the next two drafts plus the Leafs' second-round pick in 2010. Kessel, who isn't expected to play until around Thanksgiving because of offseason shoulder surgery, then signed a five-year, $27 million deal with the Maple Leafs. The Bruins were less than $2 million under the salary cap and making room for Kessel would have required moving one or two players. But it didn't come to that because the right wing "did not want to play in Boston," Chiarelli said. Even so, the GM said Kessel expressed disappointment after being traded. "I spoke to him last night. I wished him luck," Chiarelli said. "I said, 'Look, Phil, for whatever reason it didn't work out.' We had a brief chat and he was disappointed at the outcome, but he was happy to have a new location." Chiarelli, who cited the trade request and "threat of an offer sheet" as the two reasons behind the trade, said Kessel's "concerns" about the Bruins weren't unusual. It is believed Kessel's problems with the team started when coach Claude Julien benched him for part of the first-round 2008 playoff series against Montreal. Julien was unhappy with Kessel's two-way play, something the coach said improved last season. "My first year here (2007-08) was really trying to convince him that we were really trying to make him a better player and that he needed to just understand that," Julien said on Saturday. "Obviously, he did because he scored 36 goals the next year (and was a plus-23), but I even told him in a conversation that I didn't get a bonus for making him a bad player, so that he had to understand that everything I did was to try and make him a better player and I think that message was understood." The Bruins had several options with Kessel. Besides trying to sign him, they could have waited for him to sign an offer sheet elsewhere and either matched it or accepted three drafts picks: a first-, second- and third-rounder. They also could have put him on the long-term injury list as they worked out the roster situation. When Toronto GM Brian Burke came forward, the Leafs were the only team involved, Chiarelli said. Another, unidentified club came in late, but didn't match what Toronto was offering. The Bruins now have five picks in the first two rounds of what is projected to be a strong 2010 draft. For now, though, Boston loses a 36-goal scorer, a young talent, and it traded him within the division. "He's going to score goals," Chiarelli said. While Julien labeled Kessel as a player with "superstar" talent, the coach added, "We just gotta really focus on moving forward here without him and not thinking for a second that now we've turned from a good team into a bad team because I think we'll be just fine." The Bruins will look elsewhere to replace Kessel's offense. Marco Sturm, who is returning from injury, is a likely candidate. The players were ready to move on, too. "We are all happy with what we have, the group of guys we have in this room," captain Zdeno Chara said. "I can't really make comments on Phil's behalf, what he felt, why he decided not to be part of it. It's absolutely Phil's decision. It's part of the business."
September 18
Peter Chiarelli will hold an 11 a.m. news conference on Saturday to discuss the Phil Kessel trade. In the mean time, let the puck pundits weigh in: *****Greg Wyshynski of YahooSports! says Kessel is now Toronto's potential locker-room problem.
The Phil Kessel soap opera is over. The Boston Bruins traded the 21-year-old sniper to the Toronto Maple Leafs on Friday night in exchange for a first- and a second-round draft pick in 2010, and a first-round pick in 2011. The Leafs and Kessel quickly agreed on a five-year, $27-million contract, according to TSN.ca. Kessel and the Bruins, who are just under the league salary cap of $56.8 million, were never close to a new contract. Toronto general manager Brian Burke targeted Kessel, a restricted free agent, early in the summer. Friday night's trade came after reports in the last few days that Burke planned to force the issue by signing Kessel to an offer sheet at a cost of a first-, second- and third-round draft choice. Boston GM Peter Chiarelli said he had ownership approval to match any offer sheet, but would have had to move contracts to get under the cap. Kessel, who is not expected to play until November after undergoing shoulder surgery, scored 36 goals last season. Kessel is likely to play for the U.S. Olympic Team in February. Burke and Toronto coach Ron Wilson, teammates at Providence College, are the GM and coach, respectively. Kessel was the fifth pick in the first round in 2006 out of the University of Minnesota.
September 17
The Toronto Maple Leafs seemed more interested in winning the fights than winning the game against the Bruins last night. Ron Wilson and Brian Burke dressed knuckle-draggers Andre Deveaux, Jay Rosehill and Phil Oreskovic, who knocked around a few Bruins but didn't dazzle anybody with their skating and puck-handling. The Bruins got a 3-2 win on goals by Brad Marchand, who's in the running to start the season in Boston, Steve Begin and Andy Wozniewski. Dany Sabourin went the distance in net for Boston, and gave up a soft goal to Victor Stalberg. On the heels of Tuukka Rask's sharp performance in New York on Tuesday night, Sabourin will need to do better if he wants to win the Boston backup job. Here are game stories from the Toronto Sun and Toronto Star. The Phil Kessel rumors continue to swirl. Nashville reportedly has offered a package of prospects and draft picks. Peter Chiarelli would no doubt love to wrest former BU stud Colin Wilson from the Preds.
