Anything Bruin? (Sorry, couldn't help ourselves)

Trade talk once again dominates the Bruins mailbag

Considering this is the last mailbag before the March 4 trade deadline, there were lots of questions on players the Bruins might acquire to beef up their roster heading into the playoffs. GM Peter Chiarelli recently told linemate Kevin Paul Dupont that he has eight players on the radar, so we'll see if any of those names lands in Boston before the deadline.

With the Sharks in for a visit earlier this month, there was some Joe Thornton talk, naturally. And with the power play going through its toughest stretch of the season recently, some sharp-thinking puckheads chimed in with their thoughts on how to tweak the man-advantage.

There has been a lot of talk regarding trades recently and I'd like to hear your take on the subject. What position do you see the B's trading for? Many sources claim a puck moving defenseman. But in my humble opinion I think the D is solid when healthy. Another scorer would be nice to have, especially on Bergeron's line. Who do you see the B's dangling out there (Manny Fernandez?) and who would be their targets? I can't see them trading any of their young talent and would you say that maybe the best move would be to follow last year's example and not make any transactions?
Jim, Dracut

A: Jim, you can never have enough defensemen, especially of the puck-moving variety. Yes, the Bruins would like another forward (preferably a big body with a left-handed shot), but their main target is on D. According to the Denver Post, there were several Boston scouts at the Colorado-Minnesota game last week. They've got some good talent on D - John-Michael Liles and Jordan Leopold being two of them. As for what would be going the other way, Matt Lashoff could be a possibility. Picks are always in play too. Don't think Fernandez is going anywhere. And yes, they could very well stand pat like last year's trade deadline. Don't think management would be crying about that.

Fluto, great job covering the Bruins. More of a comment than a question. The Joe Thornton trade has been widely criticized as this great debacle, but look who the Bruins have from that trade (granted some are here indirectly): Sturm, Kobasew, and Ference. Two top-nine forwards and a top-three defenseman. Pretty even trade. I think it actually favors the Bruins. What are your thoughts?
Sam J., Chicago

A: Sam, I'd call it even too. That's ultimately the point of trades -- not to rip off another team, but to make both clubs better.

I've heard the rumors surrounding the Bruins making a trade for someone like Jason Spezza or Ilya Kovalchuk. They seem too expensive to me. What about the rumors surrounding the B's making a move for hometown guy Keith Tkachuk? What do you make of those?
Mitch C., Billerica

A: Not sure where you're hearing Spezza or Kovalchuk rumors, Mitch. Neither is coming to Boston. Far too expensive. Neither player is very Bruin-like. Tkachuk seems more reasonable, but there's always the question of how his personality meshes with the rest of the dressing room.

With both goalies becoming UFA's at the end of the year, will the Bruins be shopping one at the trading deadline and go with Thomas and Rusk? They might be able to get something from a team going into the playoffs with questionable goaltending.
Dave M., Ottawa

A: Haven't heard anything about Thomas or Fernandez being available.

How strong is the rumor mill that the B's will make a major deadline deal? I would not want to see the team part with somebody like Lucic or Krejci. Plus, the team's chemistry is so good, that I'd be nervous that a deal would ruin it. I'm not sure they need to add anybody else. Your thoughts?
Sean, Milton

A: Have not heard anything regarding anything major. If anything, it will be a minor tweak here or there.

Any chance the Penguins would part with Jordan Staal for, say, Phil Kessel and P.J. Axelsson? Love Staal's size up the middle.
Bob, Kensington, Conn.

A: Interesting thought. Now this is the kind of trade proposal that often takes place -- good players in discussions on both sides. No bundling of marginal prospects and picks to get top-notch players. Given the Penguins extended Staal for four years, I doubt they'd want to part with him. He's a strong centerman who can play both ways and has decent hands. Obviously Pittsburgh has depth up the middle and could use a winger for Crosby, but the Bruins are also one of those teams with depth at center. So while I like Staal's game, doubt that trade would get done. But good thought.

