Seven Ways I Say "Thank You," Peter Chiarelli

May 26, 2006.

It's a date that should be deemed a holiday here in Boston, MA. It's a date in which the Boston Bruins franchise would make a dramatic upgrade. It's a date that put Boston back on the hockey map.

I officially announce this date as, Peter Chiarelli Day.

The Boston Bruins announced Peter Chiarelli as the new General Manager of the franchise, the seventh GM in the teams' history. Chiarelli came from the Ottawa Senators, where he spent two years are the teams' Assistant General Manager.

It has taken me a bit of research, but I have compiled a list of my top seven reasons to give thanks to our new Boston hero.

7: July 1, 2008

Signing Michael Ryder to a three year contract. Scoring 30 goals and 50-plus points in his first two seasons in Montreal, Ryder had a hiccup in 2007-2008 with the Habs, scoring a mere 14 goals in 70 games played. But Chiarelli rolled the dice anyways.

Ryder has made an immediate impact on the Bruins this year. Having played in all 39 games thus far this season, the RW has racked up 14 goals and 27 points for the Black and Gold.

This is the Michael Ryder that we all expected, especially after buying out—and releasing—Glen Murray, and watching Glen Metropolit head to Philly.

6: August 2, 2007

Signing the 50th overall pick in the 2006 NHL Draft, Milan Lucic.

The LW Lucic is a crowd favorite, and has the potential to get a "Gordie Howe Hat Trick" on any given night. He was the 2007-2008 "Seventh Player" for the Bruins, and has often been in the same conversation comparisons as Cam Neeley.

Even though being "demoted' to the third line, the Vancouver native has 11 goals in all 39 games this year, and registers a +16. He's also one point away from tying his total points from last year (27 in 77 games). He also leads the NHL in hits with 151.

5. June 30, 2007

Trading the 2009 fourth-round draft pick and Petr Kalus for G Manny Fernandez.

Okay, so his first season with the B's wasn't worth the money, but who can see into the future and predict a knee injury?

Having only played in four games in his first year in Boston—with pretty bad numbers for the money—Manny has made a complete 180, and is now showing his true colors in 2008-2009, by going undefeated at home with a 9-0-0 record.

If that's not enough, the net minder who once split-time with Dwayne Roloson in Minnesota is amongst the league best this year. With a 13-2-1 overall record, and one shutout, Fernandez ranks second in the NHL with an astounding 2.02 GAA, and is fifth in the league with a .930 SV%.

I wouldn't be surprised to see him as the no.1 goalie next year, over UFA Tim Thomas.

4. August 17, 2006

Signing the fifth overall pick in the 2006 NHL Draft, Philip Kessel, to a $850,000 multi-year contract.

Often compared to Sidney Crosby, “Phil the Thrill” can now officially be named as one of the young elite players in the league. His 24 goals this season ranks him fourth best in the NHL, and first on the Bruins.

He has been criticized in the past for lacking to play two-way hockey, even resulting in a brief stint on the bench in last years’ playoff against the Canadiens. But this year, under the tutelage of Claude Julien, Kessel has improved dramatically—from being a -6 last season, to a +16 this year. And just to think, this kid beat cancer just two years ago, at the tender age of 19.

3. July 1, 2006

Signing “Big-Z”, Zdeno Chara, to a five-year contract.

Chara was a unrestricted free-agent in the summer of ‘06, so it was no huge shock that Chiarelli brought him along to the Beantown.

Slapping the “C” on his sweater right away was quite the surprise to the majority of Bruins’ fans. Chara was often chastised for not having the leadership qualities to honor the captaincy of the Original-Six team, or the responsibilities that come along with it.

The pessimism didn’t stop there. Chara was under the microscope for his entire first season in Boston. Many people thought of Chara as a big softy, figuring someone of his size could—and should—play with more aggression.

Someone must have put a bug in his ear. The fans have since silenced (sort of). Chara’s big hits and willingness to drop the gloves—when needed—have made him one of the more popular players on the team this year.

He was elected to his first All Star appearance last year with 55 points, +15, and 207 shots-on-goal. This year: 22 points, +16, and 104 SOG. Way to go, Pete!

2. July 1, 2006

Signing the most underrated player in the NHL to a four-year contract.

Now this one deserves “seven thank you’s" in itself. If I said it once, I said it a million times: Marc Savard is the most underrated player in the NHL.

Coming from a small-market team (if any market) in Atlanta, Savard absolutely tore it up with the Thrashers, setting numerous single-season franchise records. Just how underrated is he, you ask? Well, he only had 97 points with the Thrashers in 2005-2006, and still got snubbed for the All-Star team.

No. 91 made an immediate impact in his first season with Boston, racking up 96 points in all 82 games, and his 74 assists ranked him third in the NHL, en route to his first All Star appearance.

This year, the center is continuing his underrated season. He’s fourth in the league with 49 points, third in helpers with 36, and tied for first with an astounding +25.

1. June 19, 2007

Signing the franchise’s 28th Head Coach, Claude Julien.

“One man’s trash is another man’s treasure.” Arguably the best move Peter Chiarelli has made yet as the Bruins GM.

Julien was fired as head coach of the New Jersey Devils in April of 2007, despite having the second best record in the Eastern Conference while compiling 107 points.

His first season on the bench, 2007-2008, Claude coached the Bruins to its first playoff berth since the 2003-2004 season. 41 wins and 97 points was good enough for third in the Northeast, despite key injuries to Patrice Bergeron and newly acquired Manny Fernandez.

Julien’s “defense first” mind has completely revitalized the Boston players, and all of their success comes directly from his superior hockey knowledge.

Case in point:

1. There are only five players on the Bruins roster who are in the negative side of the +/- department, and one of those players have played just one game with the Bruins.

2. The top-four players in the NHL in the +/- category wear Black and Gold, as do seven of the top-15.

Claude Julien is on his way to his first Jack Adams Award, that he so rightfully deserves.

Thank you, Peter, for making Boston a hockey town once again, and giving us Bruins fans hope once again. Hopefully the next "Thank You" article will be "Thank You for bringing the Stanley Cup back to Beantown."

There are certainly other moves that I have left out here, but these are the seven-best-ways I can say "Thank You" to Peter Chiarelli.