Bleacher Report - Articles by Ty Anderson

Five Years Later, Boston Still Turns To Pedro

Ty Anderson — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 16:11:24 -0500

He was without a doubt the most dominant, feared, respected and admired pitcher in all of baseball during the steroid-era. He was the one pitcher that you felt the need to watch every single time he took to the mound.

For seven years, Pedro Martinez was Boston.

The undersized power pitcher from the Dominican Republic, who was acquired from Montreal by Boston prior to the 1998 season for Tony Armas Jr. and Carl Pavano, was the center piece in the baseball mecca that is Boston. Although it's been over five years since Pedro took to the hill for the Sox, all eyes will be on the same man we watched in awe of for nearly a decade.

One can't logically say that Pedro didn't give his heart and soul to the Boston Red Sox when examining the numbers, Martinez went a prolific 117-37 in a Red Sox uniform, including six 200+ strikeout campaigns and an average 2.49 ERA throughout his Boston tenure.

While Pedro is considered a shell of his former self, the feeling that the 38-year old hurler still has that one big game left in him is growing largely as the Philadelphia Phillies head into the heart of the Bronx tonight to take on the Yankees in a must-win game six.

Tonight, Boston, along with Philadelphia, turns to Pedro again for perhaps one final time.

Never one shy of the cameras, or the fans, Boston adored their ace and to this day, most still do. Whether he was striking out the side in an All-Star Game, throwing senior citizens down to the ground or asking Karim Garcia just who he is, the Hub will once again rally behind all 5'11" of Pedro and the rest of the Phillies in their battle tonight against the Evil Empire.

The feeling here? Pedro can do this.

“I respect the Yankees, I love the Yankees, but I would love to beat them as much as I look forward to playing them,” an eager Martinez said prior to the beginning of the World Series showdown against the Bronx Bombers.

For Boston, the pain from Martinez's last must-win start in Yankee Stadium from 2003 still stings, even 1,844 days later. It was Game Seven of the 2003 American League Championship Series when Boston was just five outs away from capturing the American League Pennant and manager Grady Little decided to leave a clearly-gassed Pedro out there for the eighth inning.

The Yankees capitalized, and eventually capitalized off a Tim Wakefield knuckleball that sent them to the World Series.

That was then, this is now.

On the bench for the Phils is veteran manager Charlie Manuel, who will certainly be in the all-systems-go mode tonight with the Phillies standing on their last legs in an attempt to repeat as champions.

Here in Boston, the excitement and anticipation is growing as the Phillies will try to pull off the unexpected and steal a game tonight in New York City to force a decisive Game Seven in the Bronx. While Philadelphia will hope to the tame the free-swingin' Yankees' bats with Martinez, the Yankees will send veteran and proven clutch-pitcher Andy Pettite out to the bump tonight on just three days rest.

Can Pedro finally beat the demons that have haunted him at Yankee Stadium and help the Phillies live for yet another day?

Speaking for Boston, I can only say, help us Pedro Martinez, you're our only hope.

Boston Bruins: Lucic Injured; Lefebvre Called Up

Ty Anderson — Sat, 17 Oct 2009 17:43:17 -0400

Tonight, the Phoenix Coyotes will play host to the Boston Bruins at the Jobing.com Arena in Glendale, Arizona, but a key cog in the Bruins roster will not be active for tonight’s game.

Milan Lucic, who’s coming off a five-hit performance less than 24 hours ago, will be sidelined for tonight’s game and possibly more with a currently undisclosed injury.

In typical Boston Bruins fashion, the injury remains undisclosed, leading me to believe that they’d give us GM Peter Chiarelli’s personal cell phone number before telling us above a top six forward’s injury. Regardless of the info, or lack there of, the question remains; Just how did Milan Lucic suffer this injury we know little to nothing about?

It’s very possible that Lucic’s physical play last night could’ve banged him up, as he seemed to have an extra giddy-up (they were playing in Texas, so that’s acceptable for this post) in his physicality. Whatever the injury may be, the Bruins have called up forward Guillaume Lefebvre up from the Providence Bruins on an emergency basis.

Essentially when examining the call-up of the 28-year-old forward from Quebec, the Bruins are replacing one menacing force with another.

Lefebvre, who spent all of the 2008-09 season with the Springfield Falcons of the American Hockey League, tallying 206 penalty minutes along with 13 points in 70 games, has already made his mark in the Providence penalty box. Just four games into the AHL season, Lefebvre’s totaled 25 minutes in the sin bin and is expected to be in the line-up tonight for the Boston Bruins.

This likely means that Byron Bitz is getting moved up to the third line while Recchi moves up one, or that Lefebvre will be a direct substitution for Lucic on the second line. However, the latter of these plans seems unlikely as in short, Lefebvre’s there for his physical play, not his offensive skills.

Tonight will mark Guillaume’s first game in the National Hockey League since February 4th, 2006 when he was with the Pittsburgh Penguins.

Word from John Bishop via the Bruins Twitter account is that Lefebvre will wear number 92 tonight for the black and gold.

The All Post-Lockout Team: Southeast Division

Ty Anderson — Tue, 18 Aug 2009 19:39:55 -0400

Concluding the All Post-Lockout's team in the Eastern Conference is the Southeast Division, which includes the 2005-06 Stanley Cup champion Carolina Hurricanes and rising Washington Capitals.

Also in the division and on the rise are the Florida Panthers, Tampa Bay Lightning and Atlanta Thrashers.

Line One: Alex Ovechkin - Eric Staal - Ilya Kovalchuk

The top line of the Southeast features three young stars with future captains written all over them.

In Washington, the transformation of the Capitals from cellar-dwellers into legitimate contenders in the Eastern Conference is largely credited to Russian superstar Alexander Oveckin.

The 2004 first overall pick has delivered the goods to Washington, and then some. His 420 points in 324 career games are putting him on pace to take over former teammate Sergei Federov as the greatest Russian to ever play in the NHL.

Ovechkin has already given his heart and soul to the Capitals, as he is under contract in the Nation's Capital until the conclusion of the 2020-21 season.

On the topic of great young Russian stars, you can't forget about one of the most dangerous shooters in the NHL, Ilya Kovalchuk. Seemingly forgotten due to being stuck with the Thrashers, Kovalchuk's numbers speak for themselves.

The 26 year old winger has put up four straight 40+ goal seasons since the lockout and may be the biggest prize at the 2010 trading deadline or free agency.

Centering this line is the best of the Staal's, Carolina Hurricanes' alternate captain and NHL08 coverboy Eric Staal. During his tenure with the 'Canes, Staal has become a model of consistency in Raleigh, with 70 points or more in the four seasons since the lockout.

His best season came during the Hurricanes push to their first Stanley Cup victory in franchise history, as Staal's 100 point season provided Carolina with an added weapon in their arsenal.

Line Two: Alexander Semin - Vincent Lecavalier - Marty St. Louis

Although Semin has officially made the jump from playing on both wings to becoming a full time right wing, his stats put him worthy of second line minutes on the left side. Semin's three straight seasons of 25+ goals and knack for scoring clutch goals has made him a lethal weapon playing with Oveckin.

On the right side is Tampa Bay Lightning forward and one of the NHL's fastest skaters, Marty St. Louis. Despite his 5'7" stature, St. Louis has been a prime example of the rise of smaller players in the new NHL. St. Louis has chipped in an average of 81 points per season, along with a total of 23 game winning goals in the four years since the lockout.

2008-09 was a trying year for Bolts center Vincent Lecavalier, as the Lightning captain posted his lowest point total since the 2003-04 season. Even with this bad season, Vinny has averaged 39 goals a season since the 2005-06 season.

Despite rumors that the Quebec native was heading home in a trade to the Montreal Canadiens, Lecavalier remained in Tampa and is looking for a rebound year for the rebuilding Bolts.

Line Three: Erik Cole - Nicklas Backstrom - Nathan Horton

It seems as if Erik Cole was born to wear that (horrible) 'Canes logo on the front of his jersey. After heading to Edmonton in the off-season, the New York native struggled to produce with the Oilers and was sent back to Carolina, where he seemingly returned to where he left on in Raleigh.

Cole went on to score 15 points in the 17 games he played with the Hurricanes. During his original three stint with the Hurricanes from 2005-06 to 2007-08, Cole never finished with less than 51 points and was one of the Cardiac 'Canes go-to players when they were in need of a big goal or play.

At just 21 years old, it's surprising to see the development Nicklas Backstrom has gone through for the Capitals. The Capitals' first round pick from the 2006 NHL Draft has without question benefited from playing along with Alexander Ovechkin and Alexander Semin.

But in just two years he's become the captain of the Caps' lethal powerplay. His 42 points on the man advantage and his 38 even strength assists are showing what the future holds in store for this playmaking center.

For the Florida Panthers, many things have gone awry as of late. Following a trade of Roberto Luongo, this team was officially in a rebuilding mode. Through this rebuilding in the Sunshine State, a bulky right winger by the name of Nathan Horton has stood out on the ice for the Panthers.

The third overall pick of the 2003 Draft has been a solid contributor when healthy, as he posted two straight 62 point seasons before being held to just 45 in 2008-09, when injuries limited him to 67 games.

Line Four: Cory Stillman - Rod Brind'Amour - Ray Whitney

This fourth line of forwards features some Stanley Cup Playoff heroes in Raleigh.

Cory Stillman performed exceedingly well in the 'Canes Cup run of '06, where he put up 26 points in 25 playoff games. Even after that, Stillman's presence on the wing provided solid scoring depth for Carolina.

Following a short stint with the Ottawa Senators, Stillman returned back to the Southeast, this time with the Florida Panthers.

Centering the line is captain of the Hurricanes and in my book, captain of this squad, Rod Brind'Amour. Like many of the 'Canes on this team, Rod's best year came in the 2005-06 season, where he eclipsed the 70 point total for the first time since the 1998-99 season.

He's also won two Selke Trophies with the 'Canes since the lockout and has remained to be one of the Conference's best two-way players.

