B's Announce Date of Individual Ticket Sales

From an email from the Bruins:

Tickets On Sale August 20, 2009 @ 10 AM
Individual tickets for home games played at the TD Garden to go on sale Thursday, August 20 @ 10:00 AM

BOSTON, MA - Individual tickets for Bruins games played at the TD Garden during the 2009-10 preseason and regular season will go on sale on Thursday, August 20 at 10:00 a.m. at the TD Garden Box Office and online at BOSTONBRUINS.com.

For games played at the TD Garden, tickets will range in price from $10.00 - $289.50. In addition to seat location, ticket prices will vary depending on opponent and date of game. Please note that ticket prices are subject to change.

Something tells me tickets may actually be a little harder to come by this season, especially if last year's playoff-ticket fever is any indication.

Just think, two months from today it will be hockey time again. Where has the summer gone?

Claude on Kessel

Ran into Bruins coach Claude Julien at the Red Sox-A's game last night. As he was walking by, my brother asked him when Phil would be back.

Julien's response was: "Whenever he's ready."

Clearly this confirms GM Peter Chiarelli's statements that Kessel WILL be back. Stone-cold lock.









Yes, this is clearly meant as a joke. We really did see Julien, did ask him that question and did get that response, but we have not taken it anywhere near that seriously. I just thought it was a funny story.

Sources: Bruins Sign Morris

According to multiple sources, the Bruins have agreed to a deal in principle with free-agent defenseman Derek Morris.

Morris started last season with the Phoenix Coyotes, but was moved to the New York Rangers at the trade deadline. Morris had 5-15-20 totals in 75 games last season, and was a -10. He is a primarily a puck-moving d-man, and his less than stellar defensive numbers can be partially attributed to playing for Phoenix and the Rangers, two of the league's less-than-airtight defensive teams.

This could be the "other shoe" I referred to earlier, when GM Peter Chiarelli said moving Aaron Ward wasn't to sign Phil Kessel, but to add another defenseman. Morris appears to be that guy, though the team hasn't confirmed anything yet.

The Lawrence Eagle-Tribune has also reported the deal, while NESN and InsideHockey.com contributor James Murphy has mentioned a signing as well.

ESPN says it's a one-year deal, but I'm going to wait until I read the terms to comment fully on the signing. If it is a one-year deal, and it's for $2-2.5 million, then good move. If it's for $3 million+, then I'll be scratching my head. Stay tuned.

EDIT (11:52 PM): TSN is reporting the deal is a one-year deal worth $3.3 million...yeesh. That's a little high for my tastes. This essentially negates moving Aaron Ward to clear salary, meaning someone else is definitely going to have to go for Kessel to return to the B's this fall. Most likely to be moved? In my opinion (strictly opinion): Kobasew, Sturm, Ryder, Bergeron, Savard.

Again, stay tuned. More moves should be made in the next couple of weeks.

Ward traded to Carolina for Eaves and a pick; Eaves Immediately Waived

The Bruins today sent veteran defenseman Aaron Ward back to the Carolina Hurricanes, a team he helped to a Stanley Cup win in 2004, in exchange for forward Patrick Eaves and a fourth-round pick in 2010. Eaves was immediately placed on waivers by the Bruins, who intend to buy him out.

This move screams of a salary dump, as moving Ward frees the Bruins of his $2.5 million salary. Buying out Eaves, assuming he isn't claimed on waivers which doesn't seem likely, will cost the B's around $260,000 next year, and will GIVE the Bruins around $41,000 the year after (very confusing salary cap stuff, Fluto explains in the Bruins Blog).

It seems as though Chiarelli asked Ward about the move before making it, as he said he wouldn't have sent him anywhere other than Carolina, where Ward resides. In the "afore-linked" blog, Fluto says Chiarelli said he'd be looking to add a defenseman now, but didn't specify whether it would be through a trade or a signing.

Many things could be going on here, but it's clear that something else is brewing. Freeing up the cap space could be indicative of Chiarelli being prepared to sign Phil Kessel. However, saying he is going to add a defenseman could mean that he is preparing to deal Kessel to another club for a defenseman.

Either way, the other shoe has yet to drop here, so to speak. Ward is in Carolina, Eaves will soon be off the Bruins books, and there will be more moves to make. Expect one of two things to be announced in the coming days:

• 1. Someone else will be moved (Kobasew, Ryder, Bergeron, Savard) and Phil Kessel has been re-signed, either to a one-year deal at a bit less money (probably wouldn't require the above names to be moved) or to a long term deal at an averaged-out contract (would likely require a trade).
• 2. Kessel has been traded to a team willing to give the Bruins a young, impact defenseman in return.
  

