"Remain calm. All is well!" Let's not get too Crazy here!

Without delving too much into the Kevin Bacon/Chip Diller from Animal House end of the PANIC pool with this, instead I think we need to go with this type of angle- Here's the scenario: It's 1:45 am, last call's about to be announced & the lights will come on soon so you better latch onto something quick or you're going home alone and to the Spice Channel right? Well not so fast...

When you flip this same idea into the NHL's upcoming March 3rd trade deadline, the main question for the B's has to be: Are you better off riding with what you've got or by grabbing that last possibility regardless of the potential cost? This really is the challenge that their facing right now. While I fully realize & 100% agree that the B's haven't been lighting it up nearly as much of late and their not playing at the level as a TEAM that they had earlier in the season with the main reasons being varied and sometimes difficult to pin point because of things injuries finally taking their toll on their line up consistency each night, overall player fatigue and for whatever reason some not being as nearly as sharp as they were earlier in the season (i.e. guys like Krejci & Kessel) Then add in the fact that their schedule of late has contained a much higher caliber of opponents, you're looking this bit of a letdown & scuffle. These are all excuses on some levels but they are also things that need to be looked in order to make any trade.

Regardless of the B's recent sag, I think we all need to keep in mind that they still currently lead the entire Eastern Conference by a total of 9 points (over both the Devils & Capitals with each club having 57 games played heading into this evening's games) and primarily because of this fact I'd think it would be extremely foolish to simply make a snapshot judgement based these last 2 - 3 weeks and overreact and make a trade to simply make a trade or to keep with what other clubs have and may do. Sure we all know and agree that the B's could use another solid front line winger with some of that goal mouth area "grit" they seem to lack as well as adding another Defensemen with NHL Playoff experience (that never hurts to have right?) but at what price are you and the B's willing to pay for that rumored acquisition du Jour that seems only to be getting louder and louder as the deadline draws near? So getting down to brass tacks what would you be willing to give up and in turn what would you gain in the both short & long terms by acquiring someone like Oilers Left Winger Erik Cole, Av's Defensemen Jordon Leopold, Blues Center & former Mass native Keith Tkachuk or even some of the Av's other "up for sale" Defensemen like Brett Clark, John-Michael Liles and/or Ruslan Salei? From what I've seen online (for what that's worth...) or by simply looking at their current NHL & AHL rosters you'd think the obvious swap suspects would be players like Defensemen Matt Lashoff & Matt Hunwick. Front liners like Vladimir Sobotka, Byron Bitz, Martin Karsums, Martin St. Pierre or a highly regarded prospect we haven't seen skate yet at the NHL level like a Zach Hamill... Again you're not going to get an asset with giving one or even two up so what's it worth to you?

I have my opinions for sure but do I have any sure shot answers? No, not really and unless any of you or the B's Brass do and think that they're a legitimate piece or two away from a run at Lord Stanley than the answers simple: Make a Deal! But really is there anyone on the above "rumored" list that can really put the B's within reach of the Cup? That's $1,000,000.00 question and the thing that will make this March 3rd trade deadline so much different for this team than any of the least 4-5 years and places them in a very precarious spot for their immediate and long term future... I guess we'll see though right? Regardless Go Broouze! - KingKrej46

B's NewsBlast! - Round and Round We Go! Valdy & Lash come up (again) as Tukka & Karsums head down (again)

Well it looks like the seeminly Non-Stop Boston to Providence shuttle is still hard at work as the Bruins made several moves (again...) over the past 24 hours to try and continue to plug holes in their roster due to injuries, sickness and "General Soreness" (which who over 30 years old isn't by the way...?) Anyway here's the latest moves in summary & with a 1st assist to bostonbruins.com:


*Lashoff Recalled, Rask Assigned

Bruins General Manager Peter Chiarelli announced Tuesday that the club has recalled defenseman Matt Lashoff from the Providence Bruins on an emergency basis and assigned goaltender Tuukka Rask to the Providence Bruins.
*Lashoff will join the Boston Bruins for practice on Wednesday and accompany the team on their two-game road trip to Long Island and Washington.Lashoff has seen action in 13 games for Boston this season, registering one assist, and has played in 18 games for Providence with 4-12-16 totals. He split last season between Boston and Providence and skated in 18 NHL games, registering 1-4-5 totals and appeared in 60 games for the P-Bruins, tallying 9-27-36 totals.
*Rask was recalled on an emergency basis on two occasions (Saturday, January 10 and Monday, January 12) and served as the team's backup goalie in their 5-1 win over the Hurricanes on Saturday, January 10 and their 3-1 win over the Canadiens on Tuesday, January 13. Rask has started 30 games this season for Providence and has posted a 17-13-0 record with a 2.42 Goals Against Average and .919 save percentage. His 17 victories are the second most in the AHL.

*B's Recall Sobotka, Assign Karsums

Boston Bruins General Manager Peter Chiarelli announced today that the club has recalled forward Vladimir Sobotka from the Providence Bruins and assigned forward Martins Karsums to the Providence Bruins.
*Sobotka will accompany the team on their two-game road trip to Long Island and Washington. Sobotka has played in 15 games for Boston during the 2008-2009 season and recorded 1-1-2 totals. In 19 games with the P-Bruins this year.
*Karsums is currently the leading scorer for Providence with 16 goals and 23 assists in 38 games. Recently named an AHL All-Star, he will play for the Planet USA team in the AHL All-Star Classic on January 26. He skated in three games for Boston and earned his first career NHL point with an assist on Saturday, January 10 against Carolina.

Given the Lash....

Well, latest round of cuts were announced this afternoon. And they pretty much went how everyone would have expected. At the risk of beating a dead horse, can we finally put to rest all this Matt Lashoff love-fest BS? I've been saying it for a couple years, and I stand by it. This kid (rapidly becoming less and less of a "kid" BTW) just doesn't have "it". And by "it", I mean "defensive ability". Sort of a handicap for an NHL defenseman, no? I'm convinced Chilly should look to deal him now before his stock drops any more. There's a chance he could go on to have a decent career. Never say never when it comes to youngish D-men. But, he's been given every chance to show he belongs here, and has yet to grab it and run. Maybe a change in scenery will help. For his sake, I hope so. I thought Hunwick out-played him last year in camp, and apparently he has this year as well (or at worst played him even). Lash does have offensive upside, and I'd love to see it put to use in Boston. But his defensive liabilities far outweigh the offense.
Now that this round of cuts has come and gone, things start to get evry interesting. Still 27 guys in camp fighting for 23 spots (max). Sadly, salary cap considerations are going to be a big factor. I assume Chilly's comments about a trade happening soon are going to pan out. Question is, who and for what? Guess we'll just have to stayed tuned. But right now, I'm beat....who knew watching a VP debate could be so tiring! G'night, and I'll check in later with my thoughts on how I'd like to see the roster shape up. - Kynch