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A look at where the Bruins’ cap woes rank 07.21.10 at 2:00 am ET
By DJ Bean

With all apologies to Tyler Seguin, Nathan Horton, and Cam Neely, the salary cap just may be the single topic that has dominated Bruins offseason discussion more so than anything else. This, of course, in an offseason that featured a team that came within a game of the Eastern Conference finals adding a wunderkind center, a high-scoring winger, and naming one of the franchise’s most popular players president.

But back to the cap. After all, fans will panic over the roster as long as the team doesn’t have sufficient room to sign forwards Seguin and Blake Wheeler. According to CapGeek.com (once again, if you don’t have it bookmarked you are not using a computer correctly), the Bruins (should defenseman Adam McQuaid play in Boston next year) have $12,229 in cap space with deals for Wheeler (whose arbitration date is set for July 27 and hasn’t made headway with the Bruins on a new deal) and Seguin (who will get a base salary of $900,000) still without contracts.

In most cases, when a rumor arises regarding Tim Thomas ($5 million cap hit in each of the next three seasons) or Marc Savard ($4.007 million in each of the next seven), the first thing that comes to mind is the Bruins finally having some breathing room as they float higher and higher towards the feared $59.4 million mark.

As we’ve written in this space before, don’t count on the B’s to take Marco Sturm‘s long-term injury status as an excuse to head into the season over the cap. Though they will get relief, general manager Peter Chiarelli has already noted that the team would still have to sort out their cap situation prior to activating the winger anyway. Such a move would be a temporary solution, and though they could potentially showcase their high-priced players in an effort to raise their trade value, it’s just not a safe hand to play.

The Bruins aren’t the only team with such concerns, however. Though their cap situation has gotten considerable attention this offseason, other teams are in just as tight a spot (or worse). Here’s where the Bruins rank among those teams (all cap numbers as of Wednesday morning, courtesy of CapGeek.com).

TEAM                                                CAP SPACE                      PLAYERS ON ROSTER

Calgary Flames                                   $650,000                                              22

BRUINS                                                $12,299                                                 20

Vancouver Canucks                         -$358,333                                               23

Chicago Blackhawks                       -$1,011,590                                            17

New Jersey Devils*                          -$1,801,667                                            20

*Including 17-year contract to Ilya Kovalchuk, which has been rejected by the NHL but could still be agreed to if revised.

Given the fact that the Bruins have 20 players potentially getting NHL salaries (McQauid is on a two-way deal for the first year of his contract), they are close enough to a 22-man roster that their woes could be settled by only unloading one contract and signing Wheeler and Seguin with the money saved. Obviously, training camp will also have a lot to do with it, but numbers-wise, this works.

Whether or not it’s as simple as that remains to be seen. Chiarelli has long come with the reputation of being cap-savvy, so one would think the general manager has something up his sleeve. Either way, the Bruins may be a move away from solving their problems. The same can’t be said for the Blackhawks, who appear to be in the worst shape.

Not only have the defending Stanley Cup champions made multiple deals — sending Dustin Byfuglien, Kris Versteeg, and restricted free agent Andrew Ladd packing – in the name of cost-cutting, but they are still more than $1 million over the cap and have only 17 players on their roster. All of this while goaltender Antti Niemmi still doesn’t have a contract.

The Bruins have it bad when it comes to the salary cap, and nobody will forget it until a resolution is reached. They are not alone, however, and they certainly aren’t the worst off.

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  • deano

    Here is a potential deal that would help the Bruins financially without killing them in terms of lost players.

    The Bruins offer:
    Marc Savard, Age 33, (10G, 23A, 33 P), 4.007 Million Per Season, 7 years left on deal
    Tim Thomas, Age 36, (43GP, 2.56GAA, .915 S%), 5.000 Million Per Season, 3 years left on deal

    Washington Captials
    Brooks Laich, Age 27, (25G, 35A, 49P), 2.06 Million Per Season, 1 year left until he is a UFA.
    Tom Poti, Age 33, (4G, 20A, 24P, +26), 3.5 Million Per Season, 1 Year Left on Deal

    For the bruins this deal would give the bruins a puck moving defensemen and a young big power forward. This would also save the bruins roughly 3.447 Million against the cap this year which should be enough to sign Seguin. The two players from Washington will be free agents after the upcoming season which is why they are not worth as much in a trade as they would normally be worth.