Ray Whitney, a mainstay in North Carolina as an alternate captain and powerplay threat, has made a name for himself in the state that's made hockey seem relevant in the South. Whitney's averaged nearly a point per game in Carolina and has scored 26 points in 42 playoff games with the 'Canes.

EXTRA SKATER: Mark Recchi & Vinny Prospal

Mark Recchi, although never spending a full season with any team in the Southeast, has contributed strongly throughout his time in the warm weathered regions of the division.

In a total of 115 games between the Thrashers, Hurricanes and Lightning, Recchi has posted 63 assists and 29 goals.

The addition of Recchi in 2005-06 gave the Hurricanes an added push towards the Stanley Cup, a move that the Boston Bruins tried duplicating in 2009.

On the wing is former 'Bolt-turned-Ranger, Vaclav, or Vinny Prospal. The Czech forward's best season was in 2005-06, where he scored 25 goals along with 55 assists.

After a trade sent the 34 year old to Philadelphia in 2008, Prospal's tenure with the Lightning seemed to be over. However, Prospal returned in 2008-09 and contributed 45 points in 82 games before being bought out this summer.

Defensive Pairing One: Mike Green - Jay Bouwmeester

Nobody could have said they saw what was coming in the case of Mike Green. The praise was high for the 29th overall pick in the 2004 Draft was high, but in 2008-09, incredible is an understatement when talking about his accomplishments.

Mike Green scored 73 points in 68 games, including an NHL record streak for defensemen when he scored a goal in eight straight games. The season earned Green a Norris nomination and at just 23 years old, and he has all the makings of a star in the NHL for years to come.

The third overall pick from the 2002 NHL Draft, the expectations of Jay Bouwmeester were that he was going to be the face of the franchise as they would go on to vitalize hockey in Florida.

However, the Panthers failed to make noise into the NHL Playoffs with the large puck mover despite the contributions of Jay-Bo. Since the lockout, Bouwmeester has been the face of the Panthers, considering he played in all 82 games of the season throughout those four years.

When the Panthers hung onto to the 25 year old during this year's trading deadline, the move was a sign that the Panthers felt they could make the playoffs and keep Bouwmeester in Miami. Bouwmeester's now a Flame, but his stats in the Sunshine State can't be disregarded, as the defenseman has averaged 30 assists a season since 2005.

Defensive Pairing Two: Dan Boyle - Niclas Havelid

Although never being the puck-moving d-man that the Thrashers need, the defensive game put in place by Niclas Havelid in Atlanta was nothing sort of spectacular.

Despite a trade that sent him to New Jersey, Havelid still led the Thrashers in blocked shots in 2008-09 with 167, 37 more than the second closest. During his three and a half seasons in Atlanta, the Swedish defenseman averaged 191 blocked shots and chipped in at least 14 points or more in all four seasons.

After winning the Stanley Cup with the Lightning in 2003-04, Dan Boyle seemed to be one of the bright spots of the future for the Bolts. When play resumed in 2005-06, Boyle appeared to become even stronger and more offensively skilled.

He followed a 53 point campaign in 2005-06 with a 63 point season in the following season. However, injuries held the compact defenseman to just 37 games in 2007-08, where he chimed in for 25 points.

In the offseason, a trade sent Boyle to San Jose, where he went on to post All-Star numbers and is currently the leading candidate to take over as captain of the Sharks.

Defensive Pairing Three: Frantisek Kaberle - Garnet Exelby

Frantisek Kaberle is certainly overshadowed by the much more sought after Tomas Kaberle, but that's still not a knock on the defenseman often paired on Carolina's third pairing.

Kaberle's 82 points in four seasons with the 'Canes is solid for someone's who production dropped rapidly due in large part to a lack of ice time.

Every team needs their tough guy right? Insert Garnet Exelby. The Thrashers blue-liner has been the team leader in hits since the lockout and fits this squad perfect as a sixth defenseman.

Although Exelby will be wearing a blue and white jersey as a trade sent the 28 year old to Toronto this off-season, the hits are still sure to be dished out handily.

EXTRA SKATER: Paul Ranger

When healthy, the skills of Paul Ranger provide a great option as a seventh defenseman on this squad. Before injuries plagued the 24 year old's 08-09 season and limited him to just 42 games, Ranger had played in at least 70 games or more in the last three seasons.

In those three seasons, Ranger averaged just under 26 points a season and is a more than adequate option on the Bolts blue-line.

Goaltenders: Cam Ward & Tomas Vokoun

The nod for starter goes to Cam Ward, hands down and without question. The Hurricane netminder has been a large factor in the post-lockout success of the Carolina-based franchise.

His career stats thus far have been impressive, but not nearly as impressive as his post-season numbers. In 41 career playoff games, Ward is 23-18 with a 2.38 GAA.

Backing him up is Panthers crease-protector Tomas Vokoun. Although Vokoun has spent just two seasons in Florida, his numbers on a rather poor offensive team merit him worthy of a spot.

Following an All-Star season in Florida, Vokoun built on those numbers and posted another solid season for the Cats, where he finished second in the NHL for save percentage.

The All Post-Lockout Team: Atlantic Division

Ty Anderson — Thu, 13 Aug 2009 03:03:32 -0400

In the second part of what's going to be a six-part series, I'm naming the All Post-Lockout Atlantic Division team.

With the Northeast Division already done, it's time to move south to the next closest division. The concept is simple, the team is named based off of stats taken from the 2005-06 season and onward (or post-NHL lockout if you will).

First Line: Evgeni Malkin—Sidney Crosby—Brian Gionta

Love him or hate him, Sidney Crosby is the clear-cut choice for the No. 1 center spot on this roster; he would perhaps be my No. 1 pick if I were making an all-NHL team.

The Pittsburgh captain has scored 100 points or higher in three out of four NHL seasons, and in the only season he failed to reach the 100 mark, Crosby was sidelined for 29 of the Penguins regular season games. His 175 points on the advantage during his short, yet illustrious career put him in a class of his own.

Often playing alongside Crosby for the Penguins is Evgeni Malkin, who ironically is playing alongside him on this loaded team. It's even debate-worthy as to who possesses more skill, Malkin or Crosby?

The 2009 Conn Smyth winner has proven to be a model of consistency for the Penguins, as his three straight seasons of 30 or more goals along with 50-plus assists have given the Penguins another superstar to complement Crosby.

On the right wing, and perhaps the division's fastest skater, is long-time Devil Brian Gionta. Although Gionta traded in his Devils' sweater for a blood-red Canadiens' jersey this off-season, the consistent numbers posted by Gionta deem him worthy of a spot on the first line of this roster.

Gionta's best season ultimately came in 2005-06, where he put up 89 points, including 10 game-winning goals for the Devils.

Second Line: Zach Parise—Mike Richards—Jeff Carter

Following a debacle of a season in the City of Brotherly Love, a renaissance of great magnitude has happened for the team formerly known as the Broad Street Bullies. They're back as a contender in the Eastern Conference.

This turnaround can ultimately be due to the increasing maturity of both Jeff Carter and Mike Richards into phenomenal players for the black and orange.

Carter, who will be turning just 25 when the Flyers take the ice at Fenway Park this year, has become a supreme goal scoring threat in the NHL.

His 46 goals were tops amongst Flyers, and his 24 points on the power play were a large factor in the success of the Flyers.

Centering this line is Mike Richards (no, not the man who played Kramer on Seinfeld), the captain of the Philadelphia Flyers.

Richards has become a model of what hard work and never quitting can do for a club, as his strong two-way play is recognized throughout the entire NHL.

In 2008-09, Richards reached the 80 point plateau for the first time in his career and was named a finalist for the Frank Selke Trophy.

On the left wing is rising star and Devils' sniper, Zach Parise. The 17th overall pick of the 2003 NHL Entry Draft was always known to have potential, but that potential, which turned out to be a 45-goal scorer in 2008-09 campaign, was a surprise to most.

Parise is coming off of a 95-point season for the defending Atlantic Division champs and with the departure of Gionta, it seems that the torch to carry the Devils' (lack of) offense is solely on the 25-year-old Minnesota native.

Third Line: Simon Gagne—Chris Drury—Brendan Shanahan

Undoubtedly, the most veteran-savy line of the Atlantic Team, but perhaps the most sneaky one, offensively. There's no questioning the fact that this line is loaded with leadership as both Gagne and Shanny have become regulars with "A's" on their jersey, while Drury is currently the captain of the New York Rangers.

In two years with the Blueshirts, Drury has posted great numbers on the power play...39 out of Drury's 114 career points with the Rangers have been scored on the advantage. For one of those years, Drury was playing alongside Brendan Shanahan, who has been placed on this third line as the right winger.

In just two years with the Rangers, Shanahan provided a strong veteran presence and contributed 108 total points in 140 games.

After sitting out the first half of the 2008-09 season, Shanahan returned to the New Jersey Devils, his first NHL team. This offseason, he has resigned for another year in Newark.

Simon Gagne, a life-long Flyer, has without question come into his own following a devastating bout with post-concussion syndrome, which sidelined him for 52 games of the 2007-08 season. In his three fully healthy seasons since the lockout, Gagne has averaged over 40 goals a season.

Fourth Line: Patrik Elias—Scott Gomez—Jamie Langenbrunner

This line has New Jersey written all over it, doesn't it? Oh, wait...

Patrik Elias, a career long Devil has experienced great success with New Jersey's top line throughout his tenure. His 78 points in 2008-09 proved to be a career high since the lockout and his knack for scoring timely goals earns him a spot on this list.

Although the Scott Gomez era flopped in New York, the 29-year-old center has put up 40 assists or more in the four seasons following the lockout. The 2009-10 season will present Gomez with a new task: playing in the Northeast Division for the Montreal Canadiens.

Jamie Langenbrunner, the New Jersey captain has continuously put together solid seasons under the defensive system practiced in the Lou philosophy.

Extra Skaters: Bill Guerin and Ruslan Fedotenko

Ruslan Fedotenko, although a seemingly odd choice for this team given his rather average numbers, has had tenures in both Pittsburgh and on Long Island. His scrappy style of play and ability to dig in the corners makes him a solid candidate for a spot in the press box on this talented squad.

