Ty Anderson: No Parise, No Nash, and that's OK for Boston

Good blog. Boston is going to get a strong challenge from the Senators in the Northeast.

Boston is a good team for sure. With good depth. But your off your rocker if you think Nash if overrated. Same goes for anyone else who says so. Most people say it because they know he isnt gonna end up on theyre team. Its Howson's job to ask the moon for the guy. But Nash is putting up good number with a poopty team year after year. He is a pwr fwd who would be good in Bos. But you cant just say the guy isnt good. I would agree with you on the contract length's of players being unsafe. But if you moved a Krejci for Nash it wouldnt handcuff the team from signing all the mentioned guys.

Early on and for much of last season, the prevailing opinion was that with Seguin and Marchand improving and Peverley/Kelly for a full season, this was a better team than the one that won the cup. Now with the exact same roster (less some dead weight), it's magically a bubble playoff team.

Boston is a good team for sure. With good depth. But your off your rocker if you think Nash if overrated. Same goes for anyone else who says so. Most people say it because they know he isnt gonna end up on theyre team. Its Howson's job to ask the moon for the guy. But Nash is putting up good number with a poopty team year after year. He is a pwr fwd who would be good in Bos. But you cant just say the guy isnt good. I would agree with you on the contract length's of players being unsafe. But if you moved a Krejci for Nash it wouldnt handcuff the team from signing all the mentioned guys.
- poisondhearts37

it's all relative. is nash a very good player? sure he is. his cap hit is the scary part. I mean crosby's cap hit is what, 8.7? when healthy there is a level of production you can count on from him that makes it worth it. 7.8 for less than 30 and 70 for the next 6 years?

and we're losing krejci too? why bother? keep krejci and get those 70 points for a 5 million hit.

and i agree with Ty that we will be active at the deadline.

Early on and for much of last season, the prevailing opinion was that with Seguin and Marchand improving and Peverley/Kelly for a full season, this was a better team than the one that won the cup. Now with the exact same roster (less some dead weight), it's magically a bubble playoff team.
- Double_A

that first round exit has clouded everyone's vision. they were a spent team that didn't have a lot left in the tank.

but nope most people rant about the choke job or how we were lucky yo win a cup and last year's team is more the reality.

whatever. this is a really good team as is.

it's all relative. is nash a very good player? sure he is. his cap hit is the scary part. I mean crosby's cap hit is what, 8.7? when healthy there is a level of production you can count on from him that makes it worth it. 7.8 for less than 30 and 70 for the next 6 years?

and we're losing krejci too? why bother? keep krejci and get those 70 points for a 5 million hit.

and i agree with Ty that we will be active at the deadline.
- Fountain-San

Nash's production goes up with players like Seguin and Bergeron around him. He hasnt had half that talent around him. Its impossible to compair a players salary with other players salaries. The whole deal in Columbus is a bit of a bumber now. How long can you expect a player to keep putting up good numbers when the team has no motivation. The owners dont do good things. They make terrible decisions. And then to say we are gonna do another rebuild. Nash is gonna lose motivation at some point. Sure Krejci can put up 70pts. But Nash can better those withe the right surroundings. Beyond all that. Just saying that Nash isnt overrated. Want him or not. There are reasons he makes team Canada.

Nash's production goes up with players like Seguin and Bergeron around him. He hasnt had half that talent around him. Its impossible to compair a players salary with other players salaries. The whole deal in Columbus is a bit of a bumber now. How long can you expect a player to keep putting up good numbers when the team has no motivation. The owners dont do good things. They make terrible decisions. And then to say we are gonna do another rebuild. Nash is gonna lose motivation at some point. Sure Krejci can put up 70pts. But Nash can better those withe the right surroundings. Beyond all that. Just saying that Nash isnt overrated. Want him or not. There are reasons he makes team Canada.
- poisondhearts37

you would hope so but it's an unknown. a gamble like the blog said. what isn't unknown is the cap hit.

i agree with you about nash. i like him as a player. but for a million more there are guys like crosby putting 100 points.

until howson stops asking what he is asking for however it's really a moot point.

you would hope so but it's an unknown. a gamble like the blog said. what isn't unknown is the cap hit.

i agree with you about nash. i like him as a player. but for a million more there are guys like crosby putting 100 points.

until howson stops asking what he is asking for however it's really a moot point.
- Fountain-San

Guys like Crosby arent options. Boston could really go for a top 6 player who can put up goals. The biggest question is gonna end up being can Seguin play C at this level. If not then noway Krejci is moved period. If the rumors of the Rangers offer are true. Noway in hell is Boston gonna try and get in that trade. And they shoudlnt for sure.