September 16
A few Bruins-related odds and ends from around the Web: Forwards: Steve Begin, Patrice Bergeron, Drew Larman, Jeff LoVecchio, Michael Ryder, Shawn Thornton, Jamie Arniel, Byron Bitz, Guillaume Lefebvre, Brad Marchand, Vladimir Sobotka, Blake Wheeler, Defense: Derek Morris, Mark Stuart, Dennis Wideman, Andy Wozniewski, Matt Hunwick, and Adam McQuaid. Goalies: Dany Sabourin and Tuukka Rask. The game will be broadcast on the NHL Network at 7 p.m. Sabourin will get the start in goal and is scheduled to play the entire game.
September 15
BOSTON (AP) -- Fred Cusick, the longtime play-by-play voice of the Boston Bruins, has died. Cusick's son, Ted, says his father died at his home in Barnstable, Mass., early Tuesday after suffering from cancer. He was 90. Cusick called Bruins games on radio and television for more than four decades, beginning his career with radio broadcasts in 1952. He called Boston's Stanley Cup championship in 1970, when Bobby Orr scored the winning goal in overtime. He would later call that season and that play among the greatest highlights of his career. Cusick moved to television in 1971 and retired from calling Bruins games in 1997. Cusick was scheduled to be inducted Wednesday into the Massachusetts Broadcasters Hall of Fame.
Tuukka Rask will start in goal when the Boston Bruins play their first exhibition game tonight against the Rangers in Manhattan at 7 o'clock. The game will be televised on the MSG Network. Here's the B's lineup: Forwards: Jamie Arniel, Byron Bitz, Chuck Kobasew, Mikko Lehtonen, Milan Lucic, Brad Marchand, Max Sauve, Vladimir Sobotka, Marco Sturm, Blake Wheeler, Trent Whitfield Defensemen: Andrew Bodnarchuck, Johnny Boychuk, Zdeno Chara, Matt Hunwick, Adam McQuaid, Jeff Penner. Goalies:
The Providence Bruins have released their training camp schedule, including three preseason games. All practices will be at the Rhode Island Sports Center in North Smithfield and are open to the public: Monday, Sept. 21 -- 10 a.m. - Noon Tuesday, Sept. 22 -- 10 a.m. - Noon Wednesday, Sept. 23 -- 10 a.m. - Noon. Thursday, Sept. 24 -- 10 a.m. - Noon Friday, Sept. 25 --10 a.m. - Noon Saturday, Sept. 26 -- 9:25 a.m. - 10:35 a.m. Sunday, Sept. 27 -- Off Day Monday, Sept. 28 -- 10 a.m. - Noon Tuesday, Sept. 29 -- 10 a.m. - Noon Wednesday, Sept. 30 -- 10 a.m. - Noon Thursday, Oct. 1 -- 10 a.m. - Noon For information on tickets for the Sept. 23 preseason game, call the New England Sports Center at (508) 229-2700. Tickets for the Sept. 24 game are $10 and can be purchased by visiting the Iorio Arena or emailing Chrissy Bartletta at chrissy@rbhockey.com. Providence opens the regular season at the Dunkin' Donuts Center on Sunday, Oct. 4, at 4:05 p.m. against Springfield. To purchase tickets or for more information, call the P-Bruins ticket office at (401) 273-5000 or log on to www.providencebruins.com.
September 14
WEEI.com's Joe Haggerty reports that Boston Bruins center David Krejci describes himself as doubtful for the team's season opener, Oct. 1 against Washington. He gave his chances of playing in the game as 10 percent. Krejci skated with teammates today for the first time since offseason hip surgery.
September 11
By MARK DIVVER On the eve of the opening of Boston Bruins training camp, a few lowlights and highlights out of what Providence coach Rob Murray called a "very constructive'' rookie tournament in Kitchener, Ont.: Nelson's injury -- believed to be a broken collarbone that could require surgery -- will keep him off the ice for a while. Nelson, who Murray called "one of our more energetic guys'' in Kitchener, was injured in a collision along the boards. Arniel was hurt when he stuck his knee out as a Pittsburgh player tried to skate past him, Murray said. Arniel, who was penalized for kneeing on the play, had to leave the game. How much time he'll miss, if any, wasn't clear as of Thursday night. Arniel was Boston's top goal-scorer with four. "He's going to be a big part of our team this year,'' Murray said. Max Sauve suffered a charley horse in the first game and never returned to the lineup. He's not expected to miss significant time in training camp. "He committed (to working on his body) this summer,'' Murray said. "He got bigger, he got faster. He's giving himself the best opportunity to succeed.'' Hamill looks to be primed for a good year in Providence. Knackstedt "competed hard, had a fight and scored a couple of goals,'' Murray said. "You love the compete level in him, but he's gotta gain a step.'' The 6'3'' 220-pound Marquardt's numbers -- 0-0-0 -- tell the story.