    For the Capitals this deal brings to them a veteran goalie which they desperately need for the next three seasons. Also it brings them a playmaking center that would be ideal to play with Ovechkin as their styles would probably compliment one another well. Also the bruins players are on long term deals and their cost is known for the next few years. Washington is not up against the cap with over 8.5 million still to spend and could easily add the payroll.

  • G-Man

    Deano,

    Sorry but that is not happening. The Capitals lack size and grit and it is one of the main reasons why they lost in the playoffs. I really do not think it helps if they trade Laich and you know Savard won’t help. I am also sorry to say but there is no market for Thomas. There are for more cheaper alternatives for the Caps for the same production.

  • deano

    I never said it would happen, just something I came up with that sort of made sense. The caps lost in the playoffs because they ran into hot goaltending, something they clearly did not have themselves.
    What cheaper alternatives are you talking about exactly? Do you have any names or numbers (GP, S%, GAA) also salary numbers or maybe potential salary numbers and years if your talking about a free agent. Or do you have a trade in mind and if so what players are involved if a trade is needed; to back up that alternative statement? I have no idea who this mystery cheap free agent goalie is, especially one who matches Thomas’s production last two years (Vezina Trophy Winner, with better numbers last year than .915 s% and 2.55 GAA) If this mystery goalie is out there who is he and why is he a better alternative than Thomas at 5 million for the next three years?
    If there are such better alternatives how come the teams that have money to spend and need goaltending have not signed or even gone after this much cheaper alternative goalie already?
    Savard would help any team he is added to. Maybe this deal hurts the Caps in terms of size and grit but Savard adds about the same points per game that Laich and Poti add when combined in a normal healthy season. Also the Capitals are weakest at the center position (other than goalie) look at their roster.
    I do not think this is such a crazy deal. Will it happen? Of course this deal wont happen, I have not even heard rumblings of this nature. I just put it out there for fun because im bored and like to play GM. I highly doubt the Caps will part with Laich, but they may be willing to part with Tom Poti (Purple Penguin) but its fun to think about.

  • deano

    Thomas (Age 36, 43GP, .915 s%, 2.56 GAA, 5 Million for 3 years, no signing bonus) Free Agent Alternatives:

    1. Evgeni Nabokov – Playing in the KHL next season, but was the top free agent goalie in 2010 (Age 34, 71GP, .922 s%, 2.43 GAA) made 6 Million Last Season.
    2.Marty Turco (Age 34, 53GP, .913 s%, 2.72 GAA, made 5.4 Million last year) He is basically as productive but costs more than Thomas, as he is the best FA Goalie left (other than Carey Price who will def remain in MTL) he will be looking for a raise most likely.
    3.Jose Theodore (Age 33, 47GP, .911 s%, 2.81 GAA) Im guessing the Caps don’t want him back at all after the playoffs never mind for 4.5 million per season or more.
    4.Vessa Toskala (Age 33, 32GP, .882 S%, 3.48 GAA) 4 million last season. Overpaid stiff.
    5.Manny Legace (Age 37, 28GP, .907 S%, 2.81 GAA) Only 28 GP last season.

    So who exactly is the mystery cheaper alternative, the only free agent left who had better numbers than Thomas last year is Marty Turco (Thomas had a better save %) and Turco made more money last year. Being the only true free agent goalie Im guessing Turco will be paid more than 5.4 million per season over the next three years. Thomas may still have better numbers in that time period because Thomas being a late bloomer has had alot less wear over the years when compared to Turco.

    You must be thinking the Capitals are going to make a trade for a goalie because I have no idea what free agent alternative you are talking about.

  • SampsonBlue

    Who wants a 36 year old goaltender who has yet to pove his worth in the post-season. Agreed that there is no market for Thomas. That contract is perhaps one of Chiarelli’s bigger blunders.

  • G-Man

    Deano,

    To me, the numbers do not tell the story. The stats on Thomas are deceiving considering the system the B’s play. The guys you mention are all cheaper alternatives and they are not going to be paid the same as previous years. Look for Turco to get the same deal as Mason or Nittymaki in the neighborhood of 1.5 to 2.5 million per season.