Fluto -- How about these PP lines as a way to juice up the beleaguered Bruins' powerplay:

PP1: Kessel-Chara-Savard, Wideman-Bergeron
PP2: Wheeler-Krejci-Kobasew, Ference-Ward

Has Claude given any thought to using Chara down low on the first PP unit? Granted you take his shot away, but Wideman can add the hammer from the point. He showed at the end of the game in Nashville that he has soft hands and can handle himself in front of the net. He could create a ton of traffic, screen the goalie, and be there for an easy poke in. Your thoughts? Thanks.
Mike, Portsmouth, R.I.

A: Mike, they got things revved up in Carolina Tuesday. But I agree with you. I really like Chara in front. Size, hands, awareness. No defenseman would be able to move him and not allow him to get proper positioning. As hard as Chara's shot is, I don't think he shoots enough from the point. They can use the one-timer as a threat and open up space for other players, but I still think he would best serve the team in front. But I understand Julien's thinking. He likes having the option of Chara's shot at the point. And that net-front position takes a whole lot of abuse that might take away from Chara's defensive even-strength game. But I like the idea of throwing him there once in a while, especially when the PP is struggling.

Fluto, I missed most of the Canes game but did flip in the third period to a see a nice defensive backcheck by Phil Kessel. Everybody recognizes that he has improved greatly defensively but I still read that it is a weakness in his game. I feel like I've seen him take the puck off another player's stick more then any other forward on the team. I feel like he has become one of our best defensive forwards, in order I would say Axelsson, Bergeron, Yelle, Savard, and Kessel. Am I wrong? How does the team see him -- is he a minus or plus defensively? I feel like the public continue to think he is a minus because the team has never really lauded him for his defensive efforts, they have acknowledged improvement but don't put him in the class I have put him in. Could you please tell me what you think and what you believe Julien/Chiarelli think about this subject.
Rick, Scituate

A: Rick, not sure I like his defensive game as much as you do. Yes, he's improved. And yes, he's good at picking pucks off other sticks. But he doesn't have the strength and awareness to be one of their better defensive forwards. Of that group you mentioned, I'd include Krejci and Wheeler as being decidedly better defensively than Kessel. I also like what Thornton and Bitz do in their own zone in terms of playing the walls and chipping pucks out. He's a player who needs regular coaching and reminders on how to be most effective in his own zone. He's never going to have the strength of some of the other players, but he'd do well if he improved his positioning.

Bucc poses a good question . . . maybe you can answer his rhetorical: "I think [the B's] should rest some of their young players from time to time, else they will run out of gas. Why don't hockey teams do this?"
Rosenblatt, Beverly

A: Interesting thought but not one that would be easy to practice. There's certainly a way of pacing young players and not burning them out. But I'd do that in practice and morning skates. So much of being successful as a hockey player is feel, rhythm, tempo -- all things that are quickly lost when you're not playing. I could see spreading out shifts during the game, but Julien does this already. They roll four lines to give their top players a break, and they can afford to do so because they don't lose anything when their fourth line is on the ice.

With the rash of injuries, especially to Ryder, and high cost of heavy shots like Erik Cole, could the B's be considering a cheap trade for Glen Metropolit that would allow them to bring in someone who understands Julien's system and move Bergeron to the wing on one of the top two lines? I think the Flyers would like to move Metropolit for salary-cap flexibility so it might be a win-win for both teams? Also wondering if the B's could bolster their defense and power play all at once by getting a guy like Mark Streit? Montreal clearly misses him and the Islanders don't have anything to play for in the present. Is there a problem with his defensive skills that is not offset by his power-play expertise?
Cormac, Hollis, N.H.

A: Have not heard anything regarding Metropolit. Don't think the Bruins want to move Bergeron to wing anyway. He's been terrific in the last handful of games while skating at center ice. Hard to find a center with a skill set of a healthy and clicking Bergeron. But I see your thinking regarding a player like Metropolit. No shame in trading for a peripheral player rather than a centerpiece at the deadline. As for Streit, I think the Islanders would want to keep him. He's earned his salary, to my surprise.

