Bruins Re-Sign Chris Kelly and Greg Campbell

The Boston Bruins have announced that they have re-signed center Chris Kelly to a four-year contract worth $12 million and center Greg Campbell to a three-year contract worth $4.8 million.  Kelly's deal will average out to $3 million per season, while Campbell's contract will average out to $1.6 million per year.  Both players would have been unrestricted free agents on July 1.  In 82 games last season, Kelly had 20 goals and 19 assists for 39 points, while Campbell had eight goals and eight assists for 16 points and 80 penalty minutes in 78 games.  These are excellent signings for the Bruins, as both players will add plenty of offensive depth to the club.  Kelly plays hard on the ice and has some two-way ability, as well as some offensive skill.  Look for him to bring plenty of skill to the checking lines over the next four years.  Campbell plays with lots of energy and toughness, has sound defensive skills, and is excellent on the penalty kill.  Like Kelly, look for Campbell to bring plenty of skill to the checking lines over the next three seasons.

Bruins Re-Sign Daniel Paille and Chris Bourque

The Boston Bruins have announced that they have re-signed left wing Daniel Paille to a three-year contract worth $3.9 million and left wing Chris Bourque to a two-year contract worth $1.1 million.  Paille's deal will pay him $1.3 million per season, while Bourque will earn $550,000 per season.  Both players would have been eligible for unrestricted free agency on July 1.  In 69 games last season, Paille had nine goals and six assists for 15 points.  Bourque, who was acquired from the Capitals for Zach Hamill on May 26, had 27 goals and 66 assists for 93 points in 73 games with Hershey of the AHL.  These aren't bad depth signings for the Bruins, as both players will add some skill to the checking lines.  Paille has good defensive instincts and some skill on the penalty kill.  Bourque plays with lots of energy, has some defensive skill, and a little offensive ability.  He has spent a lot of time in the minors the past few seasons and has little left to prove at the lower levels.  Look for him to compete for a roster spot at training camp in September.

Bruins Acquire Chris Bourque from Capitals for Zach Hamill

The Boston Bruins have announced that they have acquired left wing Chris Bourque from the Washington Capitals in exchange for center Zach Hamill.  In 73 games this past season with Hershey of the AHL, Bourque had 27 goals and 66 assists for 93 points.  He last appeared in the NHL during the 2009-10 season with Washington and Pittsburgh.  In 16 games this past season with the Bruins, Hamill had two assists.  He also appeared in 41 games with Providence of the AHL, scoring eight goals and 13 assists for 21 points.  Bourque has spent a lot of time in the minors over the past several seasons and has little left to prove at the lower levels.  If the Bruins choose to re-sign the son of long-time Bruin Ray Bourque prior to July 1, he will likely compete for a spot at training camp, where he will bring some offensive depth if he makes the team.  Hamill has some offensive upside and playmaking skill, but has struggled in the minors a little bit over the past few seasons.  The change of scenery could do him some good to help him improve his offensive game.

NY Islanders Acquire Yury Alexandrov from Bruins

The New York Islanders announced on Tuesday that they have acquired defenseman Yury Alexandrov from the Boston Bruins in exchange for future considerations. He will be eligible for restricted free agency this summer. In 37 games this season with St. Petersburg SKA and Avangard Omsk of the KHL, he has three goals and three assists for six points. He has yet to appear in an NHL game. This is really just a depth signing for the Islanders, as Alexandrov is going to finish out the season in the KHL. The Islanders' scouts will likely evaluate him for the rest of the season to determine if they will give him a qualifying offer come July 1.

Bruins Sign Shawn Thornton to Two-Year Extension

The Boston Bruins have announced that they have re-signed right wing Shawn Thornton to a two-year contract extension worth $2.2 million. The deal will average out to $1.1 million per season. He would have been an unrestricted free agent this summer. In 71 games so far this season, he has four goals and eight assists for 12 points and 145 penalty minutes. Not a bad depth signing for the Bruins, as Thornton plays an extremely physical game on the ice. He loves to hit and intimidate the opposition and isn't afraid to drop the gloves to defend his teammates. He will continue to be an excellent fit on Boston's checking lines over the next two years.

