Fernandez to Boston

I thought this nightmare was over after the trade fell through during the draft. Apparently not, seeing as tonight the Bruins traded F Peter Kalus and a 4th round pick to the Minnesota Wild for goalie Manny Fernandez. This was not a good trade for the Bruins for multiple reasons. One, Fernandez is wildy inconsistent and an awful presence in the locker room. The last thing that a young B's team needs. Secondly, Fernandez has a contract comparable to Glen Murray. I'm sure glad the Bruins would rather take on a big money goalie than go after high-impact free agents come tomorrow. Personally, I dont think Fernandez is much of an upgrade over Tim Thomas, who I really like. Lastly, with a name like Fernandez, you should be playing baseball, soccer, or even basketball, NOT HOCKEY. There is a reason there is almost no diversity in the NHL. When Peter Kalus becomes a very good player Chiarelli will have one more mark against him.

Free Agency Flop

Well, the amazing Peter Chiarelli has done it again. The day before free agent season starts, a day more exciting than the regular season for teams like Boston, he tells everyone he wont be making a run at any big free agents. Way to get everybody excited about the team. You just fired the only guy who was willing to spend money to get results. But Bruins Nation, dont be too upset, my boy Fluto Shinzawa from the Globe says they may still go after Greg DeVries or Eddie Belfour. I hope no one was alarmed by hearing big names like that. (I know what your thinking, aren't those two guys getting their AARP membership cards soon? The answer is Yes.) In defense of Peter, this order is probably coming from the top, Jacobs spent enough money last year for the rest of the decade by his standards. Maybe they'll surprise us, but I'm not expecting much as tomorrow rolls around.

More MiStAkEs from the Front Office

Sad day in Bruin nation today, as longtime assistant GM Jeff Gorton and Scout Dan Dore. These were two unnecessary firings. Gorton has done good work in Boston, he was there when they drafted Kessel, signed Chara and Savard, and traded for Tuuka Rask. He did nothing this year to show he didn't deserve his job. The ownership may finally be realizing Peter Chiarelli was a mistake, light years behind everyone else, so they turn everyone else into scapegoats. As for Dore, no one knows much about scouts, but the Globe reported that he is "one of the industry’s most respected scouts." Why would you fire someone like that when player development is such a big part of your teams plan? Chiarelli should be the one to go. He has done nothing but make mistakes since taking the job. Hiring Lewis to begin with, trading Boyes and Mara, making a rash decision in hiring Julien, another soft coach all could have been avoided. All the changes the Bruins are making at the top are causing all the wrong people to be shown the door.

Cross coming to and staying in Boston

Apologies to my adoring public, its been a while since I posted. This was an exciting second day of the draft for the Bruins, trading up to select Tommy Cross, a big, powerful defenceman out of Westminster Prep right here in CT. We wont see Cross for a while though, as he is planning to play this coming year in the WHL before moving on to Boston College for the 2008-09 year. Physically, Cross is NHL ready now, but having never played above Prep School level, he needs some time against better competition. (Like the kind he faced in the IPH Spring League, wait... he never came.) He will be an interesting player to follow for years to come, and hopefully not another bust like many of the Bruins Draft Picks as of late. As for the rest of the draft, the Bruins didnt select again till the fifth round taking Denis Reul from Germany and in the 6th round they took a pair of defencemen, Alain Goulet from the OPJHL and Radim Ostrcil from the Czech Republic.

Bruins First Pick - Zach Hamill

With the 8th pick in the NHL Draft the Boston Bruins select...Zach Hamill? Going into the draft most people expected the B's to take Denfenceman Keaton Ellerby (#10 to Florida) or Centre Angelo Esposito (#20 to Pittsburgh) but instead the Bruins took Hamill, a center from the Everett Silvertips of the WHL, where he was the regular season scoring champion. He played for a former NHL coach in Kevin Constantine, so he is comfortable in that style of system. Although he is small, 5'11 and 190lbs, but he is very quick and an accurate shooter. The Bruins have little top line potential, so Hamill should aid that issue. When he will join the Bruins, almost certainly the Providence Bruins, is unknown.

New Logos

This morning, at the press conference, the Bruins showed off their "new" logo for the first time. The logo is similar to the one from the old days, with some small changes. I think it looks a little too cartoon-like, but its ok. The new jerseys should make the game better.

Just A Note...

The Bruins have called a 10:30 am press conference tomorrow to announce their new head coach, who will almost certainly be Claude Julien. More to come after the official announcement in the morning.