Fluto - Will we be able to break our old Guerin jerseys out of the closet this year? With Doug Weight being sidelined, and good relations between these two teams, it could be a nice fit. Oh, and why has our team stopped hitting people?
Mark, Somerville

A: Mark, I still think Guerin can play. Would like him more if he were a lefthanded shot. Don't think the price would be too high. And you're right, physical play is a staple for this team to be successful. It will be a requirement come playoff time.

I remember a number of years back (when Don Sweeney was still playing for the B's), there was a lot of talk about the Bruins needing to improve their transition game. It took awhile, but it's happened -- and in a BIG way. Their transition game has been great this year. What is the biggest factor in this team's success in the transition game? How much of this did Sweeney influence (possibly with the player development of some of the younger guys) and how much is the system of Claude Julien and his staff, and how much is just simply having talented puck-moving defensemen?
Paul, Bossier City, La.

A: Great question Paul. Lots of layers to the transition game. It starts with the coaching. The emphasis in Julien's first year was to learn the defensive-zone system. Once they did that, Julien added some things, namely joining the rush and kick-starting the transition game. There's a lot of coaching involved in making the D-men retrieve the puck more efficiently -- go back for it hard, know where your teammates will be, read how the forecheck is approaching, then make a good turn and a crisp first pass. The players themselves have gotten better as they've matured too. Even compared to his Ottawa years, Chara is a more mobile, fluid defenseman who can start the transition game -- just about unthinkable for a guy his size. That's the way the game is going these days. It's all about moving the puck quickly and efficiently, and that starts with the defensemen, with the forwards also helping out by coming back for the puck. I'm sure having Sweeney around helps, not so much with the veterans, but with the younger D-men in Providence. They're also getting good coaching down there too. It's pretty interesting to think about all the elements that are involved in making the transition game better. Management is targeting players who are good at it. Coaches are teaching it well. The players are getting better at it.

Hi Fluto. I was wondering what the circumstances were of Robert Lang's release from the Bruins. He's had a long and productive career since leaving the B's. Why was he not given a shot here in the Hub?
Mike, Pawtucket, R.I.

A: Mike, Lang in Boston precedes my time. So here is Dupont's take: Played three games. It was Pat Burns's first year as coach. Burns found him a curious fit, which I ultimately took to mean that Lang had too much skill to fit well with the coach's meat-and-spuds style. I also think Lang made a decent buck, which only encouraged Sinden to move him (per standard Hub of Hockey procedure).

One aspect of the B's game this year that seems strong is that they seldom move out of position to make a hit. However, in their recent struggles it seems that teams like the Sharks and Flyers have put the B's on their heels with aggressive hitting. Do the stats seem to indicate that the B's are getting out-hit by their opponents? Has the coaching staff indicated any need for enhancing their physical play?
Dan, Milton, N.H.

A: Dan, excellent observation regarding the positional hitting. Yes, that is emphasized by the coaching staff. The Bruins, especially the defensemen, are instructed not to pursue the puck and get out of position to throw a big hit. That's why you don't see players like Chara throw big-time hits like Dion Phaneuf. And while you won't see them cheating the system and leaving their areas to try a big hit, the Bruins have to be more physical, especially in the attacking zone. The strength of their puck-possession game is getting the puck in deep, turning around defensemen, being aggressive on the forecheck, and cycling. That part of their game hasn't been as effective as it was earlier in the season. Several reasons for that -- other teams are more desperate and hungry to beat the best team in the league, fatigue, shuffling of lineup.

Fluto, where is Rene Rancourt?
Terrence, Norwell

A: While he isn't the only anthem singer anymore, Rene still sings before occasional games.

