Wanna blog? Start your own hockey blog with My HockeyBuzz. Register for free today!
 

Horton setback could trigger trade for slumping Bruins

February 10, 2012, 11:08 PM ET [22 Comments]
Ty Anderson
Boston Bruins Blogger •Bruins Feature Columnist • RSSArchiveCONTACT
Bruins coach Claude Julien got real testy with the Boston media when they asked about the status of concussed winger Nathan Horton on Tuesday. Julien noted that giving updates on a concussion simply "doesn't make sense" given the unpredictable nature of an epidemic that's plagued the NHL for nearly three years now.

Now, as Horton's remained off the ice since Sunday, when he skated by himself in Boston as the B's beat the Caps down in Washington, the B's bench-boss opened up about the lack of progress with his 26-year-old winger.

"He's back to square one," Julien said to reporters after Friday's practice in Boston. "We're giving him some time."

Noting that the symptoms returned when Horton began skating, Horton's second concussion in seven months came from an undeniably late hit from Philadephia's Tom Sestito back on Jan. 22, and is now shelving the Boston top-liner on an 'indefinite' basis.

So here we are: The Bruins, a team mired in a slump that's lasted over a full month now by way of a 7-7-1 record in their last 15 games, are without a top-six winger for the foreseeable future. The good news? There's still time to acquire such a presence in the trade market. The bad news? There's only two and a half weeks left to do so in a market that has more buyers than sellers.

Among the rumored to be available are Edmonton's Ales Hemsky, gritty Carolina winger Tuomo Ruutu, and Phoenix winger Ray Whitney. All in the final year of the their respective deals, the three enter the deadline frenzy with very different situations in regards to their futures.

In Carolina, you can't help but be confused when it comes to what the hell GM Jim Rutherford is doing in regards to his pending free-agents. After opting to hang on to character defensemen Tim Gleason, there have been rumblings that Rutherford could do the same with the 28-year-old Ruutu. "The ball is in [Ruutu]'s court," Rutherford said in regards to an extension with the Finnish winger. Currently paced for 25 goals and 40 points, there's been a ton of interest in the top-nine winger, notably from upper-tier clubs such as the B's, Canucks, and New York Rangers.

But if Ruutu and the 'Canes are to part, the reported asking price may just keep him out of Boston -- or anywhere else for that matter. It appears that the Hurricanes are seeking a top prospect and a first round draft choice for the services of Ruutu, a player who's never scored more than 26 goals or had more than 57 points in seven NHL seasons. Coupled with Ruutu's asking price regarding an extension, which is reported to be in the four to five million dollar a season range, the thought of Ruutu the Bruuin (OK, that was lame) seems like a faraway dream for any Boston fan. Intangibles or not, that price is uh -- staggering.

And in the desert, the annual Ray Whitney to Boston rumor is beginning to heat up yet again. Interested in the services of the soon to be 40-year-old winger along with the Rangers and Sharks, the speedy winger hasn't show a sign of slowing down since trading in his Carolina reds for 'Yotes reds last season.

Leading Phoenix skaters in assists (34), points (50), and with a team-best plus-18 rating through 55 games this year, Whitney's potential to seamlessly fit into any system makes him perhaps the best target for the reeling (and considerably slow) Bruins. However, unlike his fellow trade-block wingers, Whitney's team is still very much alive. Currently holding down the 8th seed in the Western Conference, the Coyotes are a club that's made it to the postseason two straight seasons, and may hang on to their assets in an effort to build positive momentum in what's been a hockey wasteland when it comes to drawing fans into the building. Especially when you look at the owner of the 'Yotes -- which is actually the NHL -- and how they're trying to make hockey in Glendale work as best as humanly possible.

Then there's Hemsky, a lifelong Oiler and proven top-six presence when healthy. The latter half, now that's the tricky part. Hemsky's already missed 13 games this year between an illness and a shoulder injury, and has played in just 110 games since the start of the 2009-10 season. And sure, those 110 games game have been productive, evident by Hemsky's 25 goals and 61 assists over that stretch, but staying on the ice hasn't been an easy feat for a 28-year-old winger that's tallied just four goals on 71 shots this year.

Taken with the 13th overall pick back in the 2001 draft, Hemsky has admitted that he'd like to remain in Edmonton for their projected bright future depending 'on the terms' (AKA: The dollar signs), and may be on the outs with fellow veteran Ryan Smyth as the Oil continue to build for the future.

While Hemsky looks to be the weaker link of the Bruins' trade targets given his injury woes and inconsistencies on a quick-skating Oilers club, the reality of the situation is that he could be the cheapest when it comes to the assets you're trading away. Something that the Bruins, who obviously don't want to part with much of their prospect core for a rental after selling away parts last season, may have to consider when it comes to picking up that missing link lost by Horton's indefinite injury.

To quote Samuel L. Jackson from Jurassic Park -- when he was more than just a severed arm, of course -- "Hold on to your butts."

Follow me on Twitter, shoot me an email at [email protected], or become Facebook friends with the HockeyBuzz Bruins profile for links, interactions, and updates.


*********

KINDLE USERS: Please subscribe to Bruins Buzz; a one-stop feed for all things Bruins related on HockeyBuzz. For more information, click here.
Join the Discussion: » 22 Comments » Post New Comment
More from Ty Anderson
» Notable lineup change headlines loss in Tampa
» Bruins' leaders answer Montgomery's challenge
» B's issued reality check; Duran turns pro
» Bruins' mistakes doom them in loss to Rangers
» Bruins refuse to make it easy for themselves