Chiarelli likely done shopping
Wideman deal Bruins' priority
Once he locked in Michael Ryder to a three-year, $12 million contract on the first day of free agency, Bruins general manager Peter Chiarelli acknowledged his days as a buyer this summer might be finished.
Such is reality when you're up against the salary cap.
The Bruins have 23 players under contract for a cap hit of $54.3 million. That number will be tweaked by the start of the 2008-09 season when bubble players get assigned to Providence (possibilities include Petteri Nokelainen and Vladimir Sobotka), youngsters like Matt Lashoff and Matt Hunwick challenge for NHL duty, Chiarelli deals a player or two, or buyouts take place if Dennis Wideman's contract is settled via arbitration.
For the most part, however, it appears the current roster could be set going into training camp in September.
"I feel that we have a good team," Chiarelli said Tuesday after signing Ryder. "You always look to improve. But if this is the team we go into training camp with, I'd be happy with it."
Chiarelli's belief is that Boston's high-end youngsters, buoyed by a playoff appearance, can continue their development. Milan Lucic, who started on the fourth line as a rookie last season, could round into a top-six forward. David Krejci was dominant when Marc Savard was sidelined with a broken bone in his back. Phil Kessel shrugged off the disappointment of his early playoff benchings and returned with authority later in the first-round series against Montreal. The veterans, led by Savard and Zdeno Chara, will be the go-to guys, while Tim Thomas and Manny Fernandez battle for the No. 1 job like they were expected to in 2007-08.
The biggest X-factor will be Patrice Bergeron and whether he can move past his season-ending concussion to serve as the No. 2 center.
"You can't forget," Chiarelli said, "that Patrice Bergeron is coming back."
Chiarelli's top priority now is to prepare for Wideman's arbitration - if the sides can't agree to an extension before the case, which will be held between July 20 and Aug. 4. Given the generous contracts recently signed by young, puck-moving defensemen entering restricted free agency ($5.25 million annually for Washington's Mike Green, $4 million for Edmonton's Tom Gilbert, $3 million for Chicago's Dustin Byfuglien), Wideman can expect at least $3 million per year, through arbitration or negotiations.
Assuming a $3 million payday for Wideman, the Bruins would be over the $56.7 million cap, a number they can exceed by 10 percent during the offseason as long as they get to the cap number by the start of the regular season. And the way the Bruins could take the biggest chunk out of their cap number would be to address Glen Murray's $4.15 million contract, which would give them wiggle room to remain flexible for additional player movement.
If Wideman's case goes to arbitration, the Bruins would have a 48-hour window in which to buy out Murray's contract. If they do so, they would lop $2,766,667 off their 2008-09 payroll. If Wideman's contract is settled prior to arbitration, the Bruins would not be allowed to exercise any buyouts; the ordinary buyout time frame closed June 30.
Notable players who were bought out during the period include ex-Bruins goalie Andrew Raycroft, Ottawa netminder Ray Emery, and Toronto agitator Darcy Tucker.
Another route would be to trade Murray, but the fact a move hasn't been made to this point indicates Murray's value on the open market. The Bruins could also waive Murray and allow another team to claim him.
If the Bruins don't move Murray, the right wing will have some strong competition this fall. Ryder will most likely serve as Savard's right wing on the No. 1 line. Chuck Kobasew's broken tibia has healed and the ex-Boston College star, coming off a career-best 22-goal season, would be a good wingman for Bergeron. Kessel could be the No. 3 right wing, and the Bruins would prefer a banger like Shawn Thornton to fill the spot on the fourth line.
Murray, however, is only one Bruin who hasn't performed to the level of his paycheck. The Bruins acquired Peter Schaefer and his $2.1 million annual salary from Ottawa last summer for Shean Donovan, believing the ex-Senator could ride with Savard on the No. 1 line. Schaefer emerged during the end of the regular season and the playoffs, but there's no guarantee the left wing can carry that play into 2008-09, considering he was a fourth-liner or a healthy scratch for parts of last season, although he was playing on a fractured foot for more than a month.
Injuries also kept Bergeron ($4.75 million cap hit) and Fernandez ($4.333 million) from contributing last season. Both are expected to be at Ristuccia Arena next week during the Bruins' second development camp, although neither is expected to share ice time with the prospects.
Behind it all, coach Claude Julien will be pulling the strings for the second season. Julien was perhaps the most significant factor in Boston's turnaround last season after a disastrous first year under Chiarelli's watch. Julien will be asked to help Ryder bounce back from a subpar 2007-08, and continue his guidance of his young players.
"It's important to take another step forward," said Julien. "We're working hard in that direction. Part of that will come from what's already here. Some of it will come from guys like Michael who we've acquired."
Fluto Shinzawa can be reached at fshinzawa@globe.com.
