- Joe Haggerty of CSNNE: The Bruins still need to find a top-four defenseman, preferably one that shoots right and has some offense to his game. It might have to wait until closer to the start of the season, and it might come from a team that is looking to shed salary. The Bruins could also look at bringing in a backup goalie, as Jeremy Smith is currently slotted in as Tuukka Rask’s backup.
“I don’t know if anybody picks their team, per se, in July. I think you assemble a group of guys you feel confident with, and I think now we’re taking a position where any trade that we look to make, or any player movement we look to make is one we absolutely want to, and not have to ,” Sweeney said during a conference call following the signing of Matt Beleskey and trade for Jimmy Hayes. “We have some flexibility now to look at things completely that way going forward. No promises; a lot of balls still in the air, a lot of players still to get back to their high side of their capabilities, and be excited about being a Boston Bruin.”
In the past, veteran’s like Johnny Boychuk, Andrew Ference and Shawn Thornton helped integrate the younger players on and off the ice. Last year, the Bruins younger players were kind of left on their own, and it might be part of the reason Dougie Hamilton wanted to go to the Flames. Haggerty notes:
“It’s a better fit for a player so starved for people to hang out with in Boston among a group of older, married teammates that he started socializing instead with fellow Canadian and Celtics forward Kelly Olynyk. Hamilton wasn’t disliked or a divisive influence in the B’s dressing room, but it’s 100 percent true he didn’t really seem like he was enjoying himself most of the time.”
Reilly Smith lost his confidence last season and wasn’t that comfortable in the Bruins dressing room either.
- Scott Powers of ESPN Chicago: A source saying that Johnny Oduya is still going over his options, including returning to the Blackhawks. The Blackhawks are still expected to clear some cap space via trade.
- Chris Kuc: Blackhawks Marcus Kruger didn’t file for salary arbitration. They will continue to work on a new deal. He is wanting a longer-term deal and is waiting for more cap space.
- Jonas Siegel: The Leafs and Jonathan Bernier continue to work on a new deal. Bernier’s agent isn’t sure if they be able to get a new deal done before they go to arbitration.