| Kevin_Dupont: | Hi, folks. Training camp is less than a month away, so.....let's hear what you're thinking. Great to have you here. |
| rlynch04: | Q: Hi Kevin, What is the likelihood that the B's will trade Samsonov? I've heard rumors that they may trade him for a defensemen and I think they'd be making a huge mistake by trading him. |
| Kevin_Dupont: | I don't like the idea of trading Samsonov, either, but I would make it 3-to-2 in favor that he gets dealt. Yes, they need defensemen, and right now, the Magical Muscovite is the obvious one to flip for help back there. The second most obvious to go in a deal would be P.J. Axelsson. But, for his money, he delivers a lot of value. |
| rebels77: | Q: could Teemo Selanne be an option? |
| Kevin_Dupont: | The sarcastic answer here would be: sure, he's old enough! For the moment, I think the Bruins are done acquiring forwards. Unless Selanne wants to suit up as a blueliner, I don't see him coming to Boston. |
| yoyo: | Q: If they do trade Sammy - would they be looking to Ottawa and Redden? |
| Kevin_Dupont: | I think they'd be very eager to get Redden. I think 28 other of the Original 30 would be eager to get Redden. I just don't see Boston and Otttawa hooking up directly on a trade. Maybe a three-way, however. The other partner? Always consider Washington in the mix, simply because O'Connell and Caps GM George McPhee like doing biz with one another. |
| mike: | Q: kevin: I see the new tv deal in place, will being on the outdoor net help this game regain any popularity with the old fans? It seems the market audience may not be watching that channel. |
| Kevin_Dupont: | One thing I know about true hockey fans: they'll go to any measure to find the game and watch it. So, for the true fan, I don't think it matters if it ends up on the Cartoon Network. Now, as for growing the audience....hmm...I am convinced now, after some 30 years of covering the league, that it will never bring a great network rating number. If ESPN couldn't attract the eyeballs, I don't think anyone can. Yes, Comcast will do a very good job. But it will always, always, always be a niche audience. |
| Torontobruinsfan: | Q: What is the latest on Raycroft and Boynton's contract situations? |
| Kevin_Dupont: | This word just in: nothing to report (sounds like CBA talk of old, does it not?). They have their qualifying offers in front of them, and they can use those to keep talking about longer, richer deals. For now, however, they remain in contract limbo. |
| BruinsBlogger: | Q: Will the Bruins benefit from the new offense-friendly rules, or will the new challenges on defense outweigh the offensive improvements? |
| Kevin_Dupont: | Ah, the great, great unknown. Every team in the league wonders what the impact of the rules will be, and how their lineups interface with those rules. If Samsonov stays put, I think he should benefit greatly. Ditto for the likes of Thornton, Leetch, Zhamnov. Skill players SHOULD be able to wheel and deal. However, we have heard the league sing this song before--more room on the ice. I'm not saying I don't believe it. But this time around, I have to see it to believe it. And trust me, I want to believe it. |
| johnny: | Q: Who's the enforcer for the B this year. |
| Kevin_Dupont: | I give up, who? At the moment, no one fits the bill. Unless they get a big body to fill that role, I think one of the mantras in training camp will be: TEAM TOUGHNESS. And that will point to Joe Thornton playing with more of a snarl. |
| BruinsBlogger: | Q: Hello Kevin. Are you at all concerned with the B's relying on Raycroft and Toivonen in net this season? Are there plans to bring in a veteran backup? |
| Kevin_Dupont: | It's a legitimate concern, handing the most critical position over to two kids. But, Raycroft was sensational in his rookie season, and Toivonen shows legit promise. I still think you'll see them sign a vet (Felix Potvin Redux?) for short money, just to cover themselves in case of catastrophe. |
| bb: | Q: How important is for the Bruins to bolster the defense before the season starts?? |
| Kevin_Dupont: | I think it's of paramount importance. I like a lot of the parts back there (provided Boynton signs), but I think they still need a booster shot or two to give the backline a true identity. If the Caps move Brendan Witt--as rumored--he could be a valuable addition. |
| cameron: | Q: What do you think of the new ticket prices? I was a little dissapointed. Unless you want to sit in the rafters, it's just as expensive. |
| Kevin_Dupont: | Overall, I think most folks interested in making single-game purchasers have been underwhelmed. I am not surprised. The CBA meltdown had everyone thinking the game would come back at carnival prices. Not the case. But it will always be a pricey buy, simply because national TV dollars just aren't part of the equation. |
| bates55: | Q: Were do the Bruins stand in there division? who will be tough. considering that the bruins play teas in there own division several times? thanks for posting my question |
| Kevin_Dupont: | Until we see the net impact of the rule changes, and the finalized rosters around the league, it's virtually impossible to rate the Bruins against the rest of the pack. This is a great question, but no one has enough info yet to make an informed, or at least educated, answer. I like the way they're going, but they have to finish shaping the backline. |
| rebels77: | Q: Do you think O'Connell spent his money wisely this year ? |
| Kevin_Dupont: | I think he has done a decent job, overall, and a very good job considering the squeezed circumstances. They never in their wildest dreams expected the CBA smoke to clear with both Thornton and Samsonov only 49 weeks away from unrestricted free agency. I think he soon may be over the cap figure of $39 million.... |
