Projo Bruins Blog

November 2005 Archives

Boston Bruins defenseman Jonathan Girard has decided to retire.

Girard, 25, attempted a comeback this season after being involved in a near-fatal car accident in July of 2003.

"We were hoping that Jonathan would be successful in his comeback attempt, but his doctors have advised him that he is not physically able to compete at the level of professional hockey," said Bruins GM Mike O'Connell. "The hard work and determination that he has shown over the past two seasons gearing toward training camp this year was truly an inspiration to all of us associated with the team. He is a courageous young man and we are thankful that, although he is unable to resume his hockey career, he has recovered from his injuries."

Girard was Boston's top pick (48th overall) in the 1998 NHL Entry Draft.

His agent, Bob Sauve, has known the lightning-like skater since Girard was 12.

"It's a sad day," said Sauve. "On the other hand, he will have success in life, too. But, it is mostly a sad day."

Sauve admitted that it was a very tough decision for Girard to make at first, but he has come to terms with his situation and accepts it.

"He had no choice," said Sauve. "It was a matter of his health."

His career NHL totals are 10 goals and 34 assists for 44 points with 46 penalty minutes in 150 career NHL games.

Once this chapter of his career is finalized, he will decide whether or not to pursue other ventures in the hockey world.

It's unfortunate this player with exceptional hockey skills had to call it quits at such a young age. He is lucky to be alive, never mind returning to the professional level as he did earlier this season. It was truely amazing.

Good luck, Johnny.

Because the Bruins will play three games in four nights, today's game-day skate at The Garden was optional.

Players who skated were: Andrew Raycroft (tonight's starter), Hannu Toivonen, P.J. Axelsson, Tom Fitzgerald, Brad Isbister, Brad Boyes, Patrice Bergeron, Andrew Alberts, Nick Boynton, Kevin Dallman, Milan Jurcina, Jiri Slegr, Colton Orr and Brian Leetch.

Players who did not participate include: Alex Zhamnov, Sergei Samsonov, Shawn McEachern, Joe Thornton, Hal Gill, Glen Murray and Travis Green.

Alberts missed practice on Friday with a bruised shoulder, but will play tonight.

Leetch (knee) said afterwards he could return to the lineup within the next two weeks.

Newcomer David Tanabe arrived at The Garden around noontime and will be in the lineup tonight.

With the trade, expect Boyes to get more ice time.

In need of defensive help, the Boston Bruins acquired David Tanabe from the Phoenix Coyotes in exchange for center Dave Scatchard. The deal was finalized late Friday night.

Tanabe will be in the lineup tonight against the Buffalo Sabres.

"I'm really excited to be here," he said. "I'm definitely excited about playing with the guys in this locker room."

"On my flight (here)I had a lot of time to think about what happend," Tanabe said. "You can tell when things are not perfect and in Phoenix some things were not perfect, so I welcome this change. It's nice to go some place where you feel wanted."

"Our team is deep at the center position and we felt we had to take this opportunity to strengthen our defense," said GM Mike O'Connell. "David [Tanabe] is a good young defensemen with NHL experience. He is a strong skater and he will help our team."

Tanabe, 25, was drafted by Carolina as their first pick, 16th overall, in the 1999 NHL Entry Draft in Boston. He played one season of college hockey at the University of Wisconsin, leading team defensemen in scoring that season with 10-12=22 totals in 35 games and earning 1999 WCHA All-Rookie Team honors.

The 6'1", 212 lb. native of White Bear Lake, Minnesota left Wisconsin after his freshman year and turned professional with the Hurricanes. He split his first pro season between Carolina and their IHL affiliate in Cincinnati and broke into the NHL to stay in 2000-01. He played four seasons with the Hurricanes and enjoyed his best offensive season in Carolina in 2000-01, when he had seven goals and 22 assists for 29 points in 74 games. He played in the Stanley Cup Finals with the Hurricanes in 2000-01, with two goals and 12 penalty minutes in six post-season games.

He was traded to Phoenix with Igor Knyazev for Danny Markov and a 2004 third round draft pick on June 21, 2003 and has played for the Coyotes since the 2003-04 season. In his last full NHL season in 2003-04, he was second on that team in plus/minus and also had the second-highest average time on ice on the team. In 21 games with the Coyotes this season, he has four assists and eight penalty minutes. His career NHL totals are 20 goals and 58 assists for 78 points with 145 PIM in 317 career NHL games.

Scatchard, 29, was in his first season with the Bruins, having signed with the team as a free agent on August 2, 2005. He played 16 games in Boston this season with four goals and six assists for ten points, and was third on the team with 28 penalty minutes. He missed four games earlier this season with a groin injury.

The Bruins just took the ice for the pregame warmup and Patrice Bergeron is not out there.

He missed practice yesterday and did not skate this morning with flu-like symptoms.

In 19 games this season, Bergeron has scored four goals, assisted on seven others and is a minus-8.

Patrice Bergeron missed practice on Wednesday and did not participate with the club during today's game-day skate at The Garden.

According to coach Mike Sullivan, Bergeron is suffering from the flu and will be a game-time decision.

Tom Fitzgerald, who also missed Wednesday's skate due to illness, did skate this morning and will be in the lineup tonight.

Defenseman Brian Leetch has been out of the lineup since injuring his knee against the Islanders on Nov. 1 and was slated to be out one month. However, he skated in full equipment on his own yesterday and today.

Forward Pat Leahy, who broke his right index finger against the Devils on Oct. 29, is also skating on his own. He's sporting a splint on his hand.

Andrew Raycroft will be in net for the Bruins tonight.

