Daily Countdown: 123 Days

Tuukka Rask is our man next season (Credit: Flickr/Bridget Samuels)

Today is Tuukka Rask appreciation day here at A Cup A Bruin! With just 123 days to go until hockey season begins, Rask is still in need of a new deal with the Bruins. And with Tim Thomas jumping ship, Rask’s value on the team is more important then ever.

Let us remember that there was a point last season when Tuukka and Timmy were 1 & 2 in the league. Rask wasn’t even the primary starter. Unfortunately, an groin/abdominal strain in early March put Tuukka on the sidelines.

Here are his 2011-2012 statistics:
23 games, 11-8-3, 2.05 GAA, .929 save percentage, 3 shutouts

Like I said Timmy was getting the bulk of the starts, but everytime it was TUUKKA TIME, the 25 year old was easily outperforming Thomas.

There’s no question in my mind that Raskt should be resigned. Not only is the future of the Bruins goaltender because of his young age, he is the best guy for the starting job. Don’t believe me? Check out some of his best saves:

So everyone get ready for a Tuukka filled season. He’s a player that has expressed interest in playing in Boston and doesn’t look like he plans to step away from hockey anytime soon.  And well what we need now are committed players.

 

(Credit: http://bosstownsports.tumblr.com)

Tim Thomas’ Bruins Facebook Breakup

Bye Bye Timmy (Credit:Flickr/Slidingsideways)

Much like that text you get saying “I need some time to think about our relationship”, Tim Thomas just took a break from the Bruins. There’s been rumors, there’s been people talking, but today is the first we’ve heard from Thomas himself. Unfortunately, it just confirmed the rumors.
Here’s his post via his official Facebookpage:

“From the earliest age I can remember, I’ve wanted to be a hockey player. I’ve been blessed in my life to not only be able to live that dream, but to achieve more than I ever thought possible.

The singleminded focus that is necessary to accomplish a dream of this magnitude entails (by necessity) sacrifice in other areas and relationships in life.

At the age of 38, I believe it is time to put my time and energies into those areas and relationships that I have neglected. That is why at this time I feel the most important thing I can do in my life is to reconnect with the three F’s.

Friends, Family, and Faith.

This is what I plan on doing over the course of the next year.”

Not going to lie, it hurts a bit to have Timmy break the news to fans via Facebook. Now this is not me being selfish but after announcing his retirement Red Wings Nicklas Lidstrom took out a full page ad thanking fans for the time he spent in Detroit and all we get is a few sentences on Facebook. Really?

What Thomas is doing is raising many eyebrows, mine included. His contract still counts against the cap while he takes a year vacation and to me that’s money that could be going to current players that WANT to play for the Boston Bruins. All I can say is I hope Tuukka Rask is signed soon because he is fully capable of taking over as starting goalie. Honestly if this is really how Thomas feels right now and this is where his heads at, then he isn’t the one I want in net helping the Bruins reach another Stanley Cup Finals.

So thanks for all you’ve done Timmy, without you the team could not have won that Cup last year. This hurts, but I know this breakup is whats best for all of us.

Daily Countdown: 124 Days

Only 124 more days until we discover if Tim Thomas will be fighting off the

(Photo Credit: fearnet.com)

Zombie Apocalypse or playing for the Boston Bruins. (thumbs up!) With the recent outbreak of cannibalism, it is no wonder that the star goaltender is contemplating taking a year off. He needs to redeem himself with Bruins fans after the way he has been perceived in the past year for his political stunts. What better way to do so than to fight off zombies that are trying to eat your face off?! Regardless Tim, you have my respect, assuming you don’t ‘sit out/get suspended’ thus wasting $5million. No me gusta.

Time Off For Thomas?

Tim Thomas (Photo Credit: Steph Phillips)

Last night around 9pm EST, NESN reported that Bruins goaltender Tim Thomas was thinking about taking the 2012-2013 season off. Mid-way through the season this year, Thomas moved his family to Colorado after reportedly settling down in Boston.

