On the Bruins …
- Joe Haggerty of CSNNE: Haggerty on Zdeno Chara
But there will come a time in the rapidly approaching future when the Bruins move on from their longtime captain, and that process may even be fast-tracked if this Bruins season continues as it has over a disastrous first week. The Bruins can’t possibly be as bad as they’ve shown in the first three games of the season, but their defensemen group could ultimately prove to be the very reason they miss the playoffs by a wider gap than last season.
Chara has played a lot of minutes and he’s likely to incur more injuries and not less going forward. The Bruins are wanting to move their blueline more towards speed, athleticism, quick decisions and puck movement.
The Bruins need to find someone that will take over the No. 1 defenseman from Chara.
- Chris Nichols of Today’s Slapshot: Darren Dreger on TSN 690 on the rumors that the Bruins are dangling Brad Marchand and Zdeno Chara.
“Yeah, I mean there has been some speculation of late and it’s always difficult when you try and wade into these things. I trust the information to some degree and the reporting. I mean, we all have our sources and we go with information that we’re comfortable with and that we believe to be true, according to our sources.
“But as soon as this story surfaced that maybe the Bruins would consider trading their captain Chara or Brad Marchand, I reached out to my sources within the organization and I was told that isn’t true. Pretty early to be throwing names like that out there. I mean from a team perspective, do teams call on players? Of course they do. But again, it’s very early in the regular season.”
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“But at this stage, as early as it is in the regular season, I’m going to go with what my sources out of Boston are telling me, and there’s nothing there.”
On the Oilers …
- David Staples of the Edmonton Journal: TSN insider Craig Button thinks that the Oilers have to move some players out.
“Bad teams need players. And just because players are playing in the league and on bad teams and maybe getting 15 goals doesn’t mean that they’re going to help you win. Just because Todd McLellan comes in and gives you purpose and structure and gives you what you need to do to be successful, it doesn’t mean those players are going to help you win and to me that’s the big step now for Peter Chiarelli. He’s got to move players out. And there’s too many players that to me simply aren’t good enough and don’t help you win.”
On the Maple Leafs …
- Hope Smoke: Darren Dreger said that Leafs management wanted to give Stephane Robidas a two year deal, but with competition from other teams like the Red Wings, they offered three years to sign him.
Scouting the Flyers and Blackhawks game …
- Adam Kimelman: Jets (three including GM Kevin Cheveldayoff), Flames (2), Predators (2), Avalanche, Blues, Lightning, Rangers, Maple Leafs, Canadiens, Kings, Blackhawks, Panthers, Oilers, Red Wings and Senators.