Updates on the Boston Bruins, Chicago Blackhawks and Edmonton Oilers in your first Sunday rumor roundup of the new NHL season.
Could the Bruins trade Chara or Rask?
Could Tuukka Rask or Zdeno Chara become trade bait this season?
SPORTSNET (via TODAY’S SLAPSHOT): In a recent radio interview, Elliotte Friedman was recently asked about the possibility of the Boston Bruins making further bold moves this season, perhaps by trading captain Zdeno Chara or goaltender Tuukka Rask. He noted Chara and Rask have no-movement clauses. He claimed there were rumors this summer about Rask, but when he looked into them he was told they weren’t going to do it as the goalies in their system are inexperienced. When asked about the possibility of Chara to Montreal, Friedman said it would be quite the storyline. He also suggested the Columbus Blue Jackets as a team, though they’ll have cap issues and must re-sign top center Ryan Johansen in a year.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: Bear in mind that Friedman was merely responding to questions and not saying this is what he’s heard from his sources. As he put it, he’s merely spitballing here. Chara has two more seasons left after this one at an annual cap hit of over $6.9 million. He’s also turning 39 in March and has lost a step or two. I think the new Bruins management would love to move Chara, but he’ll have to agree to the deal. If so, the Bruins will likely have to absorb part of his cap hit or take back a toxic contract in return. I don’t believe Rask is going anywhere unless he forces the issue or is challenged for the starter’s job down the road by a young goalie like Malcolm Subban.
Blackhawks shopping for a defenseman.
CHICAGO TRIBUNE: Chris Kuc reports a source says the Blackhawks are in the market for a defenseman. They’re seeking experienced depth for their third defense pairing.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: While the Blackhawks have promising depth at forward this season in Teuvo Teravainen and Artemi Panarin, they’re lacking that beyond their top-two defense pairings. Trevor van Riemsdyk has potential, but he needs an experienced blueline partner. The problem, of course, is their cap space. The ‘Hawks have only $350K available, meaning management must free up cap space or make a dollar-for-dollar deal to make this work.
Nikitin not going to Russia.
SPORTSNET: Elliotte Friedman reports Edmonton Oilers defenseman Nikita Nikitin will not be heading to Russia. There was speculation earlier this week that Nikitin might head to the KHL after he was demoted to the Oilers’ AHL team in Bakersfield.
At this point in his career, I can’t see too many teams jumping on Chara. I also can’t see Chara agreeing to go to the very few teams that may be interested. I think they are stuck with each other for the next 3 years.
Off topic:
If the NHL wants to argue that the Richards contract is a rightful termination and “in no way does it represent a circumvention of the league’s collective bargaining agreement.” Why does the settlement include non-precedent language so that other teams in similar positions cannot cite the Richards case???
Hmmmmm?
So the circumstances surrounding the termination only applies to the LA Kings?
if its true what your saying then I would assume its more liuke an Act then a Law.
Meaning there is a law but it this is an exception that we do not like…and since we can not change the law, lets include a “clause or act” so that we still get our way…
Typically these apply and are in favour of the authoritive figure (the one making the rules) to break the laws they set forth.
Typical ya you have rights…just not today BS
The fact that it has non-precedent language would be a way for the NHL to say the equivalent of “let us break the law once and we won;t do it again”…to get their way this one and only time (ya right).
In reality, person conduct has absolutely no relevance to work conduct, unless you as a person, sign a contract stating that your personal conduct can cause contract termination.
Which I might add is becoming more common place in contracts nowadays.
This is the basis of civil rights abuse unless of course you voluntarily allow it.
Which so many are clueless do blindly or think that won’t apply to me, but eventually it will.
I will almost guarantee, without looking at laws and the issue…that the NHL are in fact are breaking laws “legally”.
Funny, if you rape someone and your work finds out, typically you are going to get terminated as you are now a liability to your work’s image. It’s a violation of their code of conduct, like it or not, when you work a company you have to maintain their image even when not at work, especially in todays area of social media. This is no different.
The time to trade Chara was last year. The bruins should’ve move him and Sidenburg and kept Boychuck and Hamilton. I have my own two suggestions hang onto him until the trade deadline (hopefully he shows he still has value) then try to move him to a team like Anaheim who have cup aspirations. Or secondly move him to Winnipeg for Byfuglien, where he could tutor players like Myers and Trouba. Doesn’t matter if Big Buff walks at the end, could move him before the trade deadline if not signed.
I can’t envision Chara helping the Ducks chances at a cup. And any GM willing to take on a $7 million dollar cap hit (X’s 3 years) for a tutor would be begging to be fired. I just can’t see either of those teams taking him on. I think they could get a much better package for Buff than a 39 year old guy in heavy decline.