Bruins Acquire Greg Zanon from Wild

The Boston Bruins have announced that they have acquired defenseman Greg Zanon from the Minnesota Wild in exchange for defenseman Steven Kampfer. Zanon will be an unrestricted free agent this summer, while Kampfer still has one more year left on his current contract. In 39 games so far this season, Zanon has two goals and four assists for six points. He missed 16 games with a groin injury. In 10 games with the Bruins this season, Kampfer has two assists. He also appeared in 12 games with Providence of the AHL, scoring one goal and four assists for five points. This is a decent move for the Bruins, as Zanon will add plenty of grit, experience, and shot-blocking prowess to the blueline. His shutdown skills should be a welcome addition to Boston's defense. As for the Wild, they have added a defenseman with some mobility and offensive upside in Kampfer, but he may not hit his full potential for a few years. With all the defensive changes in Minnesota over the past week or so, the team looks to be rejuvenating their blueline for the future. The Wild have also shed quite a bit of salary over the past week, so they could be making room to make some big splashes on the free agent market this summer, as it's believed they are interested in both Ryan Suter and Zach Parise, both of whom could command a premium on the open market.

Bruins Acquire Brian Rolston, Mike Mottau from NY Islanders

The Boston Bruins have announced that they have acquired left wing Brian Rolston and defenseman Mike Mottau from the New York Islanders in exchange for right wing Yannick Riendeau and defenseman Marc Cantin. Rolston and Mottau will both be unrestricted free agents this summer, while Riendeau will qualify for restricted free agency. Cantin still has two years left on his current deal. In 49 games so far this season, Rolston has four goals and five assists for nine points, while Mottau has two assists in 29 games. He missed 24 games this season due to a concussion. This will be Rolston's second stint with the Bruins, where he played from 2000 to 2004. Riendeau appeared in 18 games with Providence of the AHL, scoring three goals and three assists for six points. He also played in 30 games with Reading of the ECHL, scoring nine goals and 20 assists for 29 points. Cantin was held pointless in 19 games with Providence, but scored one goal and five assists for six points in 16 games with Reading. Both Riendeau and Cantin have yet to appear in an NHL game.

Not a bad depth move for the Bruins, as Rolston and Mottau will add plenty of veteran depth to their lineup. Both players could give the team a little bit of a boost as they head into the playoffs. As for the Islanders, they've added a couple of young players to replace some impending free agents who were likely not going to be re-signed in the off-season. While neither Riendeau or Cantin are stellar players, they could potentially see some NHL action in the future.

Bruins Sign Johnny Boychuk to Three-Year Extension

The Boston Bruins announced today that they have signed defenseman Johnny Boychuk to a three-year contract extension worth $10.08 million. The deal will have an average annual salary cap hit of $3.36 million. He would have been an unrestricted free agent this summer. In 52 games so far this season, he has three goals and seven assists for 10 points. Not a bad signing for the Bruins, as Boychuk has become a solid defenseman for the team. He has a good shot, plays a physical game, throws lots of hits, and works hard on the ice. He should continue to be a great fit for the team over the next three seasons.

Bruins Sign David Krejci to Three-Year Contract

The Boston Bruins announced today that they have re-signed center David Krejci to a three-year contract worth $15.75 million. The deal will average out to $5.25 million per season. He would have been eligible for restricted free agency next summer. In 20 games so far this season, he has four goals and nine assists for 13 points. This is a good signing for the Bruins, as Krejci brings plenty of offensive skill to the team. He is a good playmaker with excellent passing skills and two-way ability. Despite his offensive struggles so far in 2011-12, he will more than likely turn his game around as the season progresses.