Like Fedotenko, Bill Guerin has spent seasons with both the Isles and Pens. His veteran presence and ability to work in front of the net make him a valuable addition.

Defensive Pairing One: Sergei Gonchar and Kimmo Timonen

Perhaps the most underrated signing during the NHL Lockout that postponed the 2004-05 season, the Penguins' puck-mover Sergei Gonchar has continued to be a force from the blue-line.

From the 2005-06 season through the 2007-08, Gonchar put up 30 or more assists on the power play for Pittsburgh and even in the 2008-09 season where he was held to just 25 games, the Russian defenseman put up 19 points, 13 of which coming with a man advantage.

Since being acquired from the Nashville Predators, the addition of Kimmo Timonen into the Flyers' lineup has undoubtedly helped their defense monumentally.

Along with staying healthy, providing a veteran presence and being a valuable commodity in the NHL as a "puck-moving defenseman," Timonen has done everything but bring the Cup back to Philly.

In just two seasons at the Wachovia Center, Timonen has become a captain of the Flyers blue-line. His 35-plus assists in both seasons have proved to be pivotal in the return of Philadelphia to NHL relevancy.

Defensive Pairing Two: Brooks Orpik and Paul Martin

Perhaps the most defensive minded pairing on this team, both Brooks Orpik and Paul Martin play pivotal roles on their respective clubs, even if their names are not found on your scoring sheet as often as one would like.

Orpik, a physically menacing figure on the Penguins blue-line has truly come into his own throughout his tenure in Pittsburgh.

The Penguins' first-round draft choice from the 2000 NHL Entry Draft is coming off of a bruising 2008-09 season, where he was credited for 309 hits and 152 blocked shots. Along with being a model of what a defensive minded defenseman is all about, Orpik chipped in for 19 points, a career high.

In New Jersey, does any defenseman scream Devils brand of hockey more than Paul Martin? In his four seasons since the lockout, Martin has put up at least 25 points or more and has a Plus/Minus rating of 33.

Defensive Pairing Three: Marc Staal and Radek Martinek

Marc Staal may not be the point producer like his two brothers, who center lines for both the Penguins and Hurricanes, but simply put, Marc Staal gets the job done.

Staal is making great strides in what seems to be a promising career. In 2008-09, the 22-year-old threw 189 successful hits along with 41 takeaways and averaging just under three minutes of short handed ice time.

You know the past few seasons have been a wash in Long Island when Radek Martinek is your lone representation who currently remains on your roster.

This is by no means a knock to the Slovakian defenseman, but he's been one of the long marks of consistency on the Isles blue-line as he's proved to be a solid penalty killer.

He finished second to Brendan Witt on short-handed ice time and was second behind Mark Streit for total time on ice per game. His average of just under 15 points a season makes him a solid choice as the sixth defenseman on this club.

Goaltenders: Martin Brodeur and Henrik Lundqvist

It should be no mystery to anyone who the goaltenders of this squad were going to be.

Starting, of course, is perhaps the best goaltender to ever play. Although argued vehemently by Canadiens fans, the stats don't lie as Marty Brodeur is the NHL's all-time leader in wins by a goaltender.

Although Martin Brodeur is beginning to show signs of being human, as his postseason stats are beginning to dip, the fact remains that he's one of the game's all-time greats between the pipes.

Backing him up is the King of Sweden and perhaps even New York, Henrik Lundqvist. The Rangers' backbone and Olympic Gold Medalist has proved to be an asset to the Rangers as he's posted solid season after solid season and quickly became an iron-man in between the pipes.

With 20 shutouts since 2005-06, three Vezina Trophy nominations, and a trip to the 2009 NHL All-Star Game, his selection to this team is a no-brainer.

Red Sox Search For Third Ace In Deck: A Call To Arms

Ty Anderson — Tue, 11 Aug 2009 19:50:00 -0400

Welcome to the roller coaster known as the Boston Red Sox.

It seems that just a few weeks ago, members of Red Sox Nation were beginning to set up their lawn chairs on Commonwealth Avenue's parade route, as the Red Sox seemed poised to bring home their third World Series Championship in six years.

However, the recent free fall of the Red Sox to divisional rivals Tampa Bay and New York, along with inconsistency, have created a cloud of doubt in the Hub.

Going into the 2009 season, the Boston Red Sox seemed to have a great deal of depth at the starting pitching slot and were arguably considered the best pitching team in all of baseball.

The additions of Brad Penny and John Smoltz into the rotation, along with the continuing development of Justin Masterson, Clay Buchholz, and Michael Bowden, seemed to undoubtedly give the edge to the Red Sox.

Add these players in with aces Josh Beckett, Jon Lester, Daisuke Matsuzaka, and the veteran knuckle-baller Tim Wakefield, and one couldn't help but love this team's chances to stifle the Yankees', Rays', Angels', and Tigers' powerful lineups in the American League.

However, some things just fall apart.

Following a successful World Baseball Classic, Red Sox hurler Daisuke Matsuzaka went 1-5 with an ERA over eight and a WHIP over two. What's been best described as "arm fatigue" is blamed in large part on Daisuke's workload for Team Japan in their title defense.

The 28-year-old import has been working on building his shoulder strength back up in Ft. Myers, Florida.

In his 15th season of calling Fenway Park home, Tim Wakefield was on the fast track to a career year. He was 11-3 and named to the All-Star Game for the first time in his 17-year career.

However, a lower back strain landed the 43-year-old on the disabled list, and despite being close to ready to return to the rotation, back problems could possibly linger and draw a halt to Wakefield's recent success.

The John Smoltz experiment flopped, as the 42-year-old went 2-5 with the Red Sox with an 8.33 ERA, before being designated for assignment and clearing waivers. Although a role in the Red Sox bullpen may still be open for the 22-year veteran, his days as a starter for the Sox are simply over.

Currently after Josh Beckett and Jon Lester, the Red Sox's rotation features Brad Penny, Clay Buchholz, and Junichi Tazawa. While it seems that Clay Buchholz and Tazawa are progressing, they are simply not ready for the big time innings. It seems that come October, the Red Sox might be out of options for their postseason hopes.

Brad Penny, who signed a one-year deal worth $5 million with Boston in the offseason, has shown flashes of brilliance, but he's also shown a lack of durability and longevity on the hill.

Penny has yet to pitch a full seven innings in any of his 22 starts for the Sox. However, with the question marks surrounding the rest of the rotation in Boston, the pressure may be on Penny to step it up as a third starter.

Posing the question if Penny is to falter, who should the Sox rely on as their third ace in the deck?

The obvious choice, but perhaps long shot, is Daisuke Matsuzaka. Despite missing much of this season due to previously mentioned arm fatigue, the crafty right-hander is still a great asset to Francona and the Red Sox when healthy.

Keep in mind, Daisuke is coming off a season that he went 18-2 and worked efficiently when called up. If Matsuzaka is to return, it would take a monumental and unlikely turnaround to land him a spot on the postseason roster.

Next in line would be Tim Wakefield. The longest tenured member of the Red Sox and fan favorite, Wakefield's numbers come October are something of concern.

Wakefield is 5-7 with a 6.75 ERA in the postseason because the knuckleball has a tendency to be ineffective in the cold weather of October. Despite his current good stats, the back injury and poor stats later could keep the man known as Wake to limited innings.

For now, it appears as if the Red Sox will continue their search for a third ace to throw after Beckett and Lester, who continue to give the Red Sox strong performance after strong performance.

With Paul Byrd signed to a minor league deal, and as Wakefield and Matsuzaka continue their rehabilitation in attempts to return to a high level of play, now is the time for someone like Brad Penny or Clay Buchholz to show the nation what they can really do.

Boston Bruins Trade Aaron Ward to Carolina; Create Cap Space for Phil Kessel

Ty Anderson — Fri, 24 Jul 2009 14:51:25 -0400

An unexpected trade became official this morning as the Bruins sent veteran defenseman Aaron Ward to Carolina in exchange for a 2010 fourth round draft pick and forward Patrick Eaves. After the trade, newly acquired Patrick Eaves was placed on waivers and was going to be bought out if no one claimed him.

This was a cap dump by definition, however, the disagreement in the Hub of Hockey is beginning to grow.

First, Aaron Ward was a fan favorite. He was made popular for his rugged style of play and "Ward Wednesday" on the Toucher and Rich show on WBCN, where he would frequently bash a player from the opposition without care.

Despite being overpaid in many people's eyes as Ward's numbers never quite justified the $2.5 million a year salary, he earned the status of Boston's veteran defensive presence for young guys such as Mark Stuart and Matt Hunwick.

The biggest killer in this deal for most B's fans has been the fact that if Eaves isn't claimed he will be bought out. Boston is currently paying both Glen Murray and Peter Schaefer through buyouts that are counting against the cap and now they're going to add another to the list?

Between Schaefer and Murray the B's have $1.9 million in buyouts currently against the cap ,and with Eaves expected to join the list the amount of buyouts on the cap jumps up to over $2 million.

This move was ultimately made to create the cap space needed to re-sign 36-goal scorer Phil Kessel. However, despite the eventual addition of Kessel, the Bruins have created themselves a lack of NHL-ready players on the blue-line.

Along with mainstays Zdeno Chara, Dennis Wideman, Andrew Ference, and Mark Stuart the Bruins are expected to have young players Matt Hunwick and Johnny Boychuk join the NHL roster as their defensive core.

With these six ready for the NHL season, the problem would develop if and when an injury strikes the B's defense. With no defensemen in Providence truly ready for the big leagues, there's a need for a seventh defenseman in Boston.

With Shane Hnidy signed in Minnesota, the obvious choice is gone.

Kessel, who's expected to sign for $4-5 million a season, Peter Chiarelli will simply not have a lot of money to add anyone for more the minimum. Although Drew Fata was recently signed to a two-way contract, he's an undersized goon who really doesn't bring much to the table at the NHL level.