He also avoided any discussion post-season as to sticking around in Boston for the next season. According to CSNNE’s reporter Joe Haggerty:

His move to the more politically conservative state of Colorado might explain why Thomas has been so noncommittal when asked about retiring as a Bruin. He also wasn’t very forthcoming in declaring his happiness as a member of the Bruins organization after the team fell to the Washington Capitals in the first round of the playoffs this season.(via CSNNE.com)

While his move doesn’t necessarily mean that he is seeking other places to play or confirm the rumors of trades once his no-trade clause is up July 1, they don’t make the future as a Bruin look bright either. The status of his whereabouts for the 2012-2013 season remains in Boston for the moment, but there is no timetable as to how long it will remain.

When GM Peter Chiarelli was asked about Thomas in this afternoon’s presser regarding Paille and Bourque’s signing he sounded “very uncomfortable” according to the Bruins reporter Jim Murphy where Chiarelli stated:

“I’d be more than satisfied with Tuukka [Rask] and Khudobin as our goaltenders…”(via @NHL Bruins/Twitter)

While we all remain surprised at this information, including the Bruins organization, the fact remains that it is Thomas’ decision and we have to respect that. Hopefully we will still see him in black and yellow come September, but we will have to wait and see.

 

DISCUSSION: If Thomas takes the 2012-2013 season off, what do you think he will do?

Bruins Sign New Goaltender

Svedberg is officially a Bruin! (Credit: http://kissmyrask.tumblr.com/)

Welcome to the Bruins Niklas Svedberg! It was just announced that 22-year-old Svedberg has signed an entry level contract with the black and gold.

So what do we know about Svedberg?
Well for one he’s a goaltender which I said a while back is a position to the Bruins needed to sign over the off season. Not only is he a goalie, but he’s a Swedish goalie and has played the past two season with Brynas IF Gavle in the Swedish Elite League (SEL)

In the 2011-12 regular season, he posted a 2.47 GAA and .912 SV% in 29 games.

And in 13 playoff games, he recorded a 1.70 GAA and .947 SV% with four shutouts in 13 playoff games, leading his team to their first SEL title since 1999.

Before Brynas, Svedberg had previously played three seasons with Modo Hockey Ornskoldsvik of the SEL, appearing in 36 games.

So though a newcomer to the NHL, it looks like Svedberg has a pretty nice resume thus far. What I like the most about him is that like Tuukka Rask, Svedberg is young and has time to grow into a hockey goalie god like Tim Thomas. Speaking of, with signing Svedberg what does that mean for Thomas? I had a feeling this upcoming season will be his last but only time will tell with what Chiarelli and Co decide.

 

Talk of the Trade

Who will set foot on this ice again for the '12-'13 season? (Photo Credit: Steph Phillips)

As we think about the 2012-2013 hockey season, we have to think of what the Boston Bruins team is going to look like, or better yet, what it should look like. This is the piece where I dissect the Bruins roster of current players, aside from the Grading System, and decipher who should stay and who should go. In order to do this, we have to take a look at who is restricted and unrestricted in the free agency this season.

Restricted Free Agents:

Forward, #67 Beniot Pouliot
Goaltender, #40 Tuukka Rask

Unrestricted Free Agents:

Forward, #12 Brian Rolston
Forward, #23 Chris Kelly
Forward, #11 Gregory Campbell
Forward, #20 Dan Paille
Defenseman, #14 Joe Corvo
Defenseman, #6 Greg Zanon
Defenseman, #27 Mike Mottau
Goaltender, #1 Marty Turco

With all of these players looking to be signed, there is approximately $5,272,024.00 available in cap space, not including Marc Savard. Given the past two seasons, we can assume that he will not be playing in the 2012-2013 season.  Putting him on the Long Term Injury Reserve list (LTIR), that frees up $4,004,143.oo, providing the Bruins with $9,281,167.00 of salary cap space to play around with.

