Bruins GM Peter Chiarelli has been busy extending the contracts of forwards this year—David Krejci, Milan Lucic and now Marc Savard are all locked up for the foreseeable future. Krejci and Lucic were essentially no-brainers, younger, two-way players who should only get better over the next few seasons. As for Savard, let’s take a closer look.
Savard will be 32 at the start of next season, which means he’s probably at the tail end of his prime. The Bruins have invested roughly 29 million in him over the next 7 years with a good chunk of the contract front- loaded, a wise move by Chiarelli and an indication that Savard was willing to work with the team for a cap-friendly contract. Savard, once considered “soft,” has become a dependable two-way player for the Bruins but, bottom line, is that the Bruins are counting for him production, mostly in terms of assists. Therein lies the dilemma—they’re handsomely paying a premier set-up man without a sniper riding shotgun on either wing.
Think about it: Adam Oates had Brett Hull and later Cam Neely; Bryan Trottier had Mike Bossy. Centers with the skills of Savard need a winger that can bury a one-timer in their sleep and guys like Marco Sturm and Blake wheeler aren’t that guy. The only player on the Bruins’ roster remotely resembling that player is Michael Ryder and, for some reason, he and Savard just failed to click last season and Julien doesn’t seem to think it will anytime soon.
It’s up to Chiarelli to find Savard a running mate that will help define Savard’s long-term identity in Boston and hopefully end the team’s Stanley Cup drought. Ilya Kovalchuk of the Atlanta Thrashers is rumored to be on the trading block, not to mention being an unrestricted free agent at the end of the season. He’s familiar with Savard from years past and would seem to be a perfect fit for the Bruins. Granted, such an acquisition would require salary cap maneuvering by Chiarelli but that’s why he has a Harvard degree and sits in the GM office.
Look back to the Islanders from 28 or so years ago. Clark Gillies did the dirty work and cleared space on the ice. Bryan Trottier was the marvelous center iceman. Mike Bossy was lethal when passed the puck.
Lucic, Savard & Kovalchuk have the potential to be a similar trio for the Bruins.
Mr. Chiarelli?
{ 16 comments… read them below or add one }
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