Also Crosby is taking a paycut to stay in Pitts and allow them room to add players. Nash is making his money because you have to pay your best players top dollar period. Not to mention that CBJ has had to reach the cap floor for a few years to.

I think it would be smarter for Nash to expand his list of approved teams based more so on the organizations overall management instead of what players are on the team. Notify Howson on the handful of teams he refuses to go to and allow a little more flexibility to move him.

That being said, Howson is an idiot if he doesn't soften his compensation demands, all he's doing is killing his organization and making Nash look like the bad guy in this whole deal. Something has to give, and it appears as if Columbus fans and Nash himself are going to be alienated and held hostage by their teams management/ownership.

I'm curious how Boston is going to keep their own free agents or land any of the bigger ones in the upcoming years if they refuse to throw around the dollars.

Seems like that's the way hockey is moving. Why would getzlaf play for Boston if he can make bank on the open market?

Seems like players move where the money goes. At some point seems like Boston will have to pay up, especially for a "future superstar" like Seguin, or a known talent like getzlaf or perry.

I'm curious how Boston is going to keep their own free agents or land any of the bigger ones in the upcoming years if they refuse to throw around the dollars.

Seems like that's the way hockey is moving. Why would getzlaf play for Boston if he can make bank on the open market?

Seems like players move where the money goes. At some point seems like Boston will have to pay up, especially for a "future superstar" like Seguin, or a known talent like getzlaf or perry.
- Putzfrau

They spend the most in salary. What are you talking about. Its mostly spent balanced through out the line up. But they are a high salary team.

They spend the most in salary. What are you talking about. Its mostly spent balanced through out the line up. But they are a high salary team.
- poisondhearts37

Was merely pointing out that in the blog, Ty seems to be saying its a good thing they didnt drop 100 mil on parise, because those type of long large contracts aren't liked by the bruins.

How are you going to compete for free agents when every team has that type of offer. The wild weren't the only team that was dying to throw money at those free agents.

If Boston is never willing to lock some players up eventually they'll bleed out their talent. Bergeron, lucic, Seguin are all fantastic players that would be highly sought after on the open market. I don't think they'll get parise money, but they'll certainly hit a nice payday. Boston is going to need to come up with a similar offer, or hope player after player is willing to not take the long expensive contracts just to play in Boston.

I never once said anything about the teams overall salary. They are a balanced team with good depth, but that only works when you can can spread out the money.

I'm curious how Boston is going to keep their own free agents or land any of the bigger ones in the upcoming years if they refuse to throw around the dollars.

Seems like that's the way hockey is moving. Why would getzlaf play for Boston if he can make bank on the open market?

Seems like players move where the money goes. At some point seems like Boston will have to pay up, especially for a "future superstar" like Seguin, or a known talent like getzlaf or perry.
- Putzfrau

You may be thinking of the Bruins of the 90's and early 2000's. The current GM pays what is needed to keep the guys they want in Boston.

Good read, I'm not mad that PC didnt attempt to sign one of the marquee free agents this summer. Would it have been nice to sign Parise, Suter, or trade for Nash, Sure they would have definitely helped out. That being said they did not need to get one of these top notch players. Seguin is going to improve from his sophomore season(which was a really good one). Lucic, Marchand, and Bergy are going to give you steady production, and with a healthy Horton they could get back some of that swagger they had going into Christmas.

As for the trade deadline, it is going to be very interesting how they handle Krejci. If PC feels he is one piece away from a legitimate cup run I wouldnt be surprised to see him move Krejc for a guy like Perry, Iginla, or Elias. Another player I could possibly see being moved would be Lucic, I know it sounds crazy now but if his production isnt up to par and his attitude doesnt sets in the could part ways with the soon to be RFA. Before I get blasted for mentioning #17 name in trade discussions, this is all hypothetical and not how I see it happening

You may be thinking of the Bruins of the 90's and early 2000's. The current GM pays what is needed to keep the guys they want in Boston.
- GSDIV

I hope that's the case for you guys.

I'm curious how Boston is going to keep their own free agents or land any of the bigger ones in the upcoming years if they refuse to throw around the dollars.

Seems like that's the way hockey is moving. Why would getzlaf play for Boston if he can make bank on the open market?

Seems like players move where the money goes. At some point seems like Boston will have to pay up, especially for a "future superstar" like Seguin, or a known talent like getzlaf or perry.
- Putzfrau

It isn't that they refuse to pay players, they just aren't stupid about it. Z is making $7+M, Krejci $5M, Lucic/Bergeron $4+M etc. PC is more term averse than $ averse I think. For example, PC is more likely to sign Seguin for say $5M for 3 years and then $7M for another 3 rather than a slightly lower cap for 6 or 7 years up front. It provides more flexibility, theoretically it provides the player more $ in the long run while sacrificing a bit of security.