Boston Bruins players will report for physical testing on Saturday and hit the ice for the first time on Sunday. Here's the team news release and schedule:
On Sunday, the first day of official on-ice work for the team, fans will have access to two practice sessions beginning at 10:00 a.m. and 12:30 p.m., free of charge. Doors will open at 9:30 a.m. and breakfast, including breakfast sandwiches, fruit, yogurt, coffee and juice, will be served on a first-come, first-served basis. In conjunction with the open training camp sessions, Bruins fans will have the opportunity to purchase equipment used by Bruins players from past and present. Items that will be available include skates, socks, pads and helmets, among others. A portion of the proceeds will benefit the Boston Bruins Foundation. The used equipment sale will begin at 8:30 a.m. for Bruins season ticket holders and 9:30 a.m. for the general public. The Bruins training camp roster and schedule can be found below. Please note that practices at Ristuccia Arena are open to the public, but practices at TD Garden are closed, except for Sunday, September 13. The schedule is subject to change. Rosters for Group A and Group B will not be announced at this time. 2009 BRUINS TRAINING CAMP ROSTER (SUBJECT TO CHANGE): Forwards (31): Defensemen (16): Goaltenders (7): Unsigned Restricted Free Agents as of September 10 (1) 2009 BRUINS TRAINING CAMP SCHEDULE: (ALL TIMES EASTERN, CALL 617.624.1910 FOR THE LATEST UPDATES. THE SCHEDULE IS SUBJECT TO CHANGE) Saturday, September 12 (Wilmington, MA) Sunday, September 13 (Boston, MA) Monday, September 14 (Boston, MA) Tuesday, September 15 (Wilmington, MA/New York, NY) Wednesday, September 16 (Wilmington, MA/Toronto, ON) Thursday, September 17 (Wilmington, MA) Friday, September 18 (Wilmington, MA) Saturday, September 19 (Boston, MA) Sunday, September 20 (Wilmington, MA/Quebec City, QC) Monday, September 21 (Wilmington, MA) Tuesday, September 22 (Wilmington, MA/Columbus, OH) -Wednesday, September 23 (Wilmington, MA) Thursday, September 24 (Wilmington, MA/Montreal, QC) Friday, September 25 (Ottawa, ON) Saturday, September 26 (Boston, MA) Sunday, September 27 (Boston, MA) Monday, September 28 (Boston, MA) Tuesday, September 29 (Wilmington, MA) Wednesday, September 30 (Wilmington, MA) Thursday, October 1 (Boston, MA)
September 10
The Boston Bruins rookies lost to Pittsburgh, 3-2, in Kitchener, Ont., on Thursday afternoon. Jordan Knackstedt (assisted by Jason Wilson and Marc Zanetti) and Jeff Lovecchio (set up by Zach Hamill) had the Boston goals. Matt Dalton faced 52 Pittsburgh shots. The Bruins finished the tournament with a 2-1 record. Now the B's will board a bus for the 12-hour ride back to Boston. Training camp opens on Saturday.
Three players who will be counted on to be key contributors this season in Providence had strong games for the Boston Bruins rookies in Wednesday's 4-3 win over Ottawa. Providence Bruins coach Rob Murray, who has guided the B's rookies to a 2-0 record in the Kitchener, Ont., tournament, said that Jeff Lovecchio, Jamie Arniel and Zach Hamill were his top players on Wednesday. Lovecchio, who sat out all of last season while recovering from a concussion, "was far and away the best player on the ice,'' Murray said. Signed out of Western Michigan as a free agent, Lovecchio projects as a physical, energetic third liner in the NHL. He had two assists on Wednesday. Arniel, who played well for Providence in last spring's playoffs, scored two goals for the second straight game. Murray said Arniel outbattled an Ottawa player for the puck and scored an unassisted goal that ended up being the game-winner early in the third. Arniel, a good skater, might be able to take over many of the defensive responsibilities performed by Wacey Rabbit last season, while putting up more points, Murray said. Hamill, the first-game star with four assists, played well on Wednesday, too, even though he didn't record a point. On defense, Ryan Button -- "he skates himself out of trouble'' -- played a second strong game. Alain Goulet also was effective -- though Murray added that "if (Goulet) could clean up his game, he'd be a lot more efficient player.'' Murray said that Goulet's passes are off-target too often. In goal, Mike Hutchinson's 47-save performance speaks for inself. Murray was again impressed with undrafted junior Jason Wilson -- "He's not flashy. He's straight-line, and he hits everything that moves out there.'' After a somewhat tired performance on Wednesday, Murray is looking for more on Thursday. "I'm expecting more out of guys today considering it's their last chance to impress somebody,'' he said.