I’d have to agree, Chara will retire a Bruin. And if Byfuglien is traded at the deadline Winnipeg will get a way better package. Assuming he has a good or even normal year he’ll net them a first round pick and a very good prospect at least.
I agree cant see bruins been able to move chara with that cap hit he has lost a step and injury prone
Curious why you cant envision Chara helping with a cup run? No one said he has to be the #1 dman, but he would be solid on a second pairing and very good on the pk. He would definitely help any team with cup aspirations imo.
if he stays healthy but even when healthy he is very slow imo nobody would waste the money
2-3 years ago…? Yes, Chara helps. But not today. Who gets bumped out of the top 4? Lindholm, Despres,Fowler, or Bieksa? For Chara? I take NOTHING away from Chara’s career. But NOBODY is taking on that 7 per cap hit for 3 more years at this late stage of his career. NOBODY!!!
you lost value when you considered Bieksa better then Chara. Even today Bieksa is nowhere near as valuable as Chara. Clearly you haven’t watched Chara or Bieksa play.
Yeah, Bieksa at 34 making 4.6 for three more years or Chara at 38/39 making 6.9 per for three years????? It’s pretty obvious you haven’t watched Chara diminish since about 2010-2011 like the rest of the world. The point differential between the two last year….6 points! And I think we all know that number will drop this year and drop more the following!
You said yesterday “Curious why you cant envision Chara helping with a cup run? No one said he has to be the #1 dman, but he would be solid on a second pairing and very good on the pk.”…………..Basically saying he wouldn’t replace the top 2 in Anaheim….which is Bieksa and Lindholm…….But today, “Clearly you haven’t watched Chara or Bieksa play.”….. Just so were clear….Yesterday he couldn’t replace Bieksa, but he can today? Aye aye aye…. You don’t even understand who the top pairing guys in Aneheim are, but apparently, I’ve never seen either play?
A week ago I mention here that the Bruins should look into trading Rask and got a couple laughs about it……Bruin fans knew in the offseason that the D was going to be a problem( don’t know how the FO didn’t see it and address it) even with Chara and Seids healthy that they needed a top 4 D-Man well now they need a top 2 and a 4…They are also short a legit goalscorer the FO set CJ up to fail with this current roster
I wanted them to keep Jones and trade Rask , they would have got a lot more in return and rid themselves of the cap hit. I like Rask but this is starting to look more like a rebuild than retooling. The B’s still have a good core in place but they will need a great offseason to be contenders again. I’m an optimist and it’s only been 2 games so lets give it a couple of months
I am not predicting it, but I think it’s at least possible Hawks trade Crawford. Very good goalie, but I don’t think elite. Possible to think they’d trade him to free up cap money that might be better spent elsewhere, and hope the team in front of Darling (and an experienced backup) would still be strong enough to win it all.
Crawford played very well for Chicago after darling had his chance in the playoffs last year Crawford won a few games by himself in the cup run he is an underrated goalie
Rask and Chara aren’t going anywhere. With Rask’s $7M cap hit and Chara’s $6.9M cap hit, teams are either not going to give up their future, or the team that could possibly make an offer, might not be a team they’re willing to be traded-to.
I don’t usually comment but really trading rask?! He’s the absolute last person to blame for the Bruins rough start and rough previous season. Don’t see chara moving either. Subban is the trade bait or Jeremy smith
I could see the Blues and Bruins making a trade, Blues sending Brian Elliott, Carl Gunnarsson to Bruins for Rask. This would give the Bruins a little help in moving Chara and eating some salary or send the Bruins, Boumeester instead of Gunnarsson, the Blues have to move some of these PURSE CARRYING DEFENSEMEN!
Bruins need a massive rebuild.
If you could get these guys to wave no trade clauses I would move them
Rask,Chara,Siedenberg,Eriksson and Kelly.
Get some draft picks and prospects.
Create cap space for next year bring in some new blood.
PC’s cap mess will exist awhile yet. More pain is in store for the B’s. The last draft raised more than a few eyebrows but that said Chara is going downhill n his contract is an anchor.
Expect Julien to be fired before the season ends n many changes coming n needed at the TDL n offseason.
I think it’s a brilliant play on the Bruins management to float it out there that Chara and Marchand are available. I’m assuming, if they both come back and be productive, why not have a contending team take a chance? Look at their production in the play offs. Not bad, the both play on power play, penalty kill and even strength. The salary cap is exactly the reason TO make a trade for Chara. A GM may only have one shot at the Cup and if he feels that Chara is what is missing, he will make a deal. If he does and wins the Cup, then you deal with the consequences later. Look at Chicago, they win the cup, the next year, a couple of favorites leave. You telling me if Washington or Colorado hit lightning in a bottle this year and feel they can with the cup with Chara they wont take a shot. I’m just using them as examples. Just my opinion on this.