Former Bruin great and newly-elected member of the Hall of Fame, Cam Neely, dropped the ceremonial puck tonight. He received a well-deserved standing ovation from the Garden Gods. . Former Bruin and P-Bruin forward Andy Hilbert will play his first game of the season against his former club tonight as a member of the Norfolk Admirals (Chicago Blackhawks). He was traded for Chicago's fifth-round selection in the 2006 NHL Entry Draft on Sunday and begins his conditioning stint in the AHL against Providence. . Boston forward Pat Leahy, who fractured his right index finger while blocking a shot on Oct. 29 against New Jersey, had his cast removed this week. He had surgery the day following the injury and is sporting a splint. . . Ottawa sensation Jason Spezza still uses a wood stick. Entering tonight's game he was tied for fourth place in league scoring with 25 points (five goals, 20 assists) in 13 games.

Alex Zhamnov finally made his Bruins debut against the Senators last night. It's been a long time coming for the 35-year-old Russian centerman, who missed the first 17 games of the season due to a bruised shoulder he suffered in the last preseason game against the New York Rangers.

"It's just nice to come back," he said prior to last night's game. "I can play games and not skate by myself anymore. This will be a good test for me, but I just need to skate well and it will be interesting."

"I'm as excited as you guys are," said coach Mike Sullivan of Zhamnov's debut. "I know how good he is and I know what he can bring to our team. He is a top-tier player in this league and we're excited that he is in our lineup."

He signed with the Bruins as a free agent on Aug. 4 after spending the majority of his 13-year career with Chicago. He played only 24 games (27 points) for Vityaz Chekhov of the Russia2 league during last year's lockout and he realizes that there will be a little rust for his first couple of games with Boston.

"I just have to do my job and nothing extra," he said. "I just have to play simple hockey. It's definitely going to be tough because practice and games are really different. If I just play my game I'll be fine."

He is wearing No. 10 for the Black and Gold and becomes the 23 player in team history to don that sweater, joining (in alphabetical order) Charlie Burns (1959-63), Bob Davie (1933-36), Ferny Flaman (1944-51, 1954-61), Fred Gordon (1927-28), Thomas Gradin (1986-87), Ken Hodge (1990-92), Tom Johnson (1963-65), Dmitri Kvartalnov (1992-94), Joe Lamb (1932-34), Hal Loycoe (1950-56), Cameron Mann (1997-2001), Gilles Marotte (1965-67), Sandy McCarthy (2003-2004), Marty McInnis (2001-2003), Jim Morrison (1951-59), Billy O’Dwyer (1987-90), Barry Pederson (1980-86; 1991-92), Jean Ratelle (1975-81), Eddie Rodden (1928-29), Rick Smith (1968-72; 1976-80), Allan Stanley (1956-58) and Carol Vadnais (1971-76).

Goaltender Andrew Raycroft, who has missed six games with a strained hamstring, will start for the Bruins tonight.

Zhamnov has missed all 17 regular-season games to this point with a bruised shoulder and will make his debut tonight.

"I'm as excited as you guys are," said Sullivan of Zhamnov's debut. "I know how good he is and I know what he can bring to our team. He is a top-tier player in this league and we're excited that he is in our lineup."

Glen Murray, who missed Tuesday's game in Philadelphia with the flu, will be back in the lineup tonight.

Brad Isbister (groin) remains out.

Andy Hilbert has been traded to Chicago in exchange for the Blackhawks' fifth-round pick in the 2006 NHL Entry Draft.

The 24-year-old forward began his pro career with the Providence Bruins during the 2001-2002 season.

The Bruins offered the former University of Michigan standout a two-way deal during the offseason, but Hilbert declined and asked to be traded.

It's likely he will join Chicago's AHL affiliate, the Norfolk Admirals, just to get back in game shape.

The Boston Bruins have named Ray Bourque as a consultant to the coaching staff.

Bourque will join the team at practice tomorrow at Ristuccia Arena in Wilmington at 11 a.m.

"Ray was a great player and a great Bruin and coach Mike Sullivan feels that he can add a lot to his staff," said general manager Mike O'Connell. "This was first brought up with Ray a couple of years ago right after he retired but Ray did not feel then that the time was right. Mike [Sullivan] and Ray have talked since that time and it is something they both feel will benefit our team. Ray will work with the team in practice in Boston two to four times a week and Mike Sullivan will decide how his role will evolve."

"Ray and I will talk about specifics as we go, but we certainly feel he can help us," said Sullivan. "He'll work with special teams and our defense. His presence can only bring positives to our team."

Goaltender Andrew Raycroft (strained left hamstring) participated in the team's game-day skate this morning and said afterwards he feels a lot better.

He practiced with the club for about 20 minutes on Wednesday, and today said he should be back for Saturday's game.

"It feels a lot better today than it did yesterday," he said. "It feels fine to go down. It's right there, but I don't want to make it worse."

Forward Brad Isbister, who strained his groin on Tuesday night, did not practice on Wednesday and did not participate in today's game-day skate.

Forward Alex Zhamnov (bruised shoulder) did skate this morning and could be ready to make his debut on Saturday.

Brian Leetch suffered a strained medial collateral ligament in his right knee during the Bruins' 4-3 overtime loss to the New York Islanders on Tuesday and will miss approximately one month.

Defenseman Milan Jurcina was recalled from Providence along with winger Eric Nickulas.

Bruins forward Pat Leahy, who fractured his index finger on his right hand during the first period last Saturday against the Devils, will be out of the lineup 4-6 weeks.

He had surgery on Sunday. It is the third time in three seasons he has suffered a broken bone while killing penalties. Last year he shattered his knee cap and the season before broke his ankle.