| Kevin_Dupont: | If he does go over the cap, he will have to get it back under by the start of the regular season. All in all, I think you will see a trade or two here in very short order--in part to address the holes on defense, and in part to massage the cap figure. |
| Gee_Wally: | Q: Hi Kevin. Any official word on where training camp is going to be and when ? Also since we seem to be heavy on forwards, no room for the kids, any trade winds blowing for a D-man ? |
| Kevin_Dupont: | Ah, Wally Bulin, welcome! Unofficially, camp will begin Sept. 12, and the base will be, as before, in Wilmington. However, don't be surprised if the Bruins have at least a few practices on Causeway Street that week, leading up to their B-W game at BU on 9/16. ... |
| Kevin_Dupont: | As for forwards, agreed, they are getting a little top-heavy in shooters. They will have to make a move to add a defenseman or two--and I am sure newbies such as Boyes and Hilbert will welcome some elbow room up front for the purposes of getting some serious audition time. |
| digger: | Q: Hi Kevin - You've been somewhat critical of Thortnon's performance in clutch situations and of his captaincy of the Bruins. Do you think, as I do, that signing Joe long term was an extremely important move for the Bruins. |
| Kevin_Dupont: | Oh, indeed, important in many ways--most of all, from a biz standpoint, to stabilize an already-challenged ticket base. For better or worse (and you are correct, I have my issues with Joe as a player and captain), he is the face of the franchise.... |
| Kevin_Dupont: | Now, if Joe plays to his full potential and, most important, consistency, then he can be a dominant force throughout the legue. It's time for everyone--Joe included--to stop thinking that he's a young kid. Time to deliver on all the promise. |
| DuPont_Fan: | Q: What's your opinion on the Bertuzzi issue? |
| Kevin_Dupont: | Yeow, we could blow out the session on this one. I think his assault (no other word for it) on Steve Moore was disgraceful. On many levels. He hurt Moore, he hurt himself, and he damaged the game. I like him very much as a player, but it will be hard for me to get beyond the fact that he mugged someone in a very vulnerable position. |
| ranold26: | Q: Hey dupes, Just wanted to ask you one quick question... With Green likely centering the 4th line or playing wing on the 3rd, do you feel P.J. Axelsson could end up being traded. We don't need his gooning anymore ;-] |
| Kevin_Dupont: | Yeah, right, P.J. the Pugilist! No doubt he is expendable, but I think his relatively cheap salary makes him a very attractive keep right now. He is also a very good guy, well liked, and tremendously versatile. A lot of that mitigates the chance of his being dealt. But, in the new cap world, anything is possible--including, btw, the Bruins flipping a guy or two who they just signed as UFAs. Old methods no longer apply. It changes day-to-day. |
| joe: | Q: how good can Bergeron be? What kind of more estabished player can you compare him to? |
| Kevin_Dupont: | Maybe I'm shooting a little high here, but I see a lot of Joe Nieuwendyk in Bergeron. He's not as big, and he's been a wing rather than a center, but he is smart with the puck, and tough to rub out--all Nieuwendyk traits. He looks like a 10-12 year player to me. His true upside won't be known until the day comes that he moves to the pivot. As good as he is, we don't know one thing: can he make other players better? |
| jesse: | Q: Is contraction in the NHL's future? What franchises are going to be most affected by lack of fan interest after the lockout? |
| Kevin_Dupont: | I don't think you'll see fewer than 30 teams. You might see one, two or even three franchises move--and one or two could go to Canada (Quebec City, please!!!). Florida, N.C and Nashville all have signifiant financial issues, because attendance in those cities has been, to be kind, spotty. |
| neelynugs: | Q: dupes, who is your super-sleeper to make the team this year? |
| Kevin_Dupont: | Hey, Nugs -- I'd say Colton Orr, because in conversations with O'Connell, he virtually never fails to mention him. As you know, he's a slugger, and right now, there remains a spot open for a guy like that--provided management feels it's still a necessary job for one player to fill. |
| yumbo: | Q: One unique thing about hockey is the movement of playters from the AHL to the NHL and back. now with a cap in place how are things like 2 way contracts and player movement going to be handled? |
| Kevin_Dupont: | Good question, yumbo, and right now I don't have a firm grasp of how things will be different. Yes, players will still move 'tween the two leagues. And there are cap ramifictions, as there are/will be with injuries. |
| Bloody_Knuckles: | Q: Now that the cap is in place , any chance of a team back in hartford one day? |
| Kevin_Dupont: | Oh, man, the light never goes out for the Forever .500's. Any chance? Sure. A great chance? I wouldn't say it's highly likely, just because it has a feel of been-there-done-that. The league, more than ever, wants to look ahead--not back. Quebec City and Winnipeg might work, because it would be perceived as Canada-friendly. Hartford would not do much, if anything, in an image sense. |
| Casca: | Q: Do you think the Bruins made the right move in acquiring Leetch instead of Forsberg? |
| Kevin_Dupont: | Well, it wasn't either/or, because Forsberg opted to go to Philly rather than Boston. Both are very valuable players, and both have history with injuries (most veterans do). Forsberg's injuries have been more severe. Hey, I like 'em both. IF it were an either/or deal, I suppose I would have preferred to see Forsberg. |
| the_blank: | Q: What was the last year you remember a Bruins team so deep? |
| Kevin_Dupont: | I think you have to go with the club in the late-'80s, early-'90s...with Bourque in his prime, with Neely turning into a true force....Lemelin and Moog in net....a lot to like there. They had the misfortune of running into the dynamo that was the Oiler dynasty. |