Bruins fans, is it October Yet?

Just remembering the good times with Lord Stanley (Credit: Ariana Chapin)

So this post has been a long time coming because if you follow A Cup A Bruin (like you should) then you would know I haven’t been very active since last Wednesday when the Bruins were knocked out the playoffs. Every time I would go to write my end of the season thoughts, I would start pouting about the fact that I’m writing an end of the season thought with no Stanley Cup in hand. But fear not Bruins fans because I’ve finally pulled myself together and here are my end of the year thoughts!

1)Injuries plagued the 2011-2012 season.
Going into the playoffs without Nathan Horton just seems wrong. Mr. Game 7 wasn’t there for Game 7 due to season ending concussion. Not to mention Horton is just an asset in general for the team. In good news, he is expected to have a full recovery by the start of the next season. Also notably absent for the playoff run was Adam McQuaid who was also out with a concussion though it was originally thought to be just a cut above his eye. McQuaid is a huge defenseman for the team and playing against the Washington Capitals proved to be difficult for the B’s because they were missing him.

2)The one man goalie show.
Once again the fate of the playoffs rested on Tim Thomas’ shoulders. Actually most of the season it was on Thomas to seal wins. After Tuukka Rask was placed on the injury list, it was up to Timmy to consistently get the start minus a guest appearance or two from Marty Turco. Thomas delivered for the most part but I couldn’t help but wonder if this would be his last season. Not that I don’t believe in Thomas because I know he is definitely strong enough to return for the 2012-2013 season. He is entering his final season in his contract and his no-trade clause will expire this summer. It’ll be interesting to watch what happens with the goal tending situation during off season.

3)Sophomore season slump? Not for Tyler Seguin!
In his second season in the NHL, not only did Seguin score a team high 29 goals and 38 assists but he managed to become the youngest player to lead in team scoring in the Bruins franchise history. Seguin was the reason the B’s were able to make it to a game 7 thanks to a beautiful overtime goal which you can check out below. Needless to say I think he’s on his way to a third season of success.

This season ended too soon as we all know so now all we have to do is make it to October! Stick with Steph and I this summer as we’ll be keeping you up to date with prospect reports, who’s returning, who’s leaving, and just what to look forward too. And remember ALWAYS believe in Boston!

P.S: Since this season is over, I’ve jumped on the L.A Kings bandwagon in support of former UMass hockey goalie Jonathan Quick! If I can’t support my black and gold in the playoff’s, I’m going to support my UMass maroon and white =)

Do or Die: Game 7 Preview

Will Thomas get another Game 7 Shutout? (Credit:Slidingsideways/Flickr)

Tonight it is a do or die situation for the Boston Bruins as they embark on the last meeting with the Washington Capitals tonight at the TD Garden.  Currently the series is tied at three games a piece, exchanging wins back and forth. At the end of tonight’s game one team will advance to the Eastern Conference Semi-Finals while the other will hit the golf course.

For the Bruins, being in a game 7 series is not exactly unfamiliar territory. For Bruins fans, that anxiety that comes from game 7’s isn’t unfamiliar either. Last year’s Stanley Cup run made the B’s the first team to win 3 game 7 series on the route to the top.

“It means you’ve been there and know that you can win, especially as a group – it’s largely the same group with a couple new additions and that’s helpful,” Tim Thomas said of the experience of playing in Game 7s. “But at the same time, you have to go out and put in the work. You want to be the one that comes out on top in Game 7 — you have to be the one that’s willing to pay the price and is prepared to give everything you have that’s left inside of you.”(Via Bruins Official Site)

Unfortunately for the Caps they aren’t as Game 7 lucky, with a 1-3 record in the past four years. But I wouldn’t count them out. They have a ridiculously talented rookie goalie Braden Holtby and a lineup full of shooters. Nicklas Backstrom has 4 points in four games so he’s someone I’d put a target on if I was coach Claude Julien.

