|
UPDATE: Glen Murray Waived, Wideman official - 4yrs / $15.5mil |
|
|
|
|
|
7/23/08
Contrary to many reports, the Dennis Wideman deal wasn't yet official until this afternoon, when the reported 4 yr/$15.75 million dollar deal was tweaked slightly to four years at $15.5 million.
According to Fluto Shinzawa of the Boston Globe, Glen Murray has officially been placed on waivers. Very few teams are expected to be interested in his services, but the LA Kings may be a possibility. Los Angeles, Murray's former employer prior to returning to the hub, has very little depth at RW and needs a salary like Murray's in order to reach the cap floor (which they are currently more than $10 million shy of).
If no one bites on Muzz, the buyout now looks all but certain. If the Bruins go that route, Murray will hit the cap for roughly $1.4mil over the next two seasons.
********
FROM THE OTHER NIGHT (with Wideman's new number plugged in)....
If Peter Chiarelli has a stellar sense of humor, one might find the following memo tacked up on the bulletin board outside of his office...
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
CALLING ALL VOLUNTEERS!
As you all know, we're very pleased to have resigned Dennis Wideman to a 4yr deal at just shy of $3.9mil per season. Unfortunately this puts us in a bit of a pinch, as we're now over the cap by about $1.6 million. Luckily I've got a few deals in place to take care of this, but, I'm going to need your help.
I'll be out of town for the next few days, so if someone could step it up big time and drive Glen Murray to the airport, well, it'd be greatly appreciated. If you have room for Andrew Alberts or Peter Schaefer as well (not sure which one it'll be yet, still hammering out the details) I can promise you a promotion is just around the corner.
Those of you with compact/tiny cars need not apply. Albie's 6'4 frame is going to need some leg room in the backseat and Muzz' surfboard is going to take up quite a bit of room. They've got a long flight to the West Coast ahead of them, so let's try and make them as comfortable as possible.
Give me a call on my cell, and I'll set you up with all the details.
Thanks,
PC
p.s.
All Staff pool party at my place next weekend. And don't worry, Dave Lewis won't be lurking in the shallow end in his speedo, glaring at you and your children while caressing his mustache this time around. I promise.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
And now for serious biz....
As you may have figured out by now, the Bruins have locked up their best puck moving defenseman in Dennis Wideman with a four year contract totaling $15.50 million. The 25 year old had a breakout year in his first full season in Boston. After joining the Bruins at the tail end of 2006-2007, coming over from St. Louis in exchange for Brad Boyes, Wideman posted 13-23-36 totals with 9 PPGs and a +11 rating in 81 games this year.
While just under 3.9 per season is a bit higher than expected, one can take solace in the following:
1) At 25, Wideman has yet to reach his prime, and will continue to improve.
2) Wideman was considered an abomination during 06-07. Look where Craig Ramsey and Claude Julien have his game at one season later.
3) If Wideman had gone to arbitration, and made huge strides during the next season or two, the price to keep him beyond that may have been a lot higher than where it stands now.
A few "puck moving" defenseman worthy of comparison:
Joni Pitkanen (CAR) AGE: 25 SALARY: $4mil
Last two seasons: 4-39-43 with a -25, and 8-18-26 this season with a -5.
Tom Gilbert (EDM) AGE: 25 SALARY: $4mil
Last year (first full season): 13-20-33 with a -6
Matt Carle (TB) AGE: 23 SALARY: $3.43mil
Last two seasons: 11-31-42 with a +9, 2-13-15 (62 games) and a -8
So with all that being said, I'm giving the thumbs up on this deal. Considering the upside of Wideman as a player, the potential future cost-efficiency and the fact that Peter Chiarelli seems to be spot on when comparing the deal to players of similar abilities at the same age, one would be crazy to consider the contract a gross overpayment.
Speaking of overpayment....can you imagine how arbitration might have panned out, if Wideman and the B's went that route?
JUDGE: Alright Mr. Chiarelli, please present to us your case.
CHIARELLI: We would be very happy to retain Dennis at a reasonable price. He improved remarkably at both ends and was a huge contributor to our success. However we feel with only one year at this level of production under his belt...(yada yada yada)....with that said, we feel as though 2.75 million per season is a fair offer.
JUDGE: Thank you Peter. Now onto Mr. Wideman.
WIDEMAN: Ah, one good year eh? 2.75? Got two words for ya: Jeff....Finger.
Somewhere in Toronto, Cliff Fletcher's ears begin to burn for the 17th time today, and it's only 1:00PM. Peter Chiarelli covers his forehead with the palm of his hand, looking down at his lap.
CHIARELLI (muttering): I knew that was coming....
The Judge falls back in his leather chair and rolls his eyes.
JUDGE: That guy is gonna haunt us for YEARS!
That's all folks. I'm sure we'll be discussing a buyout or trade REAL soon. Thanks to all of you who contributed to the previous blog about all the wacky names throughout hockey. Quite entertaining.
Jesse
Join the Discussion:
»