Schaefer wheeled away via waivers

WILMINGTON - With no takers for the two years and $4.6 million (annual cap hit of $2.1 million) remaining on Peter Schaefer's contract, the Bruins placed the 31-year-old forward on waivers yesterday, effectively cutting ties with a player once projected to be the club's No. 1 left wing.

Schaefer, who scored only nine goals in 63 regular-season games last year, was pushed out by Blake Wheeler, the impressive rookie who made the team after his first pro training camp.

"He's been in the league for a while," said general manager Peter Chiarelli. "I think he knew what was coming, especially with the play of Blake Wheeler. He pretty much expected it, is what he told me."

Chiarelli was an Ottawa executive when Schaefer played for the Senators. On July 17, 2007, Chiarelli acquired Schaefer for Shean Donovan in what was viewed as cap relief for the Senators. In exchange, the Bruins believed they received a gritty wing who could do the dirty work along the wall and scoop out pucks for Marc Savard and Glen Murray.

What they got, however, was an inconsistent player who quickly dropped off the top line. Schaefer was slowed by leg and foot injuries last season, but when healthy, he found himself on the fourth line or in the press box.

Schaefer rebounded at the end of the regular season and in the playoffs (one goal and three assists against Montreal in the first round), but he didn't have a good training camp. He also was bothered by hip flexor stiffness.

He is expected to clear waivers by today's noon deadline, at which point he can be assigned to Providence. If a team claims Schaefer on re-entry waivers, it would pick him up at half his remaining contract (the Bruins have to pay the other half).

"Just because we're professional coaches or a professional team doesn't mean we always have the answers," said coach Claude Julien. "In his case, it just didn't seem to pan out for him. It created a situation where somebody else had come in and taken that spot over.

"It's unfortunate, and you just hope, because he is a good individual, that things do work out for him."

Wheeler, a natural right wing, has been skating on the left side with David Krejci and Chuck Kobasew on the third line. Wheeler was fourth on the club in scoring in the exhibition season, recording one goal and four assists in six games.

"I feel good," Wheeler said of playing left wing. "The only difference is you've got to protect the puck a little differently in the defensive zone.

"It's not that big of a transition. I feel pretty good over there, especially coming into the zone. With me on the off wing, I can put the stick in the middle a little more and create a better shooting angle."

The Bruins also waived Nate Thompson and Jeremy Reich. They will report to Providence if they clear waivers, although the Islanders, because of Thompson's history with first-year coach Scott Gordon, might claim the center. Gordon was Thompson's coach with the Baby B's last season. Also, Matt Hunwick was assigned to Providence.

"This is somebody's livelihood," said Julien. "They're not easy decisions to make. They're good days because you're down to your team and you work with your team. But the other side of the coin is not so good, because you're losing quality people that probably deserve to be here."

Hard reality

One of the most significant roster obstacles the Bruins had to clear was the elimination of the 7.5 percent performance bonus cushion this season. The salary ceiling is a hard cap of $56.7 million.

The change, in place because the NHL Players Association has the option of terminating the CBA, made Wheeler's $2.825 million cap number a hard hit.

The cushion could come back around the start of the 2009 calendar year, when the NHLPA is expected to make a decision on the CBA. Later this month, NHLPA executive director Paul Kelly will kick off his 30-team fall tour (he is scheduled to meet with the Bruins in November), during which players will tell him whether they want to terminate the CBA.

It is expected the CBA will be extended, given that the average player salary is approximately $2 million per year. When the decision is made, the cushion will be reintroduced.

"Those are the rules we're playing with this year," Chiarelli said. "It might have saved a job or two. But I look at it as you've got to ice the best team possible. That's what we're doing here."

A killer pairing

P.J. Axelsson and Stephane Yelle were paired on the penalty kill during practice yesterday. It's expected the two will be together on the PK during the regular season . . . Petteri Nokelainen, sidelined by a groin pull, returned to practice. Nokelainen said he's feeling better and will test it harder today in practice . . . The Bruins assigned Carl Soderberg to Malmo of the Swedish Elite League . . . Defenseman Mike Egener, 24, announced his retirement. Egener had signed a one-year, two-way deal Aug. 28.