In a large pool of veteran defensemen looking for new homes, the Bruins may just get lucky. One name that sticks out to me, for one, is former Bruin Kyle McLaren.

The 32-year-old defenseman has certainly experienced quite the fall from grace. After being sent to the American League with his $2.2 million cap hit, the 6'4" menacing blue-liner put up seven points in 22 games for the Worcester Sharks.

When a trade that would have sent McLaren to Philadelphia was nullified after McLaren failed a physical, the doubts are growing that he will never return to the NHL level.

Along with McLaren, 47-year-old Chris Chelios is still out there as a free agent.

Despite struggling in the 2009 playoffs for the Red Wings, the veteran could possibly be a nice addition as a seventh defenseman held to limited playing time. He has Stanley Cup experience and could even be a better mentor to the Bruins young guns than Ward was. I fully believe that if both were given to chance to play in the NHL then they'd accept the league minimum.

For some, the attempt to get back into the NHL will be difficult following major surgeries. Two names that stick out are Sergei Zubov and Rhett Warrener.

Zubov is coming off major hip surgery and looking for a new home. The 39-year-old defenseman has been a great powerplay weapon his entire career and had four points in 10 games for the Dallas Stars in 2008.

Warrener, a former Calgary Flame mainstay, is coming off major shoulder surgery and appears to be done in Calgary. In 2007-08, Warrener's last season played in, he had four points in 31 games. With his shoulder possibly unable to hold up, a role as a seventh defenseman for league minimum could be a plus for both Warrener and the Boston Bruins.

One thing's for sure, this cap space freed up by the trading of the three-time Stanley Cup winner has made enough room to sign Kessel to a long-term contract. As is the case with many NHL teams and the way they approach their RFAs, the Bruins are anxious to get a deal done with the potential 40-goal scorer of the future, which is now fully possible.

The All Post-Lockout Team: Northeast Division

Ty Anderson — Tue, 21 Jul 2009 00:53:54 -0400

With the NHL lockout a thing of the past and the dog days of the off-season upon us, I figured I'd make what in my opinion is the best team from each division since the lockout. First up is the division I'm most familiar with, the Northeast.

Line One: Dany Heatley - Jason Spezza - Daniel Alfredsson

It's impossible for me to not acknowledge what has arguably been the most potent line in the NHL since it's formation.

The CASH (Captain-Alfredsson-Spezza-Heatley) line has simply made fools of Northeast division goaltending despite the lack of success since the Senators 2006-07 Stanley Cup appearance. Although the line saw a dip in production in 2008-09, their dominance over the Northeast was well noticed, noticed enough to put them as the top line of this team.

Line Two: Thomas Vanek - Marc Savard - Alex Kovalev

Words really can't express how much Bruins center Marc Savard has benefitted from the new style played in the NHL. He's one of three players to post 60-plus assists in every season since 2005-06, the other two being Joe Thornton and Sidney Crosby. He's become a leader on the Bruins powerplay and his numbers speak for themself.

His line-mates, Buffalo Sabres rising star Thomas Vanek and Canadien turned Senator Alex Kovalev have also thrived in the NHL. Vanek's built a solid resume as a scoring threat since his debut with the Sabres as he's averaging 65 points a season in his four years in Buffalo.

Alex Kovalev or better known as AK-27, has become the most iconic player to play for the Habs since the lock-out. His skating abilities and stick-handling have made him a supreme scorer in the division and hated by the opposition but his talent is limitless.

He's evolved into a leader which has resulted in him wearing the 'C' on his jersey in Montreal during Koivu's absence and his 21 playoff points in 22 playoff games for the Canadiens have shown his ability to come through in the clutch.

Line Three: Marco Sturm - Mats Sundin - Michael Ryder

Perhaps the most lethal line among the all forwards when it comes down to grit and getting your hands dirty, all three of these players have made deep impacts on the teams they've laced them up for.

Marco Sturm, who's become a consistent 20-plus goal scorer for the Boston Bruins when healthy and earned the role of alternate captain has been phenomenal for Boston since a trade brought him to the Hub of Hockey in the Joe Thornton deal. Sturm's biggest impact was undoubtedly in Game 6 of the 2008 Eastern Conference Quarterfinals against the Montreal Canadiens when he scored a game-winning goal to force a Game 7.

Mats Sundin, one of the longest tenured captains in Toronto Maple Leaf history has given his heart and soul to one of the NHL's most historic franchises. Although Sundin couldn't bring the Cup to the Stanley Cup-starved city of Toronto, his impact to the Leafs offense even in his later years earns him a spot on this roster.

Michael Ryder has seen the best of days and the worst of days in his career. Breaking into the league as a winger with a deadly shot with the Canadiens, the Newfoundland native has averaged 25 goals a season. Now with the Bruins, Ryder is going through a revival under the Claude Julien system.

Line Four: Derek Roy - Saku Koivu - Maxim Afinogenov

The heart and the soul of the Canadiens since the lock-out, Saku Koivu has been an honorable captain and proven big game performer. The cancer-survivor's made a name for himself in the NHL through his leadership quality and strong two-way style of play.

For the Sabres, the contributions of Derek Roy and Maxim Afinogenov as consistent performers have helped the Sabres offense carry the load and take pressure off players such as Daniel Briere, Chris Drury and Thomas Vanek.

Extra Skater: Darcy Tucker

Love him or hate him, Darcy Tucker was one of the toughest son-of-a-gun's in the Northeast Division while with the Leafs. The Toronto tough guy averaged over 93 PIM per season along with posting 18 goals or more in three seasons with the Leafs before leaving Leaf-land for Colorado in 2008.

Although Chris Neil could be a nice selection for the extra skater, his simply didn't have the point total that Tucker had.

Defensive Pairing One: Zdeno Chara - Andrei Markov

Without question, Zdeno Chara's post-lockout effect has been far greater to the Boston Bruins than it was to the other club he's played with since 2005-06, the Ottawa Senators.

The 6-foot-9 defensemen has been the backbone of the Boston defense and has seen his assist totals top 30 every season during his tenure in Boston. He's also become a force on the powerplay and his slapshot broke the NHL record for fastest shot at the latest All-Star Weekend festivities in Montreal.

Up north in Montreal, the Russian born Andrei Markov has become one of the most consistent weapons on the Habs powerplay.

In the four seasons since the NHL lockout, the powerplay machine has seen his point totals rise every year and has been a large reason for the recent success of Montreal's powerplay. It can also be argued that Markov will become the Canadiens captain for the 2009-10 season.

Defensive Pairing Two: Tomas Kaberle - Mike Komisarek

Despite dozens of rumors regarding Tomas Kaberle's future with the Maple Leafs over the years, the Czech defensemen hasn't let the rumors effect his play.

Perhaps it was the new rules and style changes to the game, or perhaps it was maturity, but whatever happened to Tomas Kaberle during the NHL lock-out was for the best. In his four seasons in Leaf Nation, the 31-year-old puck-mover has averaged 44 assists a season.

Althougn Kaberle experienced a dip in production this year due to injuries, there's no debating that he's among the elite class of defensemen in the NHL.

In four full seasons with the Canadiens, Mike Komisarek has become a force on the blue-line due to his strong physical play. Komisarek, or "Komi" to many of his fans has never been the point man, but with his 6-foot-4 frame and fiery attitude the fans of Montreal simply loved this guy.

During his tenure in Montreal, Komisarek averaged over 200 hits a season along with over 160 blocked shots per season. His numbers didn't tell the whole tale as his physical style of play resulted in a current on-going rivalry with Bruins forward Milan Lucic.

Komisarek is staying put in the Northeast for the foreseeable future as the American signed a four year deal with the Toronto Maple Leafs.

Defensive Pairing Three: Dennis Wideman - Craig Rivet

Although he's spent just over two years in the Northeast Division with the Boston Bruins, the improvement Dennis Wideman has made into a solid defensemen has been phenomenal.

His point totals have gone up in two full seasons in the Hub of Hockey under the Claude Julien system, but fans have also see Wideman begin to develop into that "puck-moving defensemen" Boston so desperately wants.

Craig Rivet, the current captain of the Buffalo Sabres, has become a fixture in the Northeast Division. Despite spending a season and a half out in the West with the Sharks, the one-time Canadien found himself back in the East with the rebuilding Buffalo Sabres.

Rivet picked up where he left off, playing the role of providing veteran leadership along with physicality and not being afraid of dropping the gloves to get his point across.

Extra Skater: Jaroslav Spacek

Spacek, who traded in his Sabres sweater for Habs colors this off-season has proven himself as a solid defensemen with an offensive upside during his tenure in the NHL. Although it took Spacek quite a few years to find a solid home until arriving in Buffalo, he has made a name for himself as a solid second line defensemen.

Goaltenders: Ryan Miller & Tim Thomas

In the post-lockout Northeast, the spotlight has been on two American-born goaltenders. Although varying in age by over six years, Ryan Miller and Tim Thomas have increasingly shown their ability to rise to the occasion.

Ryan Miller, the Buffalo netminder and heart and soul of the Sabres has never recorded less than 30 wins while playing for the blue and gold. In his four seasons with the big club, the Michigan native has recorded 11 shutouts.

The journeyman and fan favorite of Boston, Tim Thomas has been on a true Disney-like ride to his current rank in the NHL. The 35-year old wild goaltender has continuingly gotten better throughout his time in the Hub.

Called up as an emergency injury replacement for Bruins goalie Hannu Toivonen, nobody could've said that they saw what was going to happen next. Following a season where the Michigan native set career highs in every category as the Bruins finished first in the Eastern Conference, the guy who almost never got his chance in the NHL was named winner of the Vezina Trophy.

The Awful, The Bad & The Worst Of Epstein: Theo's Five Worst Moves

Ty Anderson — Sat, 18 Jul 2009 02:24:51 -0400

To say Theo Epstein's done a great job in Boston would be an understatement. The Boston-native has assembled two World Series winning clubs and have reached the American League Championship Series in four of Epstein's six years as Sox general manager. Although these accomplishments put Epstein in the discussion of baseball's best general managers, it goes without saying that even he has made a few mistakes during his tenure in Boston. With Julio Lugo the latest player to get designated for assignment, it's a good time to review Theo's five biggest misses as general manager.

