Big Bad Blog
WEEI.com Blog Network
RSS
Source: Bruins, Wheeler making ‘no progress’ 07.19.10 at 12:38 pm ET
By DJ Bean

The Bruins wanted to avoid arbitration in the cases of Gregory Campbell and Blake Wheeler, and though they did so with Campbell last week with a two-year, $2.2 million deal, locking up Wheeler before his July 27 hearing may not be as easy.

According to a league source, the Bruins and Wheeler’s camp have made “no progress” thus far on a new contract, though talks are expected to pick up soon. If Wheeler makes it to a hearing and the Bruins choose against paying him what he is awarded, the 23-year-old will become an unrestricted free agent and would be free to sign with any team.

The Bruins would officially be over the $59.4 million salary cap by signing Wheeler, who earned $2.8 million last season, but general manager Peter Chiarelli indicated last week that it is the team’s intention to come to deals with both Wheeler and rookie forward Tyler Seguin.

Defenseman David Tanabe is the only the case in which Chiarelli and a player saw the arbitration process through, with Tanabe being awarded $1.275 in 2006 and the Bruins letting him walk. Tanabe then signed with the Hurricanes and played parts of two seasons with the team before a concussion ended his career.

Wheeler is just two years into his NHL career and last season scored 18 goals and chipped in 20 assists for 38 points, a step down from the 21-24-45 totals he posted as a rookie in the 2008-2009 campaign. He has missed just one game in his career.

Read More: Blake Wheeler, Boston Bruins, Print  |  Email   | Bark It Up!  |  Digg It
  • Glenn

    WHY would the Bruins want to pay Wheeler even the $2.8 mil he made last year?? ($2.8 Mil!!)They can bring up a guy from Providence to skate as fast as he can into a corner and then have have the defenseman steal the puck right away for minimum money! What do they see in this guy?

  • mike

    Glenn> I agree it was frustrating at times watching wheeler, because you know he has the potential to score a bunch of goals (especially if he actually got the puck on net more often) I think the B’s see a YOUNG forward with size, and one of the best sets of hands on the team. I think that he was used to a more wide open college style hockey, but now has to learn to use his size in the corners, and for the love of god in front of the net. This guy was the cats meow when we picked him up from phoenix, and everyone was comparing HIM to the next Cam Neeley, or at least Neely’s understudy. I’d hate to see him get shuffled out of Boston. My personal beliefs prevent me from saying ANY player is worth more than a million dollars to play a childs game.

  • Bob G.

    Professional hockey is “a childs game”? Tool.

    Proper punctuation is your friend. Learn some.

  • southpaw

    nobody who,s a former athelete is worried about punctuation, go to a pin head website man, if you want to talk english major,offer wheeler a one year deal let him play for next year, move savard, he don,t fit the make up of this team now.

  • DZ

    Seriously, Bob G? Going after someone on a hockey blog because of their punctuation? I can’t help but think that proper punctuation is your ONLY friend. Talk hockey or shut your hole, professor.
    Wheeler’s contract talks are apparently just like his game……no progress.

  • http://guildwarsecto.myparish.org.au/ Jen Stepan

    The other day, while I was at work, my sister stole my apple ipad and tested to see if it can survive a 40 foot drop, just so she can be a youtube sensation. My iPad is now destroyed and she has 83 views. I know this is entirely off topic but I had to share it with someone!

Bruins Box Score
Bruins Schedule
Bruins Headlines
NHL Headlines