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.

Pre-game Thoughts on Game 7

Just a few quick thoughts before it's time to drop the puck on this series' deciding seventh game:

• I wouldn't be surprised if the Bruins have to (pardon the bad pun) weather the storm early tonight. Carolina hasn't had to play with "desperation" at all in this series yet, while the Bruins have been playing for their playoff lives for the past two games. In some cases, especially in game five, it was clear that the Bruins were working harder and wanted it more, winning puck battles and out-hustling the 'Canes. Chances are that won't happen tonight, as the 'Canes are now facing a do-or-die game as well.
• Look for Milan Lucic to get involved early. His hit on Dennis Seidenberg essentially kickstarted the B's in game five at home. Any physical activity, be it from Lucic, Byron Bitz, Shawn Thornton or Zdeno Chara, gets the crowd going and energizes the team. Lucic is going to have to keep it within the rules, as an early power play would be exactly what the doctor ordered for the 'Canes, a pristine chance to quiet the home crowd.
• Keep an eye on Marc Savard. Claude Julien said that he sent Savard to the room at the end of game six essentially because he didn't want to risk further injury and that the game was already in hand. The game, as referenced by the last eight minutes, really was far from over, making me wonder if Savard's knee is more injured than we're being told. There is little short of a cripplnig or life-threatening injury that will keep a hockey player out of a playoff game let alone a deciding seventh game, but the Bruins need Savard to be 100%, at his play-making best.
• At some point in this game, Tim Thomas or Cam Ward will make a momentum changing save. This may seem like common sense or a broad prediction, but look for it to happen for one side. For Thomas, he has made one in each of the last two games, making two quick saves in the first period of game five just after the Bruins have scored and making a sprawling save last game to keep the 'Canes off of the board. While Thomas or Ward may not "steal" the game, one of them is going to have a chance to come up big for their team tonight.
• A lot is being made of the 'Canes "being here before", a reason for them not to worry. Also, a Versus analyst said that the pressure now shifts back to the Bruins, who are now expected to win. To me, the pressure is on each team equally. The 'Canes don't want to be a team that blew a 3-1 series lead, and the Bruins don't want to get eliminated in the second round as a top-seed. As far as experience goes, the Bruins are no slouches in that department. Everyone on their assumed starting line-up tonight experienced a game seven last year, excluding Byron Bitz, Michael Ryder, Stephane Yelle, Chuck Kobasew and Steve Montador. Bitz is the lone-playoff greenhorn here, however, as the others have significant playoff experience (Ryder with the Habs, Yelle and Kobasew with the Flames and Montador with the Ducks). Two of the leaders of Carolina's 2006 Cup-winning team are currently with the Bruins as well: Aaron Ward and Mark Recchi. While the 'Canes may be more-experienced, the Bruins certainly aren't a group of novices.
• To me, this is the Bruins' game to lose. They have proven in the past two games that if they play the way they are capable of playing, they can win. If they can play physical but careful, and continue to work hard up and down the ice, they should be OK. Does that mean I think this game will be easy? No, this won't be a flashback to last night's thrashing of the Capitals by the Penguins. But if the Bruins play their game and do what they've shown they are capable of doing, they will put themselves in a good position to win.

Go B's.

Thoughts on Scott Walker Incident, Game 6

One of the biggest stories to come out of the Bruins' game five win over the Hurricanes was the Scott Walker "sucker punch" incident, viewable below.

Today, the NHL announced that Walker would NOT be suspended, and would instead have a $2,500 fine levied against him. Bruins fans are understandably frustrated by the ruling. After the incident occurred, Walker was given a two-minute instigator penalty, a five-minute fighting major and a game misconduct. Aaron Ward, on the receiving end of the punch, was given two minutes for roughing, probably for the shoving match he was involved in with Matt Cullen prior to Walker's interruption.

The reason that Bruins fans are up in arms over this ruling is that, according to the NHL rulebook, anyone assessed an instigator penalty in the final five minutes of a game is automatically suspended for the next one. From the NHL Rulebook, rule 56.a:

(NEW for 2005-06) A player who is deemed to be the instigator of an altercation in the final five (5) minutes of regulation time or at any time in overtime, shall be assessed an instigator minor penalty, a major for fighting, a ten minute misconduct and an automatic one-game suspension. The length of suspension will double for each subsequent offense. In addition, the player's coach shall be fined $10,000 -- a fine that will double for each subsequent incident.

(NEW for 2005-06) (NOTE 1) No team appeals will be permitted either verbally or in writing regarding the assessment of this automatic suspension.

If the above rule is to be taken at its word, then there's no way Walker could NOT be suspended. However, upon review, apparently by the league itself, specifically disciplinarian Colin Campbell, the suspension was "rescinded".