    I admire your thought process and keep that GM hat on. It makes for great debate.

    If I was Mr. Chiarelli, I would listen to Savard offers but I would not actively shop him. He is too valuable a commodity for the Bruins especially given their lack of production. The only reason I would shop Savard would be to free cap space, not particularly for this year, but for next year. Bergeron, Chara, Stuart, Ryder, Sturm, and Recchi will be UFAs in 2011 which frees up $23 million in salary. Couple that with a Savard trade, there will be $27 million of cap space to play. Some of it goes to Chara and Bergeron. The rest can go to 2011 UFAs, possibly guys like Kaberle, St. Louis, or Laich.

  • J Bomb

    sorry Deano, your first post makes you sound dumb… that move is ridiculous and will hurt us in the near future… that’s a deal you make on NHL10 and the other team says something like, “It’s dumb for us to turn this deal down as it is deal that benefits us way more then you” and then you get fired from being the GM. Come on, 1st 25+35 doesn’t equal 49 and he’s a 6th round 3rd line center men… do we not have enough? Please do some research before suggesting great trades.

    I’ll be honest I see it as a tough go for sure as we need to focus on the present and build for the future… not an easy task. Trading isn’t just about salaries but getting an eye for an eye. I’d like to see a puck moving defender as well but who… I see a trade with Dallas as the best fit. Thomas can help build their young goalies as well as win many games for the team next year. So Thomas for Raycroft (he proved to be a great back up to Luongo, and really who doesn’t struggle in Toronto) and either Mark Fistric a solid stay at home defender, 1st round selection in 2004, or maybe Trevor Daley (fast and good puck mover) to pair up with Chara. Either of those defenders would lighten our load and benefit both teams as Lehtonen isn’t their answer for growth and they have some young guns like Tyler Beskorowany and Jack Campell (USA Jr. Gold Medal last year) that need a strong mentor for development.

    Sending Mr. 1 year and I’m spend Ryder down to the minors will eliminate that contract off the books, that’s plan #1. Then like the article the other days says move Ference as he is not a top 4 D man getting paid like he is. Chara needs to sign closer to the 4.5 mark as he is WAY over priced and still always out of position and slow at getting back… causing far too many breakaways. And Patrice should sign a good contract near the 3.5-4 mark, but those don’t help till next season. After that we can look at a trade to finalize our books so we can sign Wheeler and Seguin (who we should also think to develop in a winning structure one more year).

    End of the day the boys in the offices work this as their job and not a part time gig like us fans. They know what’s up and know the secrets to make it happen.

    Cheers

  • deano

    Im sorry, J-Bomb, however I would rather get two players that are both going to contribute to the playoff roster than Trevor Daley who is another undersized defensemen (5’11″) and a backup goalie Raycroft who we already had. The deal for Laich and Poti would at least net the bruins two solid players, one player Laich had 59 points (i misprinted it sorry) last season which was more points than anyone on the Boston Bruins. Brooks Laich is more than a 3rd Line center and would either play on first or second line with the bruins as a winger. Daley by the way is a UFA after this season and Raycroft is an UFA after the next season. So the deal for Daley or Fistric (UFA in two years) hurts the bruins far worse than trading for Laich and Poti. Just because Daley and Fistric are younger doesn’t mean they are better players. Daley had only 22 pts last season and Fistric had an amazing 10 pts last year compared to Poti who had 24 pts nevermind Laich’s 59, so how does giving Dallas both Savard and Thomas for one young defensemen either Daley or Fistric and a backup goalie Raycroft (that was here before and is god awful) going to help the bruins come playofff time? Bruins cannot afford to lose the offense of Savard completely and your deal nets no offense in return for arguably the bruins best offensive player. I would rather have Laich and Poti any day of the week. Just because they are UFA’s doesn’t mean you can’t resign them just like you would have to resign Daley or Fistric as they are both UFA’s as well. Once a player reaches the NHl I do not care where in the draft they were drafted, stats speak for themselves and Laich is far better than a third line player, stop living in fantasyland.

  • G-Man

    J-Bomb,

    Sorry but Dallas has no interest in Thomas. They are giving the keys to Lehtonen and if they wanted a vet, they already had one in Turco. I am with deano on this one.

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