Projo Bruins Blog

February 4, 2007 - February 10, 2007 Archives

The Boston Bruins dealt free-agents-to-be Brad Stuart and Wayne Primeau to the Calgary Flames for Andrew Ference and Chuck Kobasew, general manager Peter Chiarelli announced late Saturday.

"There was no chance at signing (Stuart).'' said Chiarelli. "So you have to try to go out and find a replacement. We've had discussions with Brad since the fall and we weren't really getting anywhere, so that's part of the equation.''

Kobasew recently dislocated his elbow and is expected to be out of the lineup for 2 to 3 weeks, Chiarelli said.

Defenseman Stuart, 27, and center Primeau, 30, who were acquired along with Marco Sturm from San Jose in the Joe Thornton trade in 2005, will both be free agents at the end of this season.

Defenseman Ference, 27, has three years remaining on his contract after this season. Right winger Kobasew, 24, who played one year at Boston College, has another year left on his contract after this season.

Ference has 2 goals and 10 assists for 12 points in 53 games for Calgary while averaging 26 minutes of playing time per game.

Kobasew has 4 goals and 13 assists for 17 points in 40 games. He averaged 18 minutes per game.

"It's sad to see (Stuart and Primeau) go,'' said goaltender Hannu Toivonen. "They are both great hockey players and great people, but it's a business and we as players just have to do our job and play hockey. Management will do their's.''

Jeremy Reich has a new nickname _ Sudafed.

The P-Bruins forward was been recalled to Boston twice in two days earlier in the week and he currently remains on the Bruins' roster. When Sturm was unavailable to play Saturday in Carolina, Reich was promoted from Providence and played just 26 seconds.

He was reassigned to Providence after the game and arrived home at 3:30 a.m., and played significant minutes for the P-Bruins on Sunday. He was recalled to Boston on Tuesday for the Bruins game in Washington and quickly set the tone when he dropped the gloves.

When Lewis was asked yesterday if Reich's energy has helped the team, the coach joked that he's like Sudafed, a quick jolt of energy.
"He maximized his minutes," said Lewis. "He was physical and he had some scoring chances. Yeah, he was good for us."
Reich said he just wanted to play physical enough to get noticed and help the team at the same time.

Glen Murray, who missed Tuesday's game in Washington with a groin strain, was back in the lineup last night. He "tweaked" his groin during practice on Monday when his skate hit a rut. He had the same injury last season and missed five games. With the Bruins in a do-or-die situation, he didn't want to miss an extended amount of time.

"This is a big time of the year for us," said Murray. "We need to get some wins and I want to be out there helping in anyway I can."

Forward Marco Sturm, who suffered facial lacerations and a concussion last Thursday against Buffalo, missed two games but also returned to the lineup last night.

With the trade deadline quickly approaching on Feb. 27, the rumor mill has been churning in full force.

The latest gossip has the Bruins dealing defenseman Brad Stuart to the New Jersey Devils. Stuart, whom Boston acquired from San Jose in the three-player trade for Joe Thornton last season, will be an unrestricted free agent in July, and there's been talk Stuart wants out of Boston. On the surface that transaction doesn't make sense because why would Chiarelli deal a top-two defenseman to a team within the conference.

An industry source said yesterday that's all it is, a rumor. It's likely, the Bruins will deal Stuart for the right price and acquisitions.

Goaltender Tim Thomas will start for the Bruins tonight. Forwards Glen Murray (groin) and Marco Sturm (facial injuries/concussion) are questionable for tonight.

Both participated in the team's game-day skate at the Garden this morning, and Murray actually stayed on the ice longer than normal. He said it'll be a game-time decision. Sturm will be evaluated again this afternoon, but it's unlikely he'll be in the lineup.

more to come. . .