Fluto, what do you think happened to that great PP setup where Chara gains the blueline, dumps it in, and retrieves it? Pretty straight forward and it worked like a charm.
Andy, Halifax

A: I like that one myself, Andy. Not going to see too many players willing to step into that lane when Chara has speed through the neutral zone and plowing the snow going into the offensive zone. But a lot has to go right for that to happen. A good penalty kill is going to take away center ice and force the PP to dump the puck in rather than allowing clean entries. Chara would have to have a clear lane for that setup to take place.

Fluto . . . Love the mailbag . . . I live north of Toronto but bleed black and gold. So sick of all the Leaf talk up here!!! Do you think Timmy [Thomas] will get considered for the Vezina Trophy this year? Also, with such a good lead in the standings wouldn't it be a good idea to bring up Tuukka Rask and play him for a extended period. Rest Timmy the Tank for the playoffs and get a glimpse of your future goaltender. Thanks ...GOOOOOO BRUINS!!!!!!!!
Bill, Barrie, Ont.

A: Bill, Thomas is absolutely in the Vezina conversation. Think he's finally getting the league-wide respect that his performance should attract. Do not think they should call up Rask to back him up for the rest of the season. If you have two high-performing veteran goalies when you're a team that can contend for the Cup, you don't fool around with the goaltending. Obviously that weighs on Fernandez's back. If Fernandez isn't healthy, then the Bruins must look at alternatives, which could very well mean Rask.

In response to the ice condition question in your last mailbag, keep in mind that the Garden has the Celtics and various concerts on top of the ice, plus ice shows, figure skating, etc on the actual ice (not to mention the Beanpot, the MIAA tournament and Hockey East Tournament too!). So our ice gets worn down more often than, say, Edmonton, where the arena is probably has more hockey games than other types of events. Just a thought. Great mailbag though, glad to see you guys doing the same as the Sox and Patriots bloggers!
Grady, West Springfield

A: Good point, Grady.

Hi Fluto -- With the trade deadline in about a month everyone is talking about what the Bruins should do, if anything. I personally think they should go after Keith Tkachuk. I figure it would take a package of maybe Lashoff and a forward in Providence, or draft pick. Another idea I was thinking was to trade Marco Sturm straight up. Is it legal to trade guys that are injured? The salaries would be a wash and St. Louis would have a solid veteran second-line winger to go along with their already youthful lineup for next year. The Bruins could cut ties with Tkachuk after the year and use the extra money to help in signing Thomas, Kessel, and Krejci. What are your thoughts?
Dave, Burlington

A: Dave, Lashoff and a pick sounds reasonable for Tkachuk. Sturm has a no-trade clause so he will not be moved. Even if he didn't, it would be difficult to trade a forward coming off major knee surgery.

Hi, Fluto. Enjoy your columns and blog updates. As well as the Bruins have been playing, do you feel the team as it is can win it all this year, and if not, how much tweaking can Chiarelli do at the trade deadline without affecting the chemistry that is there?
Eric, Brampton, Ont.

A: Eric, NJ and Washington will be tough in the East. A first-round matchup against Buffalo is no picnic either. But given how well they've played through the season, you can say this a team that can win the Cup. Doubt you'll see anything major at the deadline. They are big believers in chemistry and getting rid of a roster player might shake things up more than they'd like in the room.

Is Marco Sturm staying around with the club, even though he's out for the season? He must be very upset to miss all the action, as the Bruins know their best season since he's in Boston. I would have liked to read an interview with him. We don't hear about him since he's injured.
Remi, Quebec.

A: Yes, Marco is around. He is rehabbing every day at a Boston hospital. By next week, he can remove the protective brace from his knee. He will be with the team through the season. Said he's enjoying spending more time with his family, although he's obviously disappointed about not being able to play.

Fluto -- Are you or KPD coming down for the March 8 tilt vs. the Rangers at MSG? Since you guys are our only link here to the Bruins, any chance you guys could organize (or just mention in a post) an informal get-together at one of the Boston bars (Prof Thoms or the Riv) either before or after the game? Would love to have a beer with you and some other like-minded hockey fans.
Josh, New York

A: KPD is in charge of all festivities in NYC next month. Not sure I want to know his Times Square haunts.