Bruins Sign Andrew Bodnarchuk to One-Year Contract

The Boston Bruins have announced that they have signed defenseman Andrew Bodnarchuk to a one-year, two-way contract worth $635,250 at the NHL level and $67,500 at the AHL level. In 75 games last season with Providence of the AHL, he had one goal and 15 assists for 16 points and 91 penalty minutes. Not a bad depth signing for the Bruins, as Bodnarchuk plays a physical game and has some puck-moving skill. However, given the depth on Boston's blueline for next season, he will likely spend the majority of the 2011-12 campaign in the minors.

Bruins Add Jamie Tardif and Josh Hennessy

The Boston Bruins have announced that they have signed right wing Jamie Tardif to a two-year contract and center Josh Hennessy to a one-year contract. The financial terms of both deals were not disclosed. In 77 games last season with Grand Rapids of the AHL, Tardif had 27 goals and 27 assists for 54 points. He has yet to appear in an NHL game. Hennessy appeared in 36 games last season with Lugano of the Swiss League, scoring nine goals and 10 assists for 19 points. He last appeared in the NHL during the 2009-10 season with the Ottawa Senators. These are really just depth signings for the Bruins, as both players will probably spend all of next season in the minors.

Bruins Acquire Joe Corvo from Hurricanes

The Boston Bruins have announced that they have acquired defenseman Joe Corvo from the Carolina Hurricanes in exchange for a fourth round pick in the 2012 Entry Draft. The move was completed shortly after former Bruins defenseman Tomas Kaberle signed a three-year contract worth $12.75 million with the Hurricanes. In all 82 games last season with Carolina, Corvo had 11 goals and 29 assists for 40 points. This is a good move for the Bruins, as Corvo will bring lots of offensive skill to the blueline. He also has a good shot and excellent skills on the power play, making him an effective replacement in Boston for Kaberle. As for the Hurricanes, they had too many offensive-minded defensemen after signing Kaberle, so Corvo became the odd man out. A fourth round pick was a small price to pay for a player like Corvo and is an excellent and very low-risk move for the Bruins.

Bruins Re-Sign Anton Kuhdobin and Trent Whitfield

The Boston Bruins have announced that they have re-signed goaltender Anton Khudobin and center Trent Whitfield to two-year contracts. The financial terms of both deals were not disclosed. Boston acquired Khudobin on February 28 from the Minnesota Wild in exchange for Jeff Penner and Mikko Lehtonen. In four games last season with the Wild, he posted a 2-1-0 record, one shutout, a 1.59 GAA, and a .942 save percentage. He also appeared in 50 games with Houston and Providence of the AHL, posting a 28-16-2 record, two shutouts, a 2.52 GAA, and a .914 save percentage. He did not appear in any games with the Bruins after the trade. Whitfield appeared in 45 games last season with Providence, scoring 18 goals and 18 assists for 36 points. Khudobin isn't a bad depth signing for the Bruins, as he has the skills to at least be a backup goaltender at the NHL level. He has good puck-stopping abilities and is very agile, but will likely see a lot of time in the minors next season unless Tim Thomas or Tuukka Rask should miss time with an injury. Whitfield is really just a depth signing for the team, as he will likely spend all of next season in the minors. If he sees any time with the Bruins, it will likely be on the fourth line.

Bruins Sign Benoit Pouliot to One-Year Contract

The Boston Bruins have announced that they have signed left wing Benoit Pouliot to a one-year contract worth $1.1 million. In 79 games last season with the Montreal Canadiens, he had 13 goals and 17 assists for 30 points and 87 penalty minutes. Not a bad signing for the Bruins, as Pouliot still has plenty of offensive upside. He can rack up plenty of points while he is on his game and is versatile enough to play on the wing. Inconsistency has plagued him throughout his NHL career, so hopefully he can add some consistency to his game while playing a top-nine role in Boston.