Every game so far in this series has been decided by one goal, and I expect tonight’s game to be just as close. B’s fans that are going to the game make sure to keep the energy alive in the T.D Garden. I’ve said it before and I’ll keep saying it BELIEVE IN BOSTON!

Puck drops at 7:30 and for those watching at home you can check it out on NBCSN & NESN!

 

Keep Believing Boston; Game 6 Recap

Seguin scored his first goal of the playoffs when it counted! (Credit:Slidingsideways/Flickr)

Today’s matinee game was do or die time for the Boston Bruins in D.C. after an awful game five finish against the Washington Capitals. Fortunately it was do thanks to an AMAZING overtime goal by Tyler Seguin. Yeah you read that correctly out of six games the two teams have played, three have gone into overtime. This is definitely not good for my health.

Anyway this game went back and fourth literally down to the final buzzer in regulation. A positive that I would like to note is that the Bruins were first to get on the score board five minutes into the first. I was even more happy to see that it was Rich Peverley that got the goal because to me Pevs is one of the most underrated players we have. The Bruins carried that momentum on in the first with another goal from David Krejci. It was good to see players that have been slacking a bit pick up the energy.

But like I said this game was anyone’s win. There were moments that I thought this could be the end of the B’s this season but thanks to my friends and my twitter I kept on believing. Seguin’s goal could not have come to a better deserving person considering he was the leading scorer for the team and was well not scoring thus far in the playoffs.You can relive it here:

The goaltending on both ends has been phenomenal. Tim Thomas and Braden Holtby are literally giving this game all they have and it shows. Between both teams there were 70 shots on net and only 7 went through. Every game thus far has been decided by one goal which is terrifying to watch.

Wednesday is game 7 where both teams will lay it all on the line. For one (hopefully Boston) they will advance to the semi finals. For the other, it’ll be the end of the road.

If you want the Washington perspective on this series, check out VC Chillin.

BELIEVE IN BOSTON!

Bruins Drop the Puck; Game 5 Recap

Marchand scored his first 2012 playoff goal today (Credit:Slidingsideways/Flickr)

Today the Boston Bruins returned home for game 5 of the Eastern Conference Quarter Finals with new lines and new focus. Coming off of a tough loss against the Washington Capitals on Thursday, the B’s look to bounce back and a take a 3-2 game lead. This series literally has come down to one goal decisions in all 4 games because Tim Thomas and Braden Holtby have been brick walls.

The Bruins get the first chance on the power play but considering they were 0 for 12 thus far on the PP I was less than optimistic. And yeah they didn’t do anything with it. Boston is the only time without a power play goal in the playoffs. First period the shots on goal between both teams were 21 however the score was 0-0.

Second period was boring. No goals until 8:14 remained when  Alex Semin got the Caps on the board first. I don’t like to argue goals but moments prior Joe Corvo went down on the ice after the puck hit his knee and there was no whistle. HELLO REFS?! Corvo had to be helped down the tunnel. Not even three minutes later, Jay Beagle gets a shot in off of Johnny Boychuk‘s stick. The Bruins need a goal and they need it now. Unfortunately, Patrice Bergeron headed to the dressing room after a hit to the head. Because Bergy has a history of concussion, things like this make me nervous. Fortunately, he returned soon after and with Corvo.

And then this happened. With 2:39 remaining, Dennis Seidenberg got the Bruins on the board. 28 seconds later Brad Marchand poked the puck past Holtby and friends we have a tied game. Needless to say Marchy is making his presence known on the 4th line.

Third period it’s the Caps who get the lead thanks to Mike Knuble and a lucky rebound. With 11:13 left, Boychuk literally let loose a rocket to tie up the game once again. But that didn’t last. With 1:27 left Troy Brouwer would get the game winner.

And it’s back to D.C. we go…