Friday, February 18, 2011

New Look Bruins

Word is coming down that today has been a big trading day for the Bruins.

Outgoing: Blake Wheeler, Mark Stuart, Joe Colborne, the B’s first-rounder in 2011, and a conditional pick*

Incoming: Tomas Kaberle, Boris Valabik and Rich Peverley

Outgoing NHL stats:
Wheeler in 58 games: 27 points, 11 goals, 16 assists, +8, 32 penalty minutes
Mark Stuart: 31 games, 5 points. 1 goal, 4 assists, +8, 23 penalty minutes

Incoming NHL stats:
Kaberle (D) in 58 games: 38 points, 3 goals, 35 assists, -2, 16 penalty minutes
Peverley (C) in 59 games: 34 points, 14 goals, 20 assists, -16, 35 penalty minutes
Valabik (D) in 23 games: 3 points, 0 goals, 3 assists, +3, 36 penalty minutes

The Bruins also recently acquired:
Chris Kelly (C) in 57 games, 23 points, 12 goals, 11 assists, -12, 27 penalty minutes

*Toronto will receive a 2012 second-rounder if Boston advances to the Stanley Cup final this season or if Kaberle re-signs with the Bruins.

Valabik seems likely to play in Providence.

Quick analysis: Chiarelli's penchant for obtaining centers over wingers continues. The stats alone suggest that the Bruins will have the potential score a lot more points, but the main incoming players have negative plus/minuses with their other teams. How these guys fit into the room and Julien's system will make all the difference.

EDIT: I originally misread the first round pick sent to Toronto as being Toronto's first round pick (which the B's currently hold). Given this I no longer think they overpaid for Kaberle. These deals appear to me to be more excellent work from Peter Chiarelli. I don't write about it much, but Chiarelli seems to be a force to be reckoned with among GMs. One way or another it seems only a matter of time before the Cup comes back to Boston.

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