Mount St. Charles grad Keith Carney of Pawtucket will try to earn an NHL contract at the Vancouver Canucks' training camp. A veteran of 16 seasons and 1,018 NHL games, Carney played 12 games for Bern in the Swiss league last season. He last skated in the NHL in 2007-08, when he played 61 games with Minnesota. At 39, Carney won't even be the oldest former Mount defenseman in Vancouver's camp. That will be Mathieu Schneider, 40.
September 9
The Bruins have added former Wisconsin Badger Andy Wozniewski for defensive depth. Barring a rash of injuries, he figures to spend the season in Providence. Wozniewski spent a semester at UMass-Lowell a decade ago before transferring out. Here's the team's news release: Boston Bruins General Manager Peter Chiarelli announced today that the club has signed defenseman Andy Wozniewski to a one-year contract. Per club policy, terms of the deal will not be disclosed. Wozniewski split the 2008-09 season between the St. Louis Blues' and Pittsburgh Penguins' AHL affiliates. He played in 56 games for the Peoria Rivermen with 1-16=17 totals and 56 penalty minutes before being traded to the Penguins organization. He then skated in 18 games for the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins and posted 2-2=4 totals, and 26 penalty minutes. Wozniewski appeared in one NHL game for the Blues during the 08-09 on February 3 versus the Columbus Blue Jackets. The Buffalo Grove, Illinois native split the 2007-08 season between the Toronto Maple Leafs and their AHL affiliate, the Toronto Marlies. In 48 NHL games for the Leafs, he recorded 2-7=9 totals, +5 rating and 54 penalty minutes. For the Marlies, he played in 33 games and registered 7-10=17 totals, a +8 rating and 26 penalty minutes. He also played in 19 playoff games for the Marlies, registering 4-5=9 totals, a +7 rating and 12 penalty minutes. He has tallied 2-10=12 totals and 81 penalty minutes in 77 career NHL games. The 6'5", 225-pound defenseman was signed to his first pro contract with Toronto on May 27, 2004 and was a member of the Leafs organization until he signed as a free agent to the St. Louis Blues on July 17, 2008.
Jamie Arniel scored two goals and Jordan Knackstedt and Tyler Randell added a goal apiece as the Boston Bruins rookies beat the Ottawa Senators rookies, 4-3, in Kitchener, Ont., on Thursday afternoon. Mike Hutchinson made 45 saves for the Bruins, who are coached by Rob Murray of the Providence Bruins. Arniel leads the Bruins in the tournament with four goals; Randell has two. The Bruins play their final game on Thursday against Pittsburgh at 2 p.m.
September 7
By MARK DIVVER It wasn't a masterpiece, but the Boston Bruins rookies made enough good plays on Monday afternoon to nip the Toronto Maple Leafs rookies, 6-5, in overtime. ''It was a little scrambly, but the guys were happy to get an overtime win,'' coach Rob Murray said afterward. The Bruins "had three or four highlight-reel goals,'' Murray said, including the game-winner by Jamie Arniel, who scored twice. Hamill, the team captain who was invited to play in the rookie tournament only after 2009 first-round draft pick Jordan Caron was injured, finished with four assists. On the winning goal, Hamill started the play by jumping on a loose puck in the neutral zone. Murray said Hamill and Arniel traded passes before Arniel buried it at 3:56. Jason Wilson, Levi Nelsen, Tyler Randell and Rob Kwiet also scored for Boston. Kwiet's tally with 1:56 left in regulation forced overtime. "We had a lot of contributions from a lot of guys,'' Murray said. Hamill was a standout and Arniel played well, Murray said. Others whose play impressed the coach were Nelson, defenseman Ryan Button and goalie Adam Courchaine. Murray also noticed Wilson, "a big-bodied kid who skates well and is willing to lay the body out.'' The undrafted Wilson, 19, is 6'2'' and 205 pounds. He scored 12 goals and had 104 penalty minutes in 52 games last season for London of the OHL, where he will play again this season. There were three fights: Alex Berry vs. Boston's Scott Fletcher; Stefano Giliatti vs. Boston's Jordan Knackstedt; and Jamie Devane against Peter Stevens of the Bruins. Max Sauve suffered a charley horse in the first period and left the game. His availability for the next game on Wednesday is uncertain, Murray said. Mike Hutchinson will start in goal for Boston on Wednesday against Ottawa. Matt Dalton will get the nod on Thursday against Pittsburgh. The Bruins will practice Tuesday at 10 a.m.