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10 Boston Bruins Games You Need To Watch Not Played at Fenway Park

Ty Anderson — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 02:03:46 -0400

As jubilant as Boston is that they'll be the host of the third Winter Classic, there are still 81 more games to be played in the Bruins' quest for a Stanley Cup.

Despite these games having roofs over their heads and lacking a 37-foot-tall monster (although they do present us with a near seven foot tall captain), there's no denying that there's still a lot of buzz generating around these games.

10. New York Islanders at Boston Bruins (Saturday Oct. 10: 7 PM)

Rarely is it a big deal when the 15th place team battles against the first place team from the year before, but the buzz about the newest Islander makes it worth the viewing. This game marks the debut of Jonathan Tavares at the TD Bank Garden.

If the hype is correct and this kid is on the same level as Sidney Crosby was in his first year, then this battle between the rebuilding Islanders and Bruins should be a good one.

9. Ottawa Senators at Boston Bruins (Saturday Nov. 28: 7 PM)

Will Dany Heatley still be a member of the Ottawa Senators come Nov. 28? I suppose that doesn't really matter because the story here is created by Boston's favorite player to hate, Alexei Kovalev.

The long despised Canadien traded in his Montreal sweater for a divisional foe Sens jersey, but I'm sure that won't change the way the Garden faithful views him. It'll certainly be interesting to see how loud and long-winded the boos are for L'artiste, even without the Montreal jersey on.

8. Vancouver Canucks at Boston Bruins (Saturday Feb. 6: 1 PM)

Much of the excitement behind this game, in my opinion, comes from the face that this is Vancouver's first trip back to Boston since Nov. 15, 2003.

Since then, both teams have found a new jersey styles and along with new directions for the better within their franchise. This game will also likely pit two of the best goaltenders in the NHL against one another.

7. Montreal Canadiens at Boston Bruins (Thursday Nov. 5: 7 PM)

It's hard to make the case that any Bruins vs. Canadiens game lacks excitement because, well it's just plain not true. This will be the first regular-season meeting between the two teams since the Bruins four game sweep of the Canadiens in their centennial season.

With the Habs adding two former Bruins in Paul Mara and Hal Gill while the Bruins add former Canadien tough-guy Steve Begin, expect things to get awfully chippy (per usual) in this Original Six clash.

6. Boston Bruins at New York Rangers (Sunday Nov. 1: 1 PM)

This game may be competing against the time slots of most NFL teams, but I'm already locked in on this matchup. The Rangers are coming off a frustrating end to their season as they blew a three-game series lead to bow out of the conference quarter-finals and always provide great competition against Boston.

A stat worth mention is the fact that seven out of the last eight meetings between these teams were decided by one-goal, including four over-time thrillers. In these eight matchups the Bruins are 5-1-2.

5. Toronto Maple Leafs at Boston Bruins (Saturday Dec. 5: 7 PM)

Fairly new Leafs GM Brian Burke is already putting his patented Burke-stamp on the Toronto Maple Leafs. As he did in Anaheim, where he put together a Stanley Cup winning team, he's loading the Maple Leafs up with good ole' fashioned North American bruisers.

Undoubtedly, his biggest splash came with the robbery of defensemen Mike Komisarek away from, Montreal, a player loathed by Boston fans and players alike.

Along with Komisarek, the additions of Colton Orr and Garnet Exelby make the Leafs a lot scrappier and will ultimately provide a great physical contest when they come to the Garden for a Saturday night in Boston. Doesn't this one have Dallas Stars at Boston Bruins Part II written all over it?

4. Washington Capitals at Boston Bruins (Thursday Oct. 1: 7 PM)

Opening night always has a great feel to it. From the fan fare outside the stadium, to the anticipation of the fans within the building. With Alexander Ovechkin and the rest of the Southeast Division winning Capitals in town, additional excitement may not be needed for most fans.

3. Chicago Blackhawks at Boston Bruins (Thursday Jan. 7: 7 PM)

The excitement around this one is stemming from this being my pick for the 2010 Stanley Cup. It may be early, but I fully feel that with the additions these teams have made and the continuing development of their young stars into NHL studs that this game has all the makings to be a fine preview of what could be come June.

2. Carolina Hurricanes at Boston Bruins (Saturday Oct. 3: 7 PM)

The villain of all villains, Hurricanes forward Scott Walker and the rest of those Cardiac 'Canes will be making their first trip to Boston on Oct. 3, the Bruins first Saturday night game and second game of the season.

The reception for the boys from Raleigh will certainly be unwelcoming, as a sure to be rowdy Saturday night Garden crowd will let their feelings be known to the team that knocked the Bruins out of the second round.

Also, it'll be interesting to see how the Bruins handle their (not announced, but sure to happen) retribution to Scott Walker for his sucker punch to Aaron Ward in Game Five. The series may be over, but as Shawn Thornton said "We (hockey players), have long memories."

1. Boston Bruins at Montreal Canadiens (Friday Dec. 4: 7 PM)

This will be the final send off to the Montreal Canadiens centennial (we can only hope) as the Bruins will square off against their most hated rival at the Bell Centre for the first time in the 2009-10 season. This date also marks the first game the Habs ever had in the league, making it the true centennial.

With the crowd of 21,000 plus screaming Canadiens fans sure to give this game a playoff feel, expect the players to have an extra jump in their stride. One query I've pondered is whether or not the Habs will break out their prison-jumpsuit throwbacks for this one? We can only pray not.

Stealing Boston's Thunder: Caps and Montreal At Olympic Stadium?

Ty Anderson — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 16:23:08 -0400

Let me preface this piece by saying I hate the Montreal Canadiens. Let me preface that preface by saying I've learned that hating the Montreal Canadiens is like riding the biggest rollercoaster at (Original) Six Flags.

One week, they're the cousin whose pants you hide in the tree during vacation just to see him get mad, but you'll help him because he's family. The next week they're the brother who decides to reveal your secret fascination with Hello Kitty products to a girl you fancy on the first date, causing you to curse his name and buy voodoo dolls in his honor.

This one though, this one hits a nerve.

Rumor's are growing that tomorrow when the NHL schedule is released, it'll be revealed that the Montreal Canadiens will take on the Washington Capitals at Olympic Stadium in Montreal, former home of the now extinct Montreal Expos on November 28th.

Surely you jest, right?

If the NHL really decides to take the spotlight of the outdoor game away from Boston, Montreal's biggest rival, by awarding the Habs an outdoor game to close out their centennial celebration, I for one, will probably require a bucket to vomit in.

The Montreal Canadiens centennial season, or apparently never-ending centennial season is going to continue into the 2009-10 season? Seriously? I guess the All-Star Game and NHL Draft weren't enough to appease the Habs faithful, now you're going to give them an outdoor game before the 2010 Winter Classic?

I firmly believe that we've all had enough of this Montreal 100 season brouhaha. It's bad enough we had to watch Mike Komisarek become an All-Star thanks to the Habs voting scam, it's bad enough we had to see the Habs wear their red, white, and blue prison uniforms this season and to make this short (like the Habs newest top line) and to the point: The fans of the other 29 teams in the NHL have had enough.

Congratulations on being 100 years old Montreal, you guys really deserve it.

That doesn't make much sense, does it? Neither does rewarding Montreal an outdoor game after they've been rewarded with every other fan attraction possible for a team who finished in eighth place in the Eastern Conference and underachieved throughout the entire season.

Legacy and longevity doesn't mean anything when you look at the Habs' recent fortunes. They've boo'd their own goalie, chanted the name of the coach they ran out of town when the team faltered to win with a new coach, have gone 1-8 in their last nine playoff games, and currently have a plethora of question marks heading into the 2009-10 season.

They invade Boston three times a year and in the playoffs with their whistles, bells, face-paintings, and signs in French. Despite the Bruins recent success against the Habs, truth is that they've broke the hearts of Boston fans time and time again and now could be in line to steal the thunder away from Boston and the Winter Classic with an outdoor game of their own that could ultimately seat more people.

If Bettman realizes the success he and the marketing department of the NHL have had with these outdoor games, he'll make the right choice (and make Boston a slightly less angry city) and limit it to just one game per year and keep Montreal out of this.

Honestly, when it boils down to it, no one outside the province of Quebec cares how old the Montreal Canadiens are.

Boston Bruins' Rookie Camp Wraps In Wilmington

Ty Anderson — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 16:16:29 -0400

As is the case every year, the Boston Bruins rookies eagerly arrived in Wilmington to take to the ice and show off their skills to Bruins coaches, executives, and the fans.

With the camp concluded, it appears that the development of players from the 2008 camp has continued to grow strongly, due in large part to time spent with either the Providence Bruins of the AHL, or gaining maturity in the junior leagues. With the players officially back home, it's time to look back and review how the camp went.

Among those making their first impressions, defensemen Ryan Button and Russian prospect Yuri Alexandrov certainly made their respective presences known on the blue-line. Both showed great promise, and were more than willing to use their size to their advantage during the drills and scrimmage.

Alexandrov, who's spent his last two seasons in the KHL, demonstrated great skating abilities and showed no signs of being below the pace set by the North Americans.

Along with the blue-liners of tomorrow, Jordan Caron surprised many of the fans in attendance at Ristuccia throughout the week. For a 6'2" forward, Caron had deft puck-handling skills and was a more than capable skater.

During the drills, Caron frequently got into good battles for the puck with Yuri Alexandrov which were very Bruin-like. It appears as if the gritty and not-afraid-to-get-your-hands-dirty style of play practiced by the Bruins is beginning to show up among their prospects.

Speaking of gritty, 2008 draft choice Jamie Arniel had a strong showing throughout the week.

Playing on the "gold-line" with Tyler Randell and U-Mass Lowell forward Scott Campbell, Arniel's strong play impressed fans, who mainly know Arniel as a guy who made news clippings for his off-ice issues.

