Projo Bruins Blog

July 2008 Archives

Today is expected to be interview day for former Providence and Boston Bruins head coach Mike Sullivan, one of seven candidates for the New York Islanders' coaching job. Then, on Wednesday, it will be P-Bruins coach Scott Gordon's turn.

Newsday reporter Greg Logan takes a look at the candidates this morning and says that, while their are better-known names on the Islanders' list, Sullivan and Gordon "might be the best fit for general manager Garth Snow's long-term plan to build with youthful prospects and the draft."

Click here to read the full story.

Earlier this week we mentioned that Providence Bruins coach Scott Gordon and former Providence and Boston Bruins coach Mike Sullivan were among seven candidates for head coach of the New York Islanders. Today Newsday reports that both Sullivan and Gordon are expected to interview with Isles GM Garth Snow next week.

The Bruins have traded center Pascal Pelletier to the Chicago Blackhawks in exchange for center Martin St. Pierre, according to the Blackhawks' Web site.

Pelletier, 25, played his first six NHL games with the Bruins last season. He was a regular with the Providence Bruins for the last four seasons. The 24-year-old St. Pierre has played in 21 games with Chicago over three seasons.

According to Canadian media reports, the Boston Bruins and defenseman Dennis Wideman have avoided salary arbitration by agreeing on a four-year deal worth $15.75 million.

Wideman, 25, scored 13 goals with 23 assists for the Bruins last season.

The Wideman deal puts the Bruins up against or slightly over the league salary cap of $56.7 million. However, once the Wideman contract is official, the Bruins will have 48 hours to buy out contracts to create cap space. That could mean the end of Glen Murray's time in Boston. Murray is due $4.15 million this season.

Current Providence Bruins coach Scott Gordon, as well as former P-Bruins and Boston Bruins coach Mike Sullivan, are among seven confirmed candidates for the New York Islanders' head coaching job, Newsday is reporting today.

The newspaper says that former Toronto head coach Paul Maurice today will be the first candidate interviewed by general manager Garth Snow.

Gordon, last year's AHL coach of the year, has six years of coaching experience with Providence. Sullivan is currrently an assistant with the Tampa Bay Lightning.

The Bruins announced today the schedule for the team's Development Camp, which will take place Wednesday through Saturday at Ristuccia Arena in Wilmington, Mass. All on-ice camp practices are open to the public.

The schedule:

WEDNESDAY: 9-11 a.m.
THURSDAY: 9:30-11:30 a.m.
FRIDAY: 9:30-11 a.m., followed by an on-ice skills session from 11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
SATURDAY: 9:30-11:30 a.m.

The schedule is subject to change. Please check the Fan Information Line daily at 617-624-1910 for the latest updates.

The R. I. Reds Heritage Society's eighth annual reunion at Goddard State Park in Warwick on Sunday, August 3, now expects a record-breaking roster of 38 former Reds and other ex-pro hockey players.

Added recently were old-time Reds' players Jimmy Bartlett, Ivan Irwin, Wayne Muloin and Dan Poliziani, plus ex-pro brothers Bill and Tim Army, four Bennett brothers - Bill, Curt , Harvey, Jr. and Jim - and the father-son combo of Don and Tom Mellor. The Armys, Bennetts and Mellors all are Rhode Island natives.

Because of its largest player turnout ever and resulting fan enthusiasm, the society is extending the deadline for reservations to July 19. Tickets will not be sold at the gate.

>> Continue reading: 38 former Reds and other ex-pro hockey players expected at Heritage Society's annual reunion

The reaction has been (mostly) positive after the Bruins signed former Canadiens forward Michael Ryder (left) on Monday night.

After it became obvious to them that they wouldn't be signing Marian Hossa -- who appears to be headed to Detroit on a one-year, $7.45 million deal -- the Bruins turned to their second free-agent forward on their list, Ryder. The blog New England Hockey Journal says the Bruins feel Ryder's slump to 14 goals last year after back-to-back 30-goal seasons was due to a combination of factors -- including his landing in coach Guy Carbonneau's doghouse -- that have nothing to do with a loss of skill. TSN.ca notes the move reunites Ryder with Claude Julien, who coached him in Montreal, Hamilton of the American Hockey League and Hull of the Quebec Major Junior League.

The Sporting News' Chuck Gormley gives the acquisition a 'B' grade and adds "if Patrice Bergeron comes back healthy . . . [that, along with signings of Ryder and Blake Wheeler might get] the Bruins . . . to the top of the Northeast [Division]."

The blog The Bear Cave reports the Bruins also lost three players in free agency yesterday -- goalie Alex Auld to Ottawa, and forward Glen Metropolit and defenseman Sean Curry going together to Philadelphia.

One last note: The Bruins today re-signed forward Petteri Nokelainen to a multi-year contract. The Imatra, Finland native spent the majority of the 2007-08 season in Boston and posted the highest NHL totals of his career for game appearances (57), goals (7), assists (3), and points (10). He also played in all seven games in the postseason for Boston and contributed 2 assists.