The problem here is that apparently Campbell, who has been skewered by hockey fans league-wide for his inconsistent policing of the game (see, just this playoffs, Milan Lucic, Alex Ovechkin, Donald Brashear, Mike Komisarek...list goes on), thought that what Walker did deserved a fine, but not a suspension. By fining Walker, Campbell is conceding that he did SOMETHING wrong, just apparently not enough to sit for a game.

The Bruins are understandably miffed by the ruling, as GM Peter Chiarelli noted that the team "respectfully disagree[d]" with the ruling. The Hurricanes, on the other hand, are relieved, and seemingly feel that Ward was the recipient of some kind of payback for "liberties" the Bruins have been taking all series.

Rutherford said that the "incident" was "clearly brought on by [the Bruins]", saying that his team has been taking shots from the B's after the whistle all series. I'm not sure what he's been watching, but the B's have hardly been the only one's taking shots, as, in my opinion, they've remained relatively restrained considering the number of times 'Canes have, shall we say, "visited the crease" of Tim Thomas this series.

What it all means is that the 'Canes will still have the services of one of their grittier forwards tomorrow, and that the Bruins may be without Ward, who is being evaluated for a fractured orbital bone. He is traveling with the team, and if I had to guess, I'd say he plays tomorrow, probably with a mask or a full cage.

This, along with the Jussi Jokinen slash of Zdeno Chara, may work in the Bruins' favor. Last night's game proved that when the B's play physical, they can neutralize Carolina's speed game, the aspect of their attack that has given the Bruins the most problems. The infusion of anger and borderline hatred for the 'Canes may be what the Bruins need to keep up the physical play.

Winning tomorrow will be tough, as the 'Canes have been stellar in their own building this playoffs. However, if the Bruins can play another game like they played last night, they won't lose again for the rest of the playoffs, not just tomorrow night. The question remains, though. Can they keep up the consistent effort? Can they play "Bruins hockey"?

These are questions that will be answered in under 24 hours, when the Bruins will be on a plane back to Boston, either with the Hurricanes following shortly behind them, or alone, making summer vacation plans.

Go B's.

There's a Hurricane Comin' Through

The Bruins have learned their second round opponent, and it is the Carolina Hurricanes, by virtue of their win over the New Jersey Devils and the New York Rangers' loss to the Washington Capitals.

Not enough time to write a preview (final tomorrow morning), but the B's were 4-0 against the 'Canes this season. However, the 'Canes tore it up down the stretch, and entered the playoffs as one of the NHL's hottest teams, mainly because of the return of Erik Cole and the rejuvenation of goalie Cam Ward.

Should be a good one, it's about time the Bruins hit the ice again. The Boston Globe is citing a TSN report that games 1 and 2 will be Friday and Sunday nights at the Garden. If that's right, the Bruins will have had eight full days away from game action in between playoff matches, an almost unheard of respite during NHL's dash to the Cup.

Go B's.

Seedings to be Finalized Tonight...

After nearly a week of waiting, the Boston Bruins will find out who their second-round opponent will be by the end of the night tonight. With two game 7's on tap for the evening (Carolina @ New Jersey, New York @ Washington), the semi-final match-ups will finally be completely set. However, there are plenty of different scenarios that could play out. The Bruins could play either New York, Carolina or Pittsburgh. There is no way they could play either New Jersey or Washington in this coming round.

Here are the scenarios for the two key teams (Canes and Rangers), and the end result in each of them:

Rangers

• If RANGERS win and DEVILS win, the Bruins play the RANGERS
• If RANGERS win and HURRICANES win, the Bruins play the RANGERS
  
• If RANGERS lose and DEVILS win, the Bruins play the PENGUINS
• If RANGERS lose and HURRICANES win, the Bruins play the HURRICANES

Hurricanes

• If HURRICANES win and RANGERS win, the Bruins play the RANGERS
• If HURRICANES win and CAPITALS win, the Bruins play the HURRICANES
• If HURRICANES lose and RANGERS win, the Bruins play the RANGERS
• If HURRICANES lose and CAPITALS win, the Bruins play the PENGUINS

Basically, the Bruins will only play the Penguins if both higher-seeds (Caps and Devs) advance. If one upset occurs, the Bruins play the lowest seed available. If BOTH upsets occur, the Bruins would play the Rangers, because they are guaranteed to be the lowest seed left standing.

It's really not as confusing as it sounds, and will all be sorted out within three hours (barring overtime, of course).

Predictions? I'm sticking to my originals, and saying the Canes win and Captials win, setting up the return of Sergei Samsonov to the Garden later this week, and a Bruins-Canes Conference Semifinal.