Arniel's biggest improvement seems to be his shot, which looked phenomenal compared to 2008. In the scrimmage, Arniel showed his two-way style of play, scoring a goal past Matt Dalton on a breakaway after forcing a turnover. Arniel's development will be continued in Providence, where he finished the season in the Bruins' attempt for the Calder Cup.

Although Arniel showed great improvement from 2008, he's not the only skater who shined on the ice compared to last year. Maxime Sauve, the Bruins second round pick from 2008 has shown an all around improvement in his game.

Notably, his puck awareness has improved dramatically, along with his ability to create scoring chances on the grey line, which consisted of line-mates Zach Hamill and Jordan Caron. Sauve will begin the year back with Val d'Or of the Q, but I'd pick the lefty to finish out the second half of the season with Providence if he continues to develop into a legitimate offensive weapon.

With draft picks and free agent signings come camp invitations, this year the Bruins invited seven players to their camp. Including Boston University's Jason Lawrence and loud-mouth Rob Kwiet, whose decking and loud personality was a hit among fans sitting in the frozen bleachers.

Mark Isherwood, another camp invite, had a strong showing and displayed some smart offensive skills for a defensemen.

The other three unsigned invites; defensemen Brady Lamb, Tyler Ludwig, and forward Scott Campbell, all put on a show worthy of receiving contract offers from Boston as well.

For the Bruins, the need for a possible netminder of the future continues. Although Tuukka Rask is slated to be the goaltender of the future in the Hub of Hockey, it's never set in stone that he can hold up and have the mindset of a full time NHL goalie (see: Hannu Toivonen).

Matt Dalton, a pivotal cog in the Bemidji State miracle run had a strong camp, displaying great mechanical skills, with his only weakness appearing to be his blocker side.

Sporting new pads and a new helmet, Michael Hutchinson had a great camp and looked as if he improved every facet of his game from the previous year. Despite the strong showing of these two crease-protectors, the play of Adam Courchaine has improved notably, specifically his shot recovery.

With the rookies set to return in September, they'll now either spend the next month and a half relaxing, or getting up to health as Tommy Cross, Yannick Riendeau, and Zach McKelvie were held to minimal on—ice activity, or none at all, throughout the week.

As the fans got the chance to watch the rookies on the ice, then meet with them and get pictures, one thing's for sure, the future of the Boston Bruins is looking brighter every year.

Report: Bruins Offer Kessel to Toronto for Kaberle, Seventh Overall Pick

Ty Anderson — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 09:00:10 -0400

This stove's already heating up in the early hours of the morning here on Draft Day.

According to sources from TSN.ca, it's being reported that the Bruins have offered RW Phil Kessel to the Toronto Maple Leafs for defensemen Tomas Kaberle and the seventh overall pick in the 2009 Draft.

Kessel, is set to become a restricted free agent come July 1 and it appears that his rumored asking price of $5 million per season is simply too much for the Bruins to add onto their salary cap.

Assuming that this report has accuracy to it, it may appear as if Kessel's negotiations have not gone in the Bruins favor and they're not utilizing all options to get the most worth in return for Phil The Thrill.

Kaberle is coming off a season where he battled injuries to his right hand, an injury that kept him out of the lineup for 25 games. However, Kaberle still put together a solid year for the blue and white with his 31 points, 19 of which coming on the powerplay.

It's no secret that new Leafs GM Brian Burke is a fan of North American players and Phil Kessel may just be what the Leafs need. He's a fast and lethal scorer and his price tag is sure to be less expensive than fellow free agents Marian Hossa and Marian Gaborik making him an even more friendly option to Toronto's needs.

Along with Kaberle, the Bruins would receive the seventh overall pick in this year's very deep draft, addressing the issue of moving up in the draft, a topic which Chiarelli had touched on in a radio interview earlier this week.

If this move is to happen, the Bruins would likely be in the position to select Zach Kassian, Brayden Schenn, or perhaps Jared Cowen.

Flyers Heading To Fenway For 2010 Winter Classic?

Ty Anderson — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 15:57:06 -0400

Simply put, it's the worst kept secret in the National Hockey League. The Winter Classic on Jan. 1, 2010 will be played at America's most beloved ballpark and home to the Boston Red Sox, Fenway Park. We already know the Bruins are set to play (obviously) as the home team but the B's opponent has been rumored and been a topic for discussion for months now.

Currently, the newest rumor gaining legs is the idea that the Philadelphia Flyers will be skating against the black and gold on News Year Day.

At first, we thought it would surely be the Montreal Canadiens, the Bruins most bitter rivals since their introduction into the NHL, but we learned soon after that NBC and the NHL would like to keep the Winter Classic showcasing the American clubs. By simply looking at a map we'll realize that Montreal and Toronto are not in the race.

Surely, it'll be an Original Six team, right? It won't be Chicago or Detroit, they just played a game against each other at Wrigley so who's left? Insert the New York Rangers.

Oh that's classic. The iconic Boston vs. New York rivalry that takes place on the Fenway Park diamond, only this time the Red Sox and Yankees aren't involved. The history of the two clubs, talent level and television markets would surely go for this, right?

The NHL's possibly planning to have a game at Yankee Stadium in the coming year (or two) and there's no way the Islanders are selling that out, so cross the New York Rangers off the list.

The options are dwindling by the minute. Then we learned about the Washington Capitals.

The Caps presented an option that sort of left B's fans puzzling "Do we have a rivalry with Washington? I know they're good, but we only play them four times a year." The thought of Ovechkin and the Caps coming to Fenway hit a nerve with some Bruins fans, feeling that this would give the NHL an excuse to spotlight Ovechkin more than the Bruins and the idea of a game at Fenway Park. No offence to Ovie, but he is quite the show stealer.

However, due in large part to the poor ratings on NBC during Ovechkin and the Capitals Eastern Conference Quarterfinals match-up against the New York Rangers, the NHL on NBC has decided to go with someone besides the Caps. The next option in line, the Philadelphia Flyers, intrigues Bruins and NHL fans for quite a few reasons.

These teams may not be in the same division, but there's still a large share of bad blood between the two franchises. The base of the hatred stems from that fateful Saturday matinee against the Flyers on Oct. 27, 2007.

In the first period of a scoreless game, Patrice Bergeron was leveled into the boards on a more-than-questionable hit by Flyers blue-liner Randy Jones. The Bruins went on to lose the game and Bergeron for the next 72 games of the regular season and entire playoffs. However, the rivalry didn't end after that contest.

Later in the year, when the teams met in the City of Brotherly Love (irony), Flyers forward and Sideshow-Bob-look-a-like Scott Hartnell decided he wanted to continue the Flyers team motive of board-and-run when he boarded Bruins defenseman Andrew Alberts, giving Alberts a concussion and ending his season prematurely.

He followed that up with an attempt at boarding Bruins captain Zdeno Chara when an agitated Aaron Ward took matters into his own hands with some vigilante justice against the Flyers.

At the end of 2007-08, it was the Bruins who had the last laugh as they went 3-1-0 against the Broad Street Bullies including two overtime thrillers. The hatred between the teams has continued into the 2008-09 season where all four match-ups between the two Eastern Conference contenders were filled with hard hits, penalties and fisticuffs.

As a fan of thriving franchises in the NHL, these two teams match-up perfectly for the contest. Both teams can hit, score and make exceptionally great plays.

Both clubs are back to competing at a high-level and are trying to return to the glory they brought to their cities in the 1970's. This may not be Clarke vs. Orr, or the Big Bad Bruins vs. the Broad Street Bullies, but this is as close as we're going to get if Montreal's not coming to Boston.

Papelbon Paving Road All Too Familiar to Red Sox

Ty Anderson — Sat, 20 Jun 2009 00:58:06 -0400

"Not only the Bronx, but anywhere, I think anywhere is a possibility..You always have to keep that in the back of your mind because you can’t just be one-sided and think that, ‘Oh I’m going to be in a Red Sox uniform my entire career.’ Because nowadays that is very, very rare. . . . There’s no question I would love to stay in a Boston Red Sox uniform, but I have to do what’s best for me and play in an atmosphere where I’m wanted and play on a team where I’m wanted and that’s all I can really say about that, you know?" - Jonathan Papelbon during an interview with XM Radio on Thursday.

Oh god, here we go again.

Or at least that's the current thought process of Red Sox Nation. We've seen this before, some of Boston's most beloved fan favorites making their plans for the future in advance to the media.

In recent years, it started with Big Mo. As Mo Vaughn irately insisted that 'it wasn't about the money', Sox fans saw the Hit Dog pound 40 homers along with a .337 average only to jet off to Anaheim 80 million dollars richer.

Undoubtedly, the most bitter pill for Red Sox fans to swallow came in the 2005 offseason when fan favorite and All-Star center fielder Johnny Damon traded in his red socks for pinstripes.

Damon, who's signature beard and long hair created a legion of fans and cult following in Boston had stated "There's no way I can go play for the Yankees, but I know they're going to come after me hard. It's definitely not the most important thing to go out there for the top dollar, which the Yankees are going to offer me. It's not what I need." Johnny's loyalty became non-existent when he accepted the Yankees four-year 56-million dollar deal.

Now, with Jonathan Papelbon's recent comments, are Red Sox fans preparing for the inevitable?

To say Papelbon's been a stud would be an understatement. In three full seasons with the Boston Red Sox, Papelbon has a 1.84 ERA and his 129 career saves put him just four more away from becoming the franchise's all-time save leader. He's still three years away from being a free agent, but the concern is there, and for good reason.

Papelbon's numbers speak for themselves, in the game of baseball is one where a reliable closer has become a premium. As teams such as the Blue Jays, Athletic's and Phillies can tell you, a top of the line closer can make the difference between your team competing in the long run or just being a pretender.

Papelbon's already stated his desire to test the waters of free agency when his current deal expires, but on Friday an annoyed Papelbon re-touched on his comments during the interview. He vehemently stated "I don't want to play for the (expletive) Yankees." and went on to drive the point of being happy to be a member of the Red Sox organization.