It is rumored that Alexander Frolov from the Kings and Brian Gionta from the Devils are being shopped by their teams. Frolov is a productive young player at a reasonable price with decent size. Gionta, while having less productive seasons the past two years, is still a quality player at an affordable price. The Bruins are loaded with righthanded shooters, but do you think either can have an impact in the B's lineup and what do you think the chances are of landing one of the two?
Will, Fort Bragg, N.C.

A: Will, not sure why LA would get rid of Frolov. He's the kind of core player they need on such a young team. If Gionta is on the block, I don't see the Devils trading him to the Bruins. These are two teams that could face each other in a later playoff round, and I don't see them doing business with each other because of that possibility.

Hey Fluto -- What are the chances of the Bruins having one of their college senior draftees coming up after their season is over and helping the team, such as Brock Bradford of BC. Also, do you see them trying to sign Matt Gilroy of BU when BU's season is completed? Thanks.
Tim, Charlestown

A: Tim, Bradford would most likely go to Providence once his season at BC is over. The Bruins like Gilroy, but they will not have the cap space to go after him. Because he will be 25 in September, Gilroy is not subject to the entry-level system. He can sign a multi-year, multi-million contract, and he should do very well on the market because of his skills (skating and puck-moving ability). I'd bet on any of the NY teams being among his top picks. The Bruins had a better shot of signing him last season, but Gilroy decided to go back to BU for his senior year.

Fluto, who would you say is the strongest Bruin (besides Chara, of course)? My guess would be Thornton or Lucic. How about the weakest?? Axelsson or Hunwick?
Pete, West Roxbury

A: Stuart is the strongest. Kessel is the weakest. Hunwick is a pretty big guy, while Axelsson has that wiry strength.

With Krejci, Kessel, Hunwick, Lashoff, Karsums, and Soderberg all restricted free agents next year and Wheeler, Lucic, Nokelainen, Stuart, and Rask RFA's in 2010-2011, will the Bruins trade Kobasew for Antropov? This would take $2.3 million off the books for 2010 and 2011 and give the Bruins a gifted sniper (to replace Sturm ) for a Stanley Cup run this year!
Michael, Weymouth

A: Not sure who would come back in return, but given his contract, I think Kobasew is a trade candidate. Too bad because he fits the Bruin profile and is one tough dude. But because of cap issues, he's making too much money for what the Bruins are currently asking him to do. If Kobasew does get moved, there's no guarantee it would take place before the deadline either.

When are you joining us hardcore fans at hfboards?
Alex, Cumberland, R.I.

A: The Lunatic Fringe checks in! You are in good hands over there with KPD. He is the Globe point man on all things HF.

It seems that the Bruins have given PJ Axelsson numerous chances to show that he has offensive skills, and every time he comes up short. I think he's a smart player and provides a lift with their team defense, but when does he get relegated to where he truly belongs, which is the checking line?
JT, Norwood

A: When you can guarantee that injuries won't take place, then Axelsson will be strictly a checking winger. But guys will get hurt and Julien likes the versatility Axelsson provides.

Fluto - Love the mailbag and its about time some focus is on the Bruins instead of the 24/7/365 circus that is the Red Sox. Questions: The play of Byron Bitz has really stood out versus that of Nokelainen this season. I prefer his size, grit and overall playing style versus to that of Nokelainen. Do you see the Bruins giving the nod to Bitz each night down the stretch considering his play of late? Also, let's assume Tkachuk or some forward lands with the Bruins for a late draft pick at the deadline, who then becomes the odd man out? Bitz?
Chris W., Mansfield

A: Bitz has been very good. Has done his job as well as expected. The Bruins are very pleased with his contributions. Unfortunate, obviously, that Nokelainen was hurt against San Jose. That was one of his best games before he got hurt. It's hard to project the lineup with injuries always a factor, but I don't see Bitz being taken out of the lineup for any reason at this point. That fourth line has been very effective. Even against San Jose, Julien didn't pull them off when Thornton's line was out there.