Mark Recchi Announces His Retirement

Just moments after the Boston Bruins won their first Stanley Cup since 1972, Bruins' right wing Mark Recchi announced his retirement from hockey. In 81 games this past season, he had 14 goals and 34 assists for 48 points. He also had five goals and nine assists for 14 points in 25 playoff games. He would have been an eligible for unrestricted free agency on July 1. In 1652 career NHL games with the Pittsburgh Penguins, Philadelphia Flyers, Montreal Canadiens, Carolina Hurricanes, Atlanta Thrashers, Tampa Bay Lightning, and Boston Bruins, Recchi has 577 goals and 956 assists for 1533 points and 1033 penalty minutes. He won the Stanley Cup in 1991 with the Penguins and 2006 with the Hurricanes in addition to winning with the Bruins. This comes as no surprise, as Recchi hinted that if the Bruins won the Stanley Cup, he would retire from hockey. He always had great goal-scoring skill and was an excellent playmaker on the ice. He was also a proven leader and played with lots of energy. It's great to see Recchi go out on top as a winner and he will definitely be in the Hockey Hall of Fame one day. I wish him all the best in retirement.

Bruins Acquire Khudobin from Wild for Penner, Lehtonen

In the final deal on Trade Deadline Day, the Boston Bruins have acquired goaltender Anton Khudobin from the Minnesota Wild in exchange for defenseman Jeff Penner and the rights to left wing Mikko Lehtonen. Khudobin and Penner are eligible for restricted free agency this summer, while Lehtonen is currently playing for Skelleftea of the Swedish Elite League and is not signed to an NHL contract. His last NHL contract expired last summer, but che hose to play in Sweden this season instead of sign an NHL deal with the Bruins. Khudobin has appeared in four games with the Wild this season, posting a 2-1-0 record, one shutout, a 1.59 GAA, and a .942 save percentage. He has also appeared in 34 games with Houston of the AHL, posting a 19-12-1 record, with a 2.58 GAA and a .911 save percentage. Penner has played in 57 games with Providence of the AHL this season, scoring five goals and 14 assists for 19 points, while Lehtonen has 29 goals and 27 assists for 56 points in 52 games with Skelleftea. Not a bad depth move for the Bruins, as Khudobin has the skills to at least be a backup goaltender at the NHL level. He has good puck-stopping abilities and is very agile, so could possibly become a backup to Tuukka Rask one day after Tim Thomas has retired from hockey. Penner gives the Wild an offensive-minded defenseman who has some puckmoving skill, but is a bit undersized for a blueliner. Still, he has plenty of upside and could earn a roster spot with the Wild down the road. Lehtonen brings lots of size and some offensive potential to the Wild, so he may be able to earn a roster spot on the team down the road as well.

Ducks Acquire McGrattan, Zimmerman from Bruins for Laliberte, Chaput

The Anaheim Ducks announced late Sunday evening that they have acquired right wing Brian McGrattan and defenseman Sean Zimmerman from the Boston Bruins in exchange for right wing David Laliberte and center Stefan Chaput. All four players will be free agents this summer. In 39 games this season with Providence of the AHL, McGrattan has five points and 97 penalty minutes. Zimmerman, who the Bruins acquired from the Florida Panthers this past December, has four points in 30 games with Providence and Rochester of the AHL. Laliberte, who was acquired by the Ducks from the Philadelphia Flyers this past November, has 18 points and 52 penalty minutes in 48 games with Adirondack and Syracuse of the AHL. Chaput, who was acquired by the Ducks from the Carolina Hurricanes this past November, has 10 points in 47 games this season with Charlotte and Syracuse of the AHL. This is really just a depth move for both teams, as all four players will likely play out the rest of the season in the minors. Laliberte does have some upside, so he could end up being a good acquisition for the Bruins, whereas Chaput will just bring offensive depth for Providence. For the Ducks, McGrattan and Zimmerman will bring lots of grit and toughness at their respected positions in Syracuse.

