Projo Bruins Blog

July 20, 2008 - July 26, 2008 Archives

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.