According to the Boston Globe (and this site), the Boston Bruins have agreed to terms with Blake Wheeler, a solid power-forward prospect with lots of size, skating ability and an interesting name which lends itself out nicely to puns. Wheel we see him in the NHL next year? There are no guarantees of that, but Bruin fans have to be happy about getting this 6’4”, 5th overall draftee (selected by Phoenix in 2004) who turns 22 in August. The best thing about this, other than the possibility that I’ll get to call someone a wheelman in this blog next year, is that it cost the Bruins nothing player-wise to acquire this young talent. Low risk and high reward: how can you go wrong with that? You can’t, is what I’m trying to say, in case you didn’t piece that together.
This is even more exciting than it sounds. Not only have the Bruins picked up a solid prospect with potentially puffy hair, they’ve picked up a prospect which could’ve gone to any team that was interested in him. He had his pick, essentially, out of most teams in the NHL and he chose Boston. Considering the Boston Bruins would’ve faced the same restrictions every other team does when attempting to sign a rookie player, his decision to land with the Bruins means he genuinely must want to play for Boston (one of my favourite attributes in a hockey player). Either that or Peter Chiarelli has photographs, but the first option is infinitely more likely. According to the Boston Globe article, this is what Mr. Wheeler’s agent had to say:
"And ultimately it came down to a few things for Blake, but mostly that he was comfortable with where the Bruins were headed as an organization — how this year they brought along kids like David Krejci, Milan Lucic, and Mark Stuart. They’ve done a good job of developing kids, and he wants to continue along that line.’’
Imagine that; this young man recognizes the rather sizeable pool of young talent the Bruins have amassed and he would like to be a part of it. I guess showing players respect, instituting a system and philosophy in the organization, putting a premium on youth and getting a dependable coach actually has attracted at least one player. Who could’ve seen this coming?
I checked the comments on Eklund’s thread that announced the Wheeler signing; just for the fun of it. One comment gave me a good chuckle. It was written by a poster name Borchevsky. He posted a link to the Boston Globe article and wrote the phrase “Ewww, why Boston?” and then he included one of those little gagging emoticons just to make sure he got the point across: effective, sir. Anyways, the comment made me laugh because two years ago, it would’ve been the truth. Why would anyone have wanted to place their young career in the hands of a club that had no direction, few really solid prospects and no conceivable reason to even get up in the morning (other than that it liked to get the daily news)? Well the times, they are a changing and if only a few of the Bruins’ prospects pan out in the next few years and the club stays the course with how it treats players, then the Boston Bruins organization can look forward to attracting more quality players and eventually that “ewww why Boston,” sentiment will turn right around. And not in a 360 either, but a nice 180, or possibly a 540 but that would be a less direct route.
In any case, the Bruins must wait until July 1 to officially sign Flex Wheeler (look at that, a weight lifting reference – and you thought all I could do was sci-fi) even though he does not have a previous contract. In case Blake Wheeler has second thoughts about joining the Bruins, I would like to remind him that the number 18 appears to be free. This should be enticing for several reasons. Firstly, it is the inverse of fellow ex-Gopher, Phi Kessel’s number. Secondly, and more importantly, it could give him a cool nickname like “18 Wheeler” or even “Big Rig” and he could use that in all kinds of situations, even away from the rink.
Peter Chiarelli said he wanted to improve the forward core of this team by getting some bigger players. With Carl Soderberg agreeing to come over to North America next season, the acquisition of Matt Marquardt, and now this acquisition, it would seem Peter Chiarelli is well on the way to achieving his goal.
The 2008 NHL entry draft will be in Ottawa, starting this Friday. As I’m sure you know, the Bruins pick 16th overall. I am going to attempt to make it to the draft but it may be more easily said than done considering the hours I keep at work and the relatively long distance from my work to the Scotiabank Place, which rests surprisingly near the middle of nowhere. I think I will probably be able to make it but I can’t guarantee it. I have been told that the Bruins are interested in drafting one hulking, aggressive defenseman named Colten Teubert. Now, for his sake, I don’t want to divulge my source so let’s just say he’s one of the Gallof brothers and he likes initials. That’s all the clues I’ll give you. I hope no one puts that together.
-Gerz
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