Melrose

According to ESPN, Barry Melrose could be the next head coach in Tampa Bay. He said that it has never been a secret that he has wanted to coach in the NHL. I am sure that an offical annoucement will be made after the playoffs.


Speaking of Barry Melrose, what do you all think about him with Don Cherry?

Ward Resigns for 2 years

Aaron Ward has resigned with the Bruins at $2.5 million for the next two season. This is a pretty good deal although it is hard to understand why the Bruins would not target Dennis Wideman, a much more valuable defenseman and part of the team, before resigning Ward. The Bruins now have 5 defensemen under contract for next season. Wideman and Mark Stuart are restricted free agents, both of whom are expected to return and probably will. Matt Lashoff is also under contract, this may be an indication he will be in Providence for another year. This deal may also mean the Bruins do not make a push for Marian Hossa come July 1st. If they are pursuing him, they are going to have to shed some salary. Glen Murray, Peter Schaeffer and Manny Fernandez will be tough sells to any GM in the league. Therefore, if the Bruins are trying to add Hossa, then valuable players such as Ference($1.4 million) or P.J. Axelsson($1.85 million) may have to become expendable to free up the necessary salary.

Out of the NHL

With the Russian Super League enlarging lots of NHLers are going to be making the jump to Russia. With the league having a lot of money from oil to mob providing money. The Russians are looking to compete against the NHL, much like the WHA did. Russia is doing this so more Russians stay in the country. The Russians are still mad over the whole Malkin deal. With that being said former Bruins goalie John Grahame signed with Avangard Omsk-Russian Super League. Also the NHL wont have to worry about Chris Simon as he heads over to Russia to. American goalie Robert Esche is also heading back over there for his second year. Esche signed a two year deal. Look for the Russian Super League to go after NYR Jaromir Jagr. Jarg played in Russia during the lockout and enjoyed his time in Russia.

After Coaching team Canada in the IIHF Pat Burns could be the front runner for the Ottawa job. Spezza and Heatley said they wouldn't mind playing for Burns. Burns know for his hard and defensive style could be what Ottawa needs, along with a steady goalie.

More news

According to www.collegehockeynews.com TJ Oshie is leaving University of North Dakota, signing with the St. Louis Blues. Oshie is considered one of the best all around players in college hockey. Oshie is feared by his physical presents along with his goal scoring ability. Oshie was the Blues first round pick and 24th overall in the 2005 draft. Oshie leaving before his senior year has averaged over a point a game in all three seasons at North Dakota. Before joining the Fighting Souix he played for Souix Falls in the USHL. Oshie is a very exciting forward to watch, in 42 games this year he had 18 goals, 27 assists for 45 points. I look for Oshie to be one of the front runners for rookie of the year this up comming season.

Also as reported in the comments in the last post the Bruins did sign Chuck Kobasew. How nice would it have been to have Kobasew in the Montreal series. If you remember he was out with a broke leg, getting hit by a Chara clapper.


Montreal also signed Ryan White to a three year deal.

Erat and Redden News

Martin Erat signs a 7 year deal for $31.5 million with Nashville. Erat 26, had a career high in goals and points with 23 and 57.

Wade Redden said he has not recived an offer for a contact. At the same time the Sens are looking for a new head coach. If you remember that the Sens picked Redden over Chara. Some belive that Redden has had troubles ever since his father has passed away, which his points dropped in production. Redden could benifit from a change. I don't see the Sens not offering him anything and letting him walk away. If he gets back to where he was he could be one of the best signings in the offseason, if Ottawa doesn't resign him.

Alexi Yashin could be heading back to the NHL rumors are that Montreal would welcome him back. I wonder if Montreal can pay him as much as he made last year in Russia for the production they get from him.

Wilson Out

San Jose Sharks will not be bringing back Head Coach Ron Wilson. Wilson is not being welcomed back due to the fact the Sharks suck in the playoffs. The curse of Jumbo Joe continued in the playoffs. Joe is a great player in regular season but can't find a way to win in the playoffs. Much like the coaches in Boston who are out of a job Wilson is out. So when you look back here's a list of coaches he's played for. So for the record he's gone to the 2nd round in the playoffs twice and that was with San Jose both times.
Pat Bruns
Mike Keenan
Robbie Ftorek
Mike O'Connell
Mike Sullivan
Ron Wilson

News and Notes

Joel Quenneville is out as the Colorado Averlanche's bench. Quenneville the former Jack Adams winner in St. Louis will not be coming back next year.
Patrick Roy the former great goalie now coaching his team that he owns in the QMJHL (Remparts) will throw his name in the Avs coaching job. It seems like former Bruins head coach Pat Burns is the front runner. However Colorado didn't likethe style Quenneville had with the physical play, so Burns is not the right fit. The Avs want to utilize there speed. Former Leafs coach Paul Maurice could also be in the running for the Avs job.

