All of the usual suspects weigh in
FLUTO SHINZAWA | ON HOCKEY
After losing Dougie Hamilton, Bruins shift gears at start of free agency
HERALD Bruins moves a shock to Brad Marchand
HERALD Don Sweeney scores big
FLUTO SHINZAWA | ON HOCKEY
After losing Dougie Hamilton, Bruins shift gears at start of free agency
Neely was blindsided by Hamilton’s intentions. Neely said he didn’t know why Hamilton would want to leave.
“I really didn’t get any indications of anything negative in exit meetings,†Neely said. “So I was surprised. I thought Don did some really good work on comps around the league. He put a lot of time and effort into making fair offers and showing them we were serious about trying to sign him. We didn’t want him to get to July 1.â€
The Bruins submitted offers of four-, five-, and six-year terms to Hamilton last week. All were competitive with the six-year, $34.5 million extension Hamilton signed with the Flames on Tuesday, said Neely. J.P. Barry, Hamilton’s agent, did not return any counteroffers.
In the face of the no-no-no answers, the Bruins quickly found themselves in a jam. The draft was approaching. So was free agency, and with it the threat of losing Hamilton. While he wouldn’t have done it right away, former GM Peter Chiarelli, now in Edmonton, would have signed Hamilton to an offer sheet.
The Bruins could have held their ground. They could have continued to negotiate. One-way conversations in June usually transform into working dialogue in September, when bargaining power shifts to clubs and unsigned players start itching to join their teammates at the rink. The Bruins could have matched any offer sheet.
Fear won out.
HERALD Bruins moves a shock to Brad Marchand
For the remaining Bruins, like Brad Marchand, it has been a bit gut-wrenching. He watched a good friend leave Boston and couldn’t help but wonder if he was next.
“I think that day (Friday) was just a big shock with those guys leaving. I don’t know if guys were prepared for that to be happening,†Marchand said last night before an appearance at McBlarney’s County Tap. “There’s always speculation about guys getting traded, but there was obviously a lot more happening this year. You do get a little bit nervous, but I hope I’m here for a long time and if not, then it’s out of my hands. But it’s always a tough spot to be in when guys are getting traded and the team is changing around you and you’re losing friends and close teammates. It just means that new relationships have to be built and I think we’re all looking forward to that.â€
The trusted left winger of the Bruins’ best overall player, Patrice Bergeron, Marchand should be safe for a while. But, then again, it was hard to imagine the team without Lucic not too long ago.
“Obviously, we all know that with the season last year there were going to be some changes but it’s always tough when you see your friends go to another team,†Marchand said. “Looch has been around for a long time and we’ve built a pretty good relationship so it’s always tough to see a guy like that go. On the other side, we know it’s a business and decisions have to be made at times that aren’t always easy. All we can do is wish him the best and hope he doesn’t run us next year.â€
HERALD Don Sweeney scores big
After a much-criticized weekend at the NHL draft, new Bruins general manager Don Sweeney and his staff needed to make a splash on Day 1 of NHL free agency, and he delivered a tsunami.
“I think we’ve improved our overall group and our team,†said Sweeney last night. “And we’re taking it in a direction, I believe, that everyone is excited about. Hopefully it all falls into place.â€[/QUOTE
FELGER (VIDEO) They are a bettwe team without Reilly Smith