September 4
By MARK DIVVER Might as well get one of the longest bus rides of the season out of the way right off the bat. Providence Bruins coaches Rob Murray and Bruce Cassidy and about a dozen Bruins minor-leaguers, draft picks and free agents will make a 10-hour, 570-mile journey Saturday from Wilmington, Mass., to Kitchener, Ont., for a rookie tournament against the Toronto Maple Leafs, Ottawa Senators and Pittsburgh Penguins. The rest of the 24-man roster will travel to Kitchener on their own. The games start on Monday. The tournament offers a terrific opportunity for players already under contract and those looking to earn contracts to show what they can do, said Murray. "It's a chance to get a jump on everything, to get in some game situations,'' before Boston's training camp opens on Sept. 12, Murray said. In turn, Boston's front office will have a chance to assess the players. "It's a chance for management to get a better read on some players,'' Murray said. The team will practice on Sunday before facing Toronto at 2 p.m. on Monday. Murray said he and Cassidy will have only enough time to touch on the basics of special teams and defensive-zone coverage. "We'll try to put in some structure. You've got to play with some structure. You can't be running all over the place,'' he said. Murray said that each of the three goalies -- Matt Dalton, Adam Courchaine and Mike Hutchinson -- probably will play one full game. In addition to Monday's game vs. the Leafs, Boston will face Ottawa at 2 p.m. on Wednesday, and Pittsburgh at 2 p.m. on Thursday. All games are at the Kitchener Memorial Auditorium. The first exhibition game is Wednesday, Sept. 23, at 7 p.m. against Springfield at the New England Sports Center in Marlboro, Mass., followed by a game on Thursday, Sept. 24, at 7 p.m. versus Lowell at the Iorio Arena in Walpole, Mass. The final preseason game will be Saturday, Sept. 26, against Springfield at the MassMutual Center in Springfield at 7 p.m. ***** Former Boston University winger Jason Lawrence, ECHL defenseman Nick Tuzzolino, enforcer Brett Clouthier, who has played in England for the past three years, and former Colgate defenseman Jared Ross will be in Providence's training camp, according to Murray. The camp roster has not been finalized. "There's no shortage of guys looking for tryouts out there,'' Murray said. "This is great. I'm really excited'' about coming back to Rhode Island, said Henderson, who was with the AHL's Norfolk Admirals the past two seasons. The P-Bruins new trainer is Mark Grotzinger, who was with the Johnstown Chiefs of the ECHL last season. Former Toll Gate star John Hynes, who was hired as an assistant with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton this summer, will be on Pittsburgh's bench.
BOSTON (AP) -- Boston Bruins coach Claude Julien, who led the team to the highest point total in the Eastern Conference last season, agreed to a multiyear contract extension. The team made the announcement Friday. Julien led the Bruins to the playoffs in each of his first two seasons in Boston. Last season, he led the Bruins to a conference-best 116 points. But Boston fell to the Carolina Hurricanes in seven games in the second round of the playoffs. In his first season, the Bruins lost to Montreal in seven games in the first round of the Stanley Cup playoffs. "It's important to feel the confidence of the people behind me -- Mr. (Jeremy) Jacobs and the upper management," Julien said. "It means a lot to me." Details of the contract extension were not disclosed. "Claude has shown a tremendous propensity to get the maximum results out of our team," said Bruins general manager Peter Chiarelli. "To me, he's a guy who can connect, a roll up your sleeves type of guy who connects with his players. I think he commands the respect that a coach needs to get to be successful." Julien, a native of Blind River, Ont., won the NHL's Jack Adams Award as the league's top coach after the last season. In two seasons in Boston, Julien has a 94-48-22 record, a .640 winning percentage. Julien coached the Montreal Canadiens for one full season and parts of two others from 2003-2006 and also led the New Jersey Devils to the top seed in the Eastern Conference in the 2006-07 season before being replaced late in the season. Julien said he expects the Bruins' loss in the playoffs will make the team more determined this season, with training camp set to open next week. "With the way the season ended last year, we're still very hungry and want to accomplish even more," he said. Chiarelli said in making the decision to extend Julien, it was his feeling that Julien's work ethic and attention to detail have made him a success. "We're very happy he's in the mix for years to come, and I look forward to working with him," Chiarelli said.
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