It's nice Jonathan, it really is, but we've heard it before.

Fact is, and it's a harsh reality for the Fenway Faithful but don't expect the Red Sox to break the bank in an attempt to keep Papelbon in Boston. In most cases, when Theo Epstein and Sox ownership have made their decision to move on, they've often been the victors as the careers of players who've left often are never the same.

They also do not want to commit Green-Monsterous money to a player one's career could be ruined with one injury to his pitching arm. Cases such as the one north of the border with Toronto's high-paid yet oft-injured closer B.J Ryan, is a prime example of what over paying for a closer can do to your team.

In the event of Papelbon leaving Boston after 2011, who'll they turn to? In all likelihood, Daniel Bard would be the obvious replacement for Papelbon into the future. It's even debatable that the Red Sox are grooming Bard in an attempt to prepare him for the job come 2012.

It may be more than three years away, but Red Sox fans would be wise to start preparing for the heartbreak because in the end, their favorite is just another athlete looking for the big pay day.

Bruins Score Hat Trick at NHL Awards Ceremony

Ty Anderson — Thu, 18 Jun 2009 21:02:27 -0400

First it was Blake Wheeler. Then Milan Lucic followed, Krejci was next; Kessel followed and then the three Bruins up for awards tonight in Las Vegas decided they'd like to win and be a part of a hat trick.

In what was an apparently emotional acceptance, Bruins goalie Tim Thomas thanked his family and his supporters for their encouragement throughout his long and travel-filled career. A visibly moved Thomas stated that he was used to "wondering if he'd make the roster, let alone win an award." Thomas' acceptance drew a large applause from the crowd of fellow NHL players and greats.

Then, in what was a surprise to me anyhow, Claude Julien captured the Jack Adams Trophy over St. Louis Blues coach Andy Murray and Sharks bench-boss Todd McLellan. A smiling Julien thanked Pat Burns for inspiring him along with Bruins brass, fans, and fellow coaches. Julien parted after a few words for his family in Quebec in French, and the Bruins were two-for-two in the awards they were nominated for.

With the Norris up next, the Bruins just needed a Chara victory to a perfect three-for-three in the awards category.

Despite the offensively explosive season had by Capitals defensemen and mohawk enthusiast, Mike Green, and the veteran leadership of Nicklas Lidstrom, the award went to the man known as Big Z.

For Chara, it was the first time he'd actually won the Norris Trophy and it was his third nomination. A honored Chara thanked his teammates, Bruins fans, and virtually every one within the Bruins coaching staff and front office. In his speech, he especially thanked his wife and newborn daughter for being his biggest supporters.

Chara also went out of his way to give a message of encouragement to the kids who, like him, have been the victim's of not making the team or being 'cut' off the roster. Chara, who provides a great example of fighting your way to the top had finally captured the trophy he rightfully deserves.

Now with these accomplishments going onto the shelves and into the resumes of these B's, it's time to move towards the ultimate goal and bring home the big one, The Stanley Cup.

Tim Thomas: From NHL Castaway to Vezina Favorite

Ty Anderson — Thu, 18 Jun 2009 02:10:15 -0400

"Is this real?"

This question has undoubtedly ran through the mind of Bruins netminder Tim Thomas at one point or another during his incredible season in between the iron for the Boston Bruins.

Tim Thomas, yes the same Tim Thomas who just five years ago found himself playing in Europe wondering if he'd ever have another chance to step on an NHL rink is finally just a few votes away from reaching a milestone his career rightfully deserves.

Tim Thomas, who turned 35 in April has seemingly gotten better every year during his tenure in Boston. Called up as an injury replacement for Hannu Toivonen in the midst of the horrid 2005-06 season, Thomas immediately earned a reputation as a wild-man in net. His style, or lack thereof made him a unique character on a rebuilding Bruins team.

As the season continued, Thomas eventually took over for the near useless Andrew Raycroft and went 12-13-10 with a .917 SV%. He was rewarded witha 3-year contract extension at mid-March and with the trading of Andrew Raycroft to Toronto, the job of full time starter for Boston was Thomas' for the taking.

Thomas went 30-29-4 with the Bruins in 2006-07 as the team failed to make the playoffs for the second straight year. Thomas' numbers drop was often attributed to coach Dave Lewis' "over-working" of The Tank, who before 2006 had never played more than 54 games in any setting.

Despite Thomas' play, Bruins GM Peter Chiarelli felt that the team had lacked the 'number one' goalie needed to guide the team back into the playoffs. This put the Bruins in the market for a goaltender, and the they got one.

On July 1, the Bruins went out and traded for Minnesota Wild netminder and Jennings Trophy co-winner Manny Fernandez in exchange for prospect Petr Kalus and a 2009 4th round pick.

However, fate found Thomas' in Boston's crease yet again. After Fernandez went down with a season-ending knee injury just four games into his tenure with the Bruins, Thomas was once again relied on to be the starter in Boston's push for the playoffs.

A new coach and style of play found Thomas in a favorable position, his numbers went up, and for the first time in his career Thomas was playing in the NHL All-Star Game. Thomas continued to lead the Bruins and played a pivotal role in the team's return to the playoffs and near upset of the number one seeded Montreal Canadiens.

To put it simply, the 2008-09 season was Thomas' year. He dominated virtually every goaltending categoryin the NHL, finishing with the best SV percentage (.933) and GAA (2.10) among all NHL goalies. He continued to play up to his numbers during the Bruins bid for their first Stanley Cup in 37 years.

With no disrespect to the seasons of Wild goalie Niklas Backstrom and Columbus phenom Steve Mason, there's no conceivable reason why Thomas will not be leaving the Sin City without some hardware and an answer of "Yes, this is real." You've earned it.

This Calder's Bound for Columbus

Ty Anderson — Thu, 18 Jun 2009 01:07:33 -0400

It was just a week ago that the Pittsburgh Penguins beat the Detroit Red Wings in the highest viewed Game Seven in over 35 years, but tomorrow night in Las Vegas, the NHL will take one more look back on the season that was before marking the real beginning of the off-season.

Starting off my predictions for tomorrow's ceremony is the Calder Memorial Trophy. The Calder Trophy is, in short, the NHL's award for rookie of the year. The nominees all reside in the Western Conference with Steve Mason of the Columbus Blue Jackets, Kris Versteeg of the Chicago Blackhawks and Bobby Ryan of the Anaheim Ducks being finalists for the 72nd naming of the trophy.

Mason, a 22-year old Ontario native, played phenomenally for the Columbus Blue Jackets, where he posted a 33-20-7 record, including a league-leading 10 shutouts and was the biggest driving force towards the Jackets march to the Stanley Cup Playoffs for the first time in their short history. Despite his strong start, the wingers opposing him are no fourth-line grinders.

Kris Versteeg has been nothing but a pleasant surprise for the Chicago Blackhawks. Versteeg was originally obtained from the Boston Bruins in a (now regrettable for Bruin faithful) trade that gave the Bruins forward Brandon Bochenski and has surprised even his harshest of critics in his first full NHL season. Versteeg scored 22 goals and tallied 31 assists in what was a very note-worthy rookie season in the Windy City.

Bobby Ryan's season has been an incredible one, despite it starting out in the AHL with the Iowa Chops. His 31 goals in 64 games were second only to Corey Perry (32) and Ryan's effectiveness on the power-play were more than helpful in the Ducks successful bid towards the NHL Playoffs.

Despite the strong post-season play of Versteeg and Ryan, this one's going to the 'tender, as Steve Mason will join the company of Calder winning goalies such as Martin Brodeur, Ed Belfour, Ken Dryden and Tony Esposito.

For the sake of Columbus and Mason, let's hope he doesn't end up with the reputation of Andrew Raycroft and become a could-have-been, one-year-wonder or a trivia question that will stymie even the biggest hockey brainiacs.

NHL: Will Visors Soon Be Mandatory?

Ty Anderson — Tue, 17 Feb 2009 15:58:56 -0500

We've all seen it a hundred times—the inevitable high-stick. Often, it'll catch a player in the neck or face lightly without injury and earn the high-sticker two minutes in the sin-bin.

When blood is drawn, however, it'll result in a four-minute double minor. As the number of high-sticking injuries climbs yet again, the age-old debate must be brought up yet again: Should the NHL make visors mandatory?

The general consensus among former players and executives is yes.

Too often, key players have been affected by such an injury. Notably, Mats Sundin, Steve Yzerman, and Dany Heatley have all been shelved by an injury to the eye.

Perhaps the most startling injury was the one suffered by defenseman Bryan Berard, who lost vision in 80 percent of his left eye after taking a Marian Hossa stick to the eye back in 2000.

Berard was never the same. His vision was at a 20/600 scale, but after receiving seven eye surgeries and contact lenses (which brought his vision up to 20/400), he was allowed to play in the NHL again. Berard was unable to find a solid home, bouncing to five different teams in the following six seasons. He currently plays for the KHL in Russia with Vityaz Chekhov.

Although the visor does help, it doesn't automatically mean your eyes are protected. While playing in Europe, Ottawa Senators star Dany Heatley caught a puck in the eye while wearing a visor, resulting in him having a permanently dilated left eye.

One case against the use of visors is the players' problems experienced with them. Eric Lindros, a former six-time all-star had his own personal complaints against wearing visors. He felt that he couldn't see as well, a common problem experienced by players who attempt to wear the visor for the first time.

Another case against visors is the hockey players' mentality. It's often viewed as a sign of weakness by fellow players, thinking that one player is "hiding" behind his visor.

Sean Avery's comments about Denis Gauthier only reinforce that line of thinking: "I think it was typical of most French guys in our league with a visor on, running around and playing tough and not backing anything up."

Even most NHL referees have obliged to wear a visor after their colleague Rob Martell was struck in the face with an errant puck. Wearing a visor has even become a mandatory policy in the AHL, implemented in the 2006-'07 season. It states that the well-being of the players is in the league's best interest.

It appears the AHL's best are adjusting well to the rule; many of them are opting to keep the visor when they receive the call-up to the NHL.

