- Fluto Shinzawa of the Boston Globe: Bruins GM Peter Chiarelli knows the trading of Johnny Boychuk doesn’t make them a better team now.
“I’m sure the guys are bummed, and they’re probably a little bit bummed at me for doing it,” general manager Peter Chiarelli said of the teammates Boychuk is leaving behind. “But it’s about making the team better now, tomorrow, the next day, the next day. Arguably, this doesn’t make us better now, obviously.”
The moved cleared $3,366,667 off the Bruins salary, giving them room to sign Simon Gagner (on a PTO) or potentially to acquire a right winger through a trade. The Bruins could use one of the picks they acquired in the Boychuk deal to acquire help down the road. They are not actively pursuing a right winger at the moment. Boychuk could be looking for $6 million on his next deal. Chiarelli didn’t hold any talks with Boychuk’s agent as he knew he wouldn’t be able to come close to the number.
- Mark Lazerus of the Chicago Sun-Times: Nick Leddy would have required a $3.4 million qualifying offer, a number that the Blackhawks may not have been willing to go to. By handing on to Johnny Oduya and trading Leddy, shows that the Blackhawks are making another run at the Cup before having to do some retooling to accommodate Toews and Kane’s $10.5 million cap hits next year.
- Chris Kuc of the Chicago Tribune: The Blackhawks GM Stan Bowman had a couple things in play according to Nick Leddy’s agent, Neil Sheehy.
“There were a number of things that were in play and he said he didn’t know how it was going to shake out. The deal came (Saturday). It wasn’t unexpected after the events of (Friday).”
- George Richards: Panthers GM Dale Tallon said he was in “serious negotiations” with the Blackhawks and Bruins about Leddy and Boychuk, but it didn’t make sense for them.
- Aaron Portzline: There has been “no progress” in Ryan Johansen talks according to the Blue Jackets after each side moved $250,000 earlier in the week. Portzline doesn’t see Johansen playing on Thursday barring one or both sides caving in their stance. The next 48 hours could be crucial.