Olaf Kolzig confirmed that he will not be coming back to the Washington Capitals. After being the starting goalie for several years was unhappy once they got Huet. Huet is also a free agent hoping to resign. If he isn't resigned Washington could be stuck with Brent Johnson. Johnson has had some NHL starting time with St. Louis. Washington also as a UFA in Sergei Federov.

Jacques Lemaire will be coming back to the Minnesota Wild next year.

Sharks head coach might not be asked to come back. Ron Wilson's contract is up and might not be asked to come back, after the team has been disapointing the past two years in the playoffs. Ron Wilson is the dad of former Bruin Landon Wilson, how we try to forget how bad he was.

With the mess up in Toronto for a GM and Head Coach continues Jason Blake, who was signed as a UFA last year said he would welcome a trade. I don't understand this why would you sign one year and the nest year want to get traded? Maybe you should have not gone there.

Johan Franzen will be out for game 3 in Dallas, with a concussion. Franzen has been red hot since Holmstrom has got hurt. Scoring 27 goals in 27 games. Franzen has 15 points in 11 games in the playoffs.

Speaking of the Stars and Wings, both Chris Osgood and Mike Ribeiro will not be suspended but fined for there stick swinging at the end of game 2 in Detriot.

Former Bruins assistant coach and Westfield State alum could be out of a job. As the Hurricanes owner is unhappy the team didn't make the playoffs. Laviolette has 3 years remianing on his contract. I highly doubt he will leave Carolina this season. But if the Canes struggle first half look for him to be on thin ice. The Hurricanes might want to look into signing some UFA defensemen with former Bruin Glenn Wesley and Bret Hedican possibly hanging them up.

With the Flyers blueline already short with Kimmo Timonen already out with a blood cloth in his foot after blocking a shot in the Montreal series. The Flyers lossed there second best defensemen Braydon Coburn who got hit in the head with a Hal Gill slap shot, in the first period of game 2. Coburn did not return to the game, we will have to wait and see what his status is.

Once the Stanley Cup is over look for the Rangers, Canadians and Bruins to go after Marian Hossa. The Penguins obviously want him back. Hossa will be the big free agent this summer.

Tim Thomas was sent home by team USA with a knee injury.

Also Congrats to Nathan Gerbe of Boston College on signing with the Buffalo Sabers. Gerbe who was a Hobey Baker Finalist and the leading score in NCAA division one. Gerbe stands 5'7'' will be going to a great farm system in Buffalo.

Another Congrats to University of Miami (OH) goalie Jeff Zatkoff who signed with the LA Kings. The former #13 overall pick by the Kings. Zatkoff will more than likely be playing for the Manchester Monarchs next year. Jeff comes to the Boston area ever summer to train with Brian Daccord the former Boston Bruins goalie consultant. If you get a chance go watch Jeff, he will be in the NHL very soon.

College hockey gets instant replay. Hockey East will be getting instant replay this comming season. It is estimated that it will cost each school about $16,000 in equipment. There will be a coaches meeting in June, look for NCAA division one to go to getting ride of ties, which means a shoot out. The NCAA may also go with a mandatory two refs and two linesman, across the board.
Sources: Yahoo.com, TFP, USCHO, Collegehockeynews.com

Maurice

Rumor out of Toronto is that the Leafs are firing head coach Paul Maurice. I feel bad for the guy, he got put in a bad situation with a bad team. If you remember he was the poor sap that was stuck in Hartford with the Whalers, he coached there for 8+ seasons. I think Maurice is a good coach, anyone in his situation would be set up to fail. Hopefully he actually gets put in a good spot. He is liked by his players but can be hard on his players.

Murray

Rumor is that Glenn Murray will not be a Boston Bruins next year. According to TFP the Bruins are unhappy with Muzzy who will make $4.1 million next season in his last year of his contract. Murray could be sent down to the Providence Bruins so his $4.1 doesn't take a hit on the cap or they could buy him out and that would take a $1.4 hit on the cap for the next two seasons. I know the Bruins would love to get ride of him and are going to try and trade him first. However, you have to be nuts to take him. I don't see the Bruins buying him out since they are cheap and don't want to take the cap hit. I see them sending him down to Providence.

In other news the Bruins are going to have their hands full in net next season. The plan was to have Raask play 1 year in Providence and see how he did. Well he did really well and should be on the big club next season. The only problem is the Bruins were not smart signing Manny this past season. They also have Tim Thomas who hand another soild year. Everyone in the NHL knows the B's will try to deal Manny but who's going to take him and his heafty contract? Teams rather have Thomas or Raask and the Bruins could get something worth while in return. I don't see them making a move here at all, if anything buying out Manny but once again they are not know for doing that.

I would like to see the Bruins sign JML from the Avs. I would also like to see a goal scoring forward. The Bruins have plenty of grit and grind but when push comes to shove you need goals and 3 lines of it.