The NHL's newest victim of a high-stick injury was the Bruins RW Michael Ryder. Ryder took an Antoine Vermette high-stick late in the third period of a game against Ottawa. The injury required surgery for three small fractures in his face. He must now wear a cage or visor for the rest of this season and possibly his career.

"I was just lucky it wasn't my eye," an optimistic Ryder said following yesterday's practice. Bryan Berard is living proof, Michael; you are indeed very lucky.

Will The Real Phil Kessel Please Stand Up?

Ty Anderson — Mon, 16 Feb 2009 22:23:50 -0500

It's safe to say Wisconsin native Phil Kessel's journey with the Boston Bruins hasn't been an easy one, to say the least. Taken by the Bruins in the first round of the 2006 Draft with the fifth overall pick, Boston had high hopes for the University of Minnesota star right-winger.

A prospect with high potential and talent, Kessel was capable of being the first overall selection. However, issues with his attitude and work ethic let Kessel slide down to the fifth selection, and into black and gold.

However, the Bruins felt confident that the jump to the NHL would change the problems he had at the University of Minnesota. Kessel's rookie campaign in Boston proved to be a difficult one, both on and off the ice. On Dec. 12, the Bruins took Phil Kessel off their active roster with a 'medical issue'. The issue was treatment for testicular cancer.

In a month's time, Kessel returned to the Bruins and with a bang. He scored the game-winning shootout goal to beat the Penguins 5-4. Shootouts, after all, were the only thing the rookie shined in. Although Kessel ended the year with rather poor totals (12 goals, 17 assists and -12) the Bruins fans and management gave the then 19-year-old a pass.

In 2007, it seemed Kessel was much the same player that struggled the previous year.

On Oct. 25, 2007, Kessel pulled a terrific toe-drag move past a Chicago defensemen and scored past Khabibulin. For the next 73 games, it's all we saw from the winger. It appeared every time he went up ice, he was trying to same toe-drag and it simply wasn't working. He scored just 14 times after Oct. 25.

Then in the playoffs, it appeared Claude Julien had had enough of the unsuccessful and repetitive deke. Kessel received a benching for Games Two, Three and Four, something Julien did to Alexei Kovalev during his tenure as coach in Montreal to wake him up.

The benching worked, and in Game Five Kessel scored a goal and played defense for the first time in a Bruins uniform in the Bruins 5-1 rout of the Habs.

Then came Game Six game—thee game.

In the first period, Savard fell down near the center ice dot when Kessel took over. He went up ice, did the same move we all saw all season long and it worked. He put it right through Francis Bouillon's legs' and wristed it by Price to score.

As the Garden erupted, so did Kessel. He scored yet another goal in the third period in what many consider,the official rebirth of hockey in Boston.

As the 2008 season began, Kessel wasted no time resuming his work, scoring six goals in the Bruins first six games of the season. It appeared he was becoming the real Phil Kessel. Kessel went cold, got hot and then got cold again. During his second cool-down, Bruins fans noticed a fatigue in Kessel's step and skating. He look exhausted and often winded after his shifts.

Then on Jan. 10, Kessel was placed on injured reserve with mono. Who he was kissing has yet to been discovered as the search continues for the culprit, but one thing was for the sure: the Bruins were without their sniper. The overall play of the team didn't appear to suffer greatly as the Bruins went 4-1-1 with Kessel out, but they were more than happy to get him back.

However, things haven't been great since his return.

Kessel hasn't hit his stride yet. Call it rust, call it a cold streak—though it's more like an ice streak—Kessel is goal-less in his last 12 games, sporting a disappointing -3 in those games.

It appears the Bruins' fans worst fears came true as Kessel has reverted to doing the toe-drag again and again unsuccessfully. Don't count on another benching due to the injuries, but as the Bruins continue to slide and continue to struggle to put pucks past the goalie, all eyes will be focusing on the potential offensive juggernaut that is Phil Kessel, waiting for him to awake.

Why Nik Antropov Needs To Be a Boston Bruin

Ty Anderson — Sat, 14 Feb 2009 15:18:46 -0500

Last night in New Jersey, the Boston Bruins dropped their 3rd game in a row. Something they haven't done since late October. With Petteri Nokelainen and Chuck Kobasew joining the list of injured Bruins along with Michael Ryder.

Injuries to the three RW's forced the Bruins to call up Martins Karsums and Vladimir Sobotka prior to last night's 1-0 loss at the Prudential Center.

The lack of depth at RW is clear when you look at the Bruins line-up. Once you get past Kessel on the first line the name's become reminiscent of the Providence Bruins. With guys like Karsums, Sobotka and Bitz in the line up the Bruins are clearly a less offensively potent team.

Their inexperience and lack of scoring is giving GM Peter Chiarelli a reason to call old friend and trading partner Brian Burke and get 6'6 forward Nik Antropov in a Boston uniform.

It's apparent Antropov's days as a Maple Leaf are nearing a close. That idea was reinforced by Leafs GM Brian Burke's quote last week. "From my standpoint, I don't see any reason to put a new contract offer on the table, as I think it might be time for a change of scenery.".

Burke and Chiarelli's history of making deals can only help the Bruins case in the race for Antropov. In the Chiarelli era, Boston has made deals with Burke three times. The latest move being the trading of right-winger and Robert De-Niro circa 'Taxi Driver' look-a-like Brandon Bochenski to Anaheim for defensemen Shane Hnidy. As Toronto moves forward with their movement towards rebuilding and youth the Bruins have the weapons to pull off a trade.

With Marco Sturm on the long-term injured reserve list, the Bruins have 3.5+ million dollars to work with for a trade. Antropov's current salary is at 2.2 million and with his contract expiring at seasons end there's no question that the Bruins could afford him. However, as is the case with most deadline deals the asking price could and will be the eventual deciding factor as to whether this deal gets done or not.

Antropov's stock has certainly been up and down this year. At one point, the 28 year old winger went 16 straight games without a goal. As of late however, he's turned it on; scoring goals in four of his last seven games.

Antropov's effectiveness on the powerplay also makes him an appealing target for the Bruins. When looking at Antropov's stats one might be weary of picking him a guy with a -15 but when looking at the rather awful goaltending the Leafs have had this season it should come as no surprise.

Antropov's stock is undoubtedly raised by his capability of being a center along with a right-winger. There's no doubt there will be many potential suitors for the career-long Maple Leaf but the Bruins may have just the right players to complete a deal.

If it meant gaining that offensive weapon and big forward the Bruins need to compete in the later rounds of the playoffs to maintain three or even four strong lines, one must think Chiarelli would pull the trigger.

As big of a risk as it may seem to give up a player like Vladimir Sobotka, Martins Karsums, Matt Lashoff or Matt Hunwick if it increases the chances of the Bruins raising their sixth Stanley Cup Banner and first since 1972 one would assume they'll pull the trigger.

Randy Jones Strikes Again: Philadelphia Flyers Beat Boston Bruins 4-3 in OT

Ty Anderson — Sun, 08 Feb 2009 18:39:23 -0500

It may have happened 468 days ago, but Boston fans certainly haven't forgiven Randy Jones. On October 27th 2007, Patrice Bergeron's season was cut short due to a disgraceful boarding by Flyers defensemen Randy Jones. The Garden faithful gave Jones a Kovalev-esque treatment, loudly booing the defensemen anytime he touched the puck. However, it appeared Jones embraced the role of the villain as the Flyers overcame a two-goal deficit to defeat the Bruins 4-3 in OT in a Saturday matinee at the TD Banknorth Garden.

The Bruins took to the ice without Michael Ryder, who's suffering from a broken facial bone after taking an Antoine Vermette high stick to the face on Thursday. The B's were also without Aaron Ward (flu) and Marco Sturm (torn MCL). However, the Flyers themselves weren't 100 percent as they were without captain C Mike Richards and RW Scottie Upshall. Upshall and Richards also missed the last game against Boston in Philadelphia on Wednesday.

This was the Bruins third game in four days and also marked the return of Bruins G Manny Fernandez. Fernandez had been out since January 8th with 'back spasms' and was subjected to much scrutiny for his rather lengthy time on the shelf. It's possible Manny himself has been hearing about the trade rumors involving his name as he ditched the normal black, gold and white pads for a bland set of black and white Reebok pads.

Marc Savard got the party started early for Boston, putting one by Martin Biron just under 4 minutes into the game for his 21st of the season, six away from matching his career high with 30 games to play. Simon Gagne tied the game 10 minutes later by capitalizing on a 5-on-3 due to a Mark Stuart tripping call. Byron Bitz notched his first career NHL goal after tipping in a crazy bounce off the cross bar and in and Chuck Kobasew followed Bitz's goal up eight seconds later with one of his own. As the period came to a close, the Bruins found themselves up 3-1.

When the teams came onto the ice for the second period of play a change was made in the Philadelphia net. Antero Nittymaki came in for the inconsistent Martin Biron, who allowed three goals on 15 shots. Antero was coming off a strong January in which he went 3-1-1 with a 2.16 GAA. This was an official turning point in the contest as goals by former Bruin Glen Metropolit (2) and a powerplay goal by Scott Hartnell (20) let the Flyers head into the dressing room tied 3-3 after 40 minutes of play.

There's no question the Boston vs. Philadelphia rivalry had jumped to another level of intensity following the incidents with both Patrice Bergeron and Andrew Alberts. The third period was no exception as both teams came out flying with intensity, fighting for every corner and finishing their checks. As both goalies demonstrated great poise and positioning at key points the teams found themselves in a 3-3 stalemate after three periods.

For the third time in their last six meetings, the Bruins and Flyers were going to OT. As the Flyers killed off the remaining 36 seconds on Nittymaki's delay of game penalty they moved towards an offensive attack. As they pressed on into the Boston zone, Jeff Carter set up a pass to Randy Jones. Jones took a shot which went off Andrew Ference's knee and past Manny Fernandez to give the Flyers a 4-3 in Boston. Fans got up and left disappointed as for the second time in their last three trips to the Garden, Randy Jones had ruined the day for the Bruins and their fans.