If a player is worth it (like Z, Bergeron, etc.) in his eyes I don't think he'd be afraid to go long term, high $. He's just not going to blow his load every time a pretty good UFA goes to market or malcontent demands a trade.

It isn't that they refuse to pay players, they just aren't stupid about it. Z is making $7+M, Krejci $5M, Lucic/Bergeron $4+M etc. PC is more term averse than $ averse I think. For example, PC is more likely to sign Seguin for say $5M for 3 years and then $7M for another 3 rather than a slightly lower cap for 6 or 7 years up front. It provides more flexibility, theoretically it provides the player more $ in the long run while sacrificing a bit of security.

If a player is worth it (like Z, Bergeron, etc.) in his eyes I don't think he'd be afraid to go long term, high $. He's just not going to blow his load every time a pretty good UFA goes to market or malcontent demands a trade.
- Double_A

Makes sense, hopefully it works out well for the bruins.

Ty Anderson: No Parise, No Nash, and that's OK for Boston
- tyanderson

The Wild forward depth is pretty good. Bottom six you mentioned would be the 4th line....

A third line of Cullen-Brodziak-Clutterbuck

I hope that's the case for you guys.
- Putzfrau

Me too. I heard a interview with Chiarelli where he asked about Parise type free agents and he said (I'm paraphrasing) ownership has given him the green light to spend money if he feels it is going to help the team. And they did apparently did make an offer Parise.

It must be reassuring as a Sabres fan knowing the owner has the money and the desire to spend it.

that first round exit has clouded everyone's vision. they were a spent team that didn't have a lot left in the tank.

but nope most people rant about the choke job or how we were lucky yo win a cup and last year's team is more the reality.

whatever. this is a really good team as is.
- Fountain-San

That is exactly what happened when the Devils missed the playoffs a big part of that was due to the parise injury and marty's injury but no one cared there was no chance of us making the playoffs the next year and we'll probably hear it again now that zach is gone. I also agree the bruins will be a top 4 team next for sure and a good chance even a top 2

This is one of the best blogs around on this site. I couldn't agree more about long-term contracts, the strength of the Bruins, and Chiarelli's philosophy. Also very funny and well-written. Thanks for the good read.

Me too. I heard a interview with Chiarelli where he asked about Parise type free agents and he said (I'm paraphrasing) ownership has given him the green light to spend money if he feels it is going to help the team. And they did apparently did make an offer Parise.

It must be reassuring as a Sabres fan knowing the owner has the money and the desire to spend it.
- GSDIV

Yeah feels nice to finally be relevent during the offseason

"Something that the Minnesota Wild -- a whopping $196 million (for two players) later -- can't say. Beyond their projected line of Parise, Mikko Koivu, and Dany Heatley, the Wild's forward core is rounded out by a bottom-six featuring names like Torrey Mitchell, Zenon Konopka, and Darrell Powe. And their defense is even worse, with Ryan Suter's pairing partner Jared Spurgeon and Tom Gilbert rounding out an otherwise no-name group of defensemen. "

Did you just purposely leave out Pierre Marc Bouchard, Devin Setoguchi, Mikael Granlund, Kyle Brodziak, Cal Clutterbuck, and Matt Cullen?

"Something that the Minnesota Wild -- a whopping $196 million (for two players) later -- can't say. Beyond their projected line of Parise, Mikko Koivu, and Dany Heatley, the Wild's forward core is rounded out by a bottom-six featuring names like Torrey Mitchell, Zenon Konopka, and Darrell Powe. And their defense is even worse, with Ryan Suter's pairing partner Jared Spurgeon and Tom Gilbert rounding out an otherwise no-name group of defensemen. "

Did you just purposely leave out Pierre Marc Bouchard, Devin Setoguchi, Mikael Granlund, Kyle Brodziak, Cal Clutterbuck, and Matt Cullen?
- Nsjohn130

Wild are really top heavy... top 4 of Parise, Koivu, Heatley and Cullen is solid. Top 6 is average... top 9 is terrible... and top 2 D is solid... top 6 is brutal. There is almost no legitimate depth on this team as it stands next year... there may be some guys who will surprise.. but overall... this team will be lucky to make the playoffs. Parise had a very average year last year... and I don't think there have been many cases in the last decade where a EASTERN conference player comes to the WESTERN conference and puts up bigger numbers. So don't be surprised if Parise only puts up about 70 points.

In a few years though... I believe Minny will look very good.. but for the next couple... I woulnd't expect any division titles.