Chances are, these are the two options Chiarelli has been weighing, and the trading of Ward to me indicates that he is prepared to pull the trigger on one of the two. It's just speculation on my part and could be completely wrong, but it seems the most likely set of circumstances.

It's too bad to see Ward go, as he was a tremendous veteran presence, had some snarl to his game and was extremely entertaining in his weekly radio appearances on WBCN's Toucher & Rich show. However, he is getting old, and his cap-hit made him a likely target to be dealt. He was a solid, dependable blueliner for the B's, but was among the most sensible candidates to be dealt.

Stay tuned for more announcements, as another move or two can't be all that far away.

Bruins Re-sign Hunwick

Avoiding an arbitration hearing set for this Friday, the Bruins agreed to terms with RFA defenseman Matt Hunwick, signing the young blueliner to a two-year, $2.9 million deal. The annual cap hit will be $1.45 million.

Image property of Flickr user Dan4th

Hunwick recorded 27 points last year (6 goals, 21 assists) in 53 games. He finished the season tied with Los Angeles' Drew Doughty for most points by a rookie defenseman.

Hunwick's stock with the team rose drastically over the course of the season, as he showed off his puck-moving ability, offensive instincts and willingness to jump into the rush. His offensive prowess was made even more apparent when, for a couple of games, he played as a forward.

Hunwick's season was derailed in game one of the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals against Montreal, when he took a hit that ruptured his spleen. After surgery, Hunwick missed the remainder of the playoffs, but is expected to be ready for training camp and the start of the regular season.

With Hunwick back in the fold and Byron Bitz re-signed weeks ago, Phil Kessel is the team's lone remaining RFA.

According to the Boston Globe, the Bruins currently have $2,862,500 in free space remaining under the cap. If Kessel is to return, he will have to take a pay cut, or other moves will have to be made.

Bruins Release 2009-2010 Schedule

On the same day they announced their participation in the 2010 Winter Classic, the B's released their full 2009-2010 slate.

In a bit of a change from the norm, the B's open the season at home on October 1 against Alex Ovechkin and the Washington Capitals. The opener kicks off a season-long five-game homestand, strange because the B's usually start the season on the road due to the circus being in town in Boston. Last year, the first home game wasn't until October 20th, and the year before until October 18th.

The first Bruins-Canadiens game of the regular season will be at the TD Garden on November 5th. There are rumors circulating that the B's-Habs game in Montreal on December 5th will be the "official" end to the Habs Centennial season. The question here is, why are they still celebrating what was one of the more embarrassing seasons in recent memory?

The B's will play host to the Carolina Hurricanes in the season's second game on October 3rd. Fans should rest their voices, and be prepared to boo Scott Walker as lustily and loudly as possible.

Other highlights:

• The Bruins visit the Detroit Red Wings on November 3rd. Other Western Conference games of note include at the Wild (Nov. 25th), a home and home with the Blackhawks (Dec. 18th in Chicago and Jan. 7th at home), vs. the Blue Jackets on Jan. 21, vs. the Canucks (Feb. 6th), vs. the Flames (Mar. 27th) and at San Jose (Jan. 14th).
• The B's play the Penguins four times: in Pittsburgh on November 14th and March 7th and at home on November 10th and March 18th.
• As per the NHL's new "balanced" schedule, the B's play division opponents (Montreal, Buffalo, Toronto and Ottawa) six times each.

The full schedule can be found at BostonBruins.com.

"Major Announcement" Coming Wednesday

In an email, the Boston Bruins stated that the NHL would be making "a major announcement" on Wednesday, one that "will be great news for Bruins fans everywhere".

Hm. I wonder what it could be?

______________________

From the email:

WHAT: The National Hockey League will make a major announcement concerning a special event.

WHEN: Wednesday, July 15 @ 2:00 PM ET

WHERE: Watch it stream live on Wednesday by visiting BOSTONBRUINS.COM ...


A "special event"? A "major announcement"? Could it be...is the NHL FINALLY going to announce that it plans to hold the 2010 Winter Classic at Fenway Park? The Red Sox will still be on MLB's All-Star Break, so chances are the press conference will be held at Fenway. We should finally learn who the opponent will be (odds-on favorites: the Philadelphia Flyers), and other particulars, such as field layout and other events may be announced as well.

In any case, it will be good to finally have all of this confirmed. Speculation has been swirling for months, with no one from the Bruins, Red Sox or anyone else willing to confirm or deny the reports. Stay tuned for more info, but in all likelihood we'll be reading about ice on the Fenway diamond come next week.