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Chiarelli on Murray's buyout

Email|Link|Comments (7) Posted by Fluto Shinzawa, Globe Staff July 26, 2008 03:15 PM

GM Peter Chiarelli, in commenting on today's buyout of Glen Murray, reiterated the challenge of pulling the trigger on the transaction.

"It was very difficult," Chiarelli said. "He was one of our captains. Whenever we had to talk to our leadership group, he was part of it. He was a good foil for the players in that room. It was a difficult decision. But that's the cold, hard reality of this salary cap system. It's one of the tools general managers use to get that flexibility. In talking to Muzz, I couldn't give him any comfort in what I said. It's very bleak to cut ties the way we did. But that's the reality of it."

Chiarelli said that fundamentally, the Boston roster heading into training camp is set. Chiarelli acknowledged he could be in the market for some veteran help. The Bruins could offer a camp invitation to a player like they did with Glen Metropolit last season.

* F Nate Thompson is one of two remaining restricted free agents (F Martin St. Pierre is the other) the Bruins have yet to re-sign. "We'll be getting Nate under contract shortly," Chiarelli said. "We'll be progressing with him and I don't anticipate any problems."

tags Glen Murray, Nate Thompson

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7 comments so far...

I'm sorry to see you go Muzz. You will be missed!!!

Posted by Joe M. July 26, 08 03:28 PM

...'veteran help'? ...Shanahan?

Posted by Tom July 26, 08 03:49 PM

No to Shanahan...young guns proved they can play...

Posted by Yanksstillsck July 26, 08 06:28 PM

Muzz will be a Bruin that will always be remembered with other great Bruins. However, his game is too 1990's, and just isn't working in the New NHL. As tough as it was to let this veteran go, if Boston is to build from it's performance in the playoffs last season, there had to be some changes. Brendan Shanahan while would be an experienced player on this team, the team needs players who can score, score and score. We have made a decent start with Kobasew, Kessel and others, but we need more. Shanahan is like Muzz...too much 1990's, not enough here and now NHL!

Posted by Dan July 26, 08 08:36 PM

I know he has to say all the right things but honestly...letting Murray go was one of the easiest decision Chiarrelli will ever make. However, he could have done this back in June and given Murray a better chance to sign with another club. He probably owed him at least that. As for the Bruins leadership, they pay Chara $7.5M to be the captain so he should start earning his money if he hasn't been opening his mouth "in the room".

Posted by kevin July 26, 08 09:18 PM

I wonder if the Bruins were one of the teams chasing Boumeister? It seems odd that he would only sign a one year deal in the current market.

Posted by b&g bleeder July 29, 08 05:56 AM

"I wonder if the Bruins were one of the teams chasing Boumeister? It seems odd that he would only sign a one year deal in the current market."

Just a move to facilitate his trade faster and avoid arbitration. Had he gone through arbitration, he wouldn't have been able to negotiate an extension with the Panthers or any other team until January. This buys Martin some time to find the right deal and still lets him make a deal before the season starts as other teams can ask permission to negotiate an extension with Jay before any trade occurs.

Its a forgone conclusion that JB won't be a Panther next year. Its just a matter of when/where he's going.

I'd love the B's to be in the mix but we don't have the cap space.

Posted by rockstareh July 29, 08 04:57 PM