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

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.