Bruins Sign Shane Hnidy to One-Year Contract

The Boston Bruins announced today that they have signed defenseman Shane Hnidy to a one-year contract. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed. The contract will be for the rest of the 2010-11 season, making him an unrestricted free agent this summer. Hnidy had been on a professional tryout contract with the team since February 23 and will begin his second stint with the Bruins, previously playing there from 2008 to 2009. In 70 games last season with the Minnesota Wild, he had two goals and 12 assists for 14 points and 66 penalty minutes. In 547 career NHL games with the Ottawa Senators, Nashville Predators, Atlanta Thrashers, Anaheim Ducks, Boston Bruins, and Minnesota Wild, he has 16 goals and 55 assists for 71 points and 631 penalty minutes. This is really just a depth signing for the Bruins, as Hnidy is likely being signed as defensive insurance for the playoffs. He will bring plenty of grit and toughness to the blueline as a seventh defenseman and should fit in nicely after already playing in Boston for parts of two seasons.

Bruins Acquire Tomas Kaberle from Maple Leafs

Tomas Kaberle's time in Toronto has come to an end. The Boston Bruins announced today that they have acquired the 32-year-old defenseman from the Toronto Maple Leafs in exchange for prospect center Joe Colborne, Boston's first round pick in the 2011 Entry Draft, and a conditional second round pick in the 2012 Entry Draft if he is re-signed in the off-season by the Bruins. Kaberle, who has been a part of Toronto's defense for the past 11 seasons and is the second highest scoring defenseman in Leafs' history behind Borje Salming with 83 goals and 437 assists, will be eligible for unrestricted free agency this summer. Colborne is currently in the first year of a three-year entry level deal. In 58 games this season with the Maple Leafs, Kaberle has three goals and 35 assists for 38 points. Colborne has 12 goals and 14 assists for 26 points this season with Providence of the AHL and will now report to Toronto of the AHL. This is a good trade for the Bruins, as Kaberle will add lots of offensive skill to the blueline, particularly on the power play. With all the moves the Bruins have made over the past week, it has become clear they are looking to go deep in the playoffs this year. As for the Maple Leafs, they get a fairly decent prospect in Colborne. He has great size and has the potential to become a goal-scoring forward at the NHL level and will eventually fill a hole at center for Toronto. The first round pick the Maple Leafs received in the trade is Boston's first rounder and not their own that they sent to the Bruins in the Phil Kessel deal. Still, Toronto now has two first round picks in this year's draft from which to start restocking their team with young talent.

Thrashers Acquire Wheeler, Stuart from Bruins for Peverley, Valabik

The Atlanta Thrashers announced today that they have acquired winger Blake Wheeler and defenseman Mark Stuart from the Boston Bruins in exchange for center Rich Peverley and defenseman Boris Valabik. Wheeler and Valabik will both be eligible for restricted free agency this summer, while Stuart will be eligible for unrestricted free agency. Peverley still has one more year left on his current deal. In 58 games with the Bruins this season, Wheeler has 11 goals and 16 assists for 27 points, while Stuart has one goal and four assists for five points in 31 games. In 59 games with the Thrashers, Peverley has 14 goals and 20 assists for 34 points, while Valabik has nine assists and 165 penalty minutes with Chicago of the AHL. He has not appeared in an NHL game so far this season. This is a good trade for the Thrashers, as Wheeler and Stuart will bring plenty of depth to the team at their respected positions. Wheeler will add some two-way depth, size, and offensive skill despite being a little inconsistent in his scoring, while Stuart will add plenty of defensive depth as a stay-at-home defenseman and bring some physical play to the blueline. Trading Peverley will leave the Thrashers a little thin at center and they could perhaps swing another trade for a center before the February 28 trade deadline. Also, the Thrashers likely won't miss Valabik, as he never panned out for the team. It's not a bad trade for the Bruins either, but I give the edge to the Thrashers in this one. Peverley brings the Bruins some offensive skill and two-way ability, perhaps a bit more than Wheeler was providing in Boston. He will also bring some versatility to the team, as he can also play on the wing. At six feet, seven inches, Valabik brings tremendous size to Boston's blueline, as well as lots of toughness and physical play. However, he is a bit slow, tends to take bad penalties, and isn't very offensive minded, which will likely land him a sixth or seventh role with the team for the time being. Although, with Zdeno Chara as a mentor, Valabik's game should improve over time.