With the scouting combine in Buffalo underway, general manager Don Sweeney met with the media Thursday afternoon. Topics of discussion included moving into the first round, the status of the team’s free agents, the health of several players and much more.
Here’s a quick look at some of updates from Sweeney’s availability.
Difficulty moving into the first round
Thanks to the acquisition of Rick Nash at this past year’s trade deadline, the Bruins are without a first round pick. After the Bruins season came to an end last month, Sweeney made it known
he would like to move back into the first round, but also cautioned what the cost would be.
On Thursday, Sweeney admitted that they’ve had talks with other teams about moving back into the first round, but discussions are proving to be difficult.
“Well, I think, as everybody gets approaching the draft itself and going through the interviews, it gets hard. I’d had previous discussions, and whether or not those change between now and after interviews and such, we’ll have to find out in the next couple weeks,” said Sweeney.
“I do think it will be difficult, yeah, but there are teams with multiple picks. You never know what some team may want to do based on where – everybody’s really had or will have coming out of this, their amateur and pro meetings, so things kind of take shape within your own team and what your teams are.”
With a surplus of prospects in the system, the Bruins have the fire power to put a package together to move into the first round.
The Bruins have just five picks in this year’s draft.
Injury updates
As is the case with many teams around the league, the Bruins finished the season with many bumps and bruises. Several players were contemplating surgery, while others just needed some time and rest to heel their wounds. Sweeney provided an update on some of those players.
Tim Schaller went in for a hand procedure and has an expected recovery time of three months before he is able to return to full play. Noel Acciari also had surgery and is healing well. Patrice Bergeron and Zdeno Chara will be able to avoid surgery, while Brandon Carlo and Anders Bjork are on track in their recoveries and are expected to be available for training camp.
Door not closed on Rick Nash
Rick Nash’s tenure as a Bruin wasn’t one that will go down as a memorable one. Inconsistencies and injuries defined his brief run as a Bruin. As Nash contemplates his next move, Sweeney won’t close the door on bringing Nash back in for a full season in Boston.
Nash deciding his future does affect the Bruins a bit, but Sweeney says a conversation is near.
“I think it always does. Those are individual personal decisions, and Rick – we’re going to have follow up conversations this week,” said Sweeney.
”I plan to talk to them again and have a, hopefully, have a clear understanding of where that necessarily lands, and Rick indicated when he came to Boston that he was excited about the opportunity. He wants to win. He wants an opportunity to win. He felt badly, and certainly he’s not responsible for this, because he got injured. It took away a little juice from him."
Door closed on Paul Postman, Kenny Agostino and Brian Gionta; Austin Czarnik as well?
“Postma, Agostino, Gionta will not be offered contracts”, said Sweeney, “and we’ve told as such.”
Postma and Agostino were both signed as free agents back on July 1st. Postma appeared in just 14 games for the Bruins, picking up one assist in the process. Agostino didn’t get as much of a chance as Postma did to find NHL ice, appearing in just five games. Agostino too picked up just one point on one assist.
It shouldn’t surprise anyone that Gionta and the Bruins are parting ways. After 16 seasons in the NHL, it appears Gionta will be retiring for good.
As for Czarnik, it looks like testing the market is the route he will be taking.
“Austin Czarnik is going to be a group six. We’ve had discussions with Austin. I think Austin is intrigued by what may exist elsewhere,” said Sweeney. “We certainly haven’t closed the door, I don’t think he has as well, but I would be surprised if he doesn’t get to at least to see what may present itself as options for him.”
Czarnik had 25 goals and 69 points in 64 games with Providence last year, but often got overlooked when a call up was needed. Testing the market is a smart move for Czarnik as he looks to crack an NHL roster, but the Bruins would be wise to find a way to bring Czarnik back into the fold.
Urho Vaakanainen set to sign
The Bruins are in need of a left shot defensemen, and there about to sign one of their own. Drafted by the Bruins with the 18th pick in the 2017 entry draft, the Bruins are expected to sign Urho Vaakanainen to an entry level deal.
“Vaakanainen will also be signing and playing over here. He played two full years in the Finnish Elite League against men and averaging about 23 minutes this year,” said Sweeney. “Another one that – we’ll see. We’ll see how they handle those things, and it will start right in rookie camp and work their way through.”
The 19-year old native of Finland is coming off an 11 point campaign for SaiPa of Finnish Elite League. The expectation is that Vaakanainen will be sent to Providence to start his professional career, but it's not crazy to think that the 6-foot-1 Vaakanainen can push for a job on the Bruins blueline.
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