State of the Bruins: Rask Reactions, Turco Signs, and More

by Eric Ahearn

Tuukka Down, Turco In: It is important to note that Marty Turco has not cleared waivers and is not yet on the team. The way it works with overseas players (he is coming from playing in Austria) is that once a team signs him, that player must go through the waiver process first before playing. The waiver system works the same as in the MLB and the NFL: on the date the player becomes available, teams can put a claim in for him. The ‘worst’ team that claims him gains the player’s service. ‘Worst’ means the team with the worst record. So Columbus has first crack at him and the Rangers have the last. That being said, no team has shown an interest in him up to this point in the season, so I’d estimate there is a 95% chance the Bruins win the claim. Further, since he was signed after the trade deadline, he will not be eligible to play in the playoffs per NHL rule.

Turco has had a pretty good NHL career that ended with the Chicago Blackhawks last season (11-11-3, SV% .897, GAA 3.02). Since no one showed interest in the 36-year-old vet, he went to Europe to finish out his hockey days. Assuming he joins the Bruins, let us break down the acquisition:

The Breakdown: This signing shows that Chiarelli does not have confidence in any AHL goalies within his own system. Anton Khudobin is the top goalie prospect for the Bruins but he is currently sidelined with a wrist injury. The next in line was Michael Hutchinson, a 22-year-old product of Canadian junior leagues. The way I interpret the move is that Chiarelli did not want to put the pressure of a stretch run on a young goalie. Rather, he chose to bring in a veteran goalie with playoff experience. Although Turco cannot play in this year’s playoffs for the Bruins, his playoff experience in the past will allow him to easily cope with the rising intensity of end of the season. Overall I like the move. Chiarelli could have taken this time to test the depth of the system for the future, but the time is now. Many complaints have been expressed that the Bruins do not play well in front of a young Tuukka Rask, so maybe the age and experience of a Marty Turco will help push them. Marty Turco has always been a good locker room guy as well.

Rask in pain after getting injured on Saturday

Tuukka injury really doesn’t have as big of an impact on the Bruins as people think. Tim Thomas started every single game in last year’s Stanley Cup run, and he will start every playoff game this year too (barring injury). The only way that Tuukka getting injured ends up biting the B’s in the behind is if Turco blows a few games badly, and Ottawa ends up squeaking past the Bruins in the Northeast division, or if Tim Thomas gets hurt and Turco becomes our starting goalie. Neither of those scenarios are likely to carry out, so it really isn’t time to panic.

With 18 games remaining before the playoffs, I would like to see Thomas only play 10 games. Let Turco have 8 games, or even throw one game to Hutch. This will keep Thomas more rested for the playoffs. Although this is what I would like to see, I feel Claude Julien will give Thomas 12-13 games before the end of the year. But hey, I’m a writer and he’s making a couple million being an NHL coach.

The Reason For Optimism: There is no doubt that the Bruins are in a lull. They have not won back-to-back games since January 10-12^th. But who cares? The NHL more, than any other sport, relies on momentum. The Bruins rode the wave in November and December and were the most dominant force the league has seen this year. If you expected the Bruins to be that good for the entirety of the year then you were dreaming pretty big. The Bruins need to peak at the right time and I believe they are moving toward that. Though they lost to the Rangers, I think they outplayed them. Thomas also was not himself. The most important games to watch of the Bruins are games 75-82. If they play strong in those games, this team will easily reach the Eastern Conference Finals.

To deflate the Rangers a little bit, let’s take a look at their season thus far:

The Rangers are rolling, but that doesn't
guarantee playoff success.

They are currently the top team in the NHL with 91 points. They are currently ranked 11^th in offense and 2^nd in defense. Because of the Rangers defense, many are quick to say they are much like the Bruins team in 2010-2011. Those people may also forget that the Bruins were 5^th in the league in scoring last year while being 2^nd in defense. Also, the Canucks were 1^st in both categories a year ago and the Bruins slayed that dragon as well. The Bruins have proven they have the formula to win in the playoffs, so no one should be crowning the Rangers as the Beasts of the East.

It is hard for me to stop the playoff topic here but I have to. I will have many posts breaking down everything there is to know about this year’s playoffs in the coming weeks. Who’s in, who’s out, predictions, story lines, how much I fear Detroit and Crosby, what I will be painting on my chest for the games even if I’m on my couch, etc…

Your Quick Hits:

• Lucic-Krejci-Seguin line….sweet 6 pound, 9 ounce, infant baby Jesus…what a line.
• Give Zanon and Rolston time to adapt. Peverley and Kelly did not shine during the end of the regular season last year.
• If you are a fan of hockey, begin to watch out of market games if you can. The intensity around the league is about to pick up and it is awesome to see.
• Hey Stamkos…47 goals already? Pass the puck or you might steal the Hart Trophy away from Malkin!