Trade Deadline 2014

[TheoShmeo]

 
Chia can just take out his Stanley Cup ring, and then his dick, and say "This is all the explanation you clowns are getting today."

I mean really. The guy's proven himself to be a damn fine GM.

And Belichick as a damn fine GM and HC.  That doesn't exempt either from dealing with obvious questions.
 
I love them both but their excellent track record doesn't insulate them from having to face the music.  Whether they choose to answer is another story.  The good news here is that Chia is usually pretty forthright.
 
Another thing: That there are some questions here doesn't mean that there aren't good answers.  Given how intelligent and hard working Chiarelli is, I suspect he's got some good ones, such as the salary cap.

 

[Smiling Joe Hesketh]

And Belichick as a damn fine GM and HC.  That doesn't exempt either from dealing with obvious questions.
 
I love them both but their excellent track record doesn't insulate them from having to face the music.  Whether they choose to answer is another story.  The good news here is that Chia is usually pretty forthright.

 
You act as if the fact that Chia screwed up is obvious to all. That is simply not the case. There is no music to be faced.
 
Go read TFP's post again, I think he makes it quite clear what's going on.

 

[TFP]

What music?

 

[FL4WL3SS]

And Belichick as a damn fine GM and HC.  That doesn't exempt either from dealing with obvious questions.
 
I love them both but their excellent track record doesn't insulate them from having to face the music.  Whether they choose to answer is another story.  The good news here is that Chia is usually pretty forthright.

Please clarify, though, what questions Chia has to answer.

 

[Titoschew]

Please clarify, though, what questions Chia has to answer.

 
His wife probably will ask him what he prefers for dinner tonight, amirite?

 

[Jed Zeppelin]

 
BREAKING - it's hard to win a cup. My God, I was actually kind of looking forward to some hockey talk. They've fallen so hard the last 3 years. Maybe they were never that high to begin with and I just had cup run fever so any Bruins talk went right to my head.
 
"It'll maybe get them to a conference final but not past Pittsburgh or the West."
Wonder what they'd say if someone pointed out that they're 2-1 against the Pens and 13-4-4 against the vaunted west.

 
Basically every year since the Bruins returned to relevance this has been the story, beginning with the year Hossa was on the market. Literally everybody else is the bogeyman while Chia cries in the corner with no balls to do what is necessary. Then he spends one day after the season admitting he was wrong about the team before writing his bitchy script for the next season.
 
He is a talk show host, so this is his job and it's all good as long as people take his comments as seriously as he does...which is to say not seriously at all. We're lucky here that most on this board understand that, but from the looks of it most of his callers/partners/guests/etc fall too easily into the trap.

 

[TheoShmeo]

The Habs acquired a talented forward for a price that looks manageable.
 
Sorry but that there may be very good answers doesn't mean the Bruins GM shouldn't have to explain to his fans why the Bs weren't able to beat the Canadiens to the punch. 
 
Whether he chooses to answer is his right, and we know that Bill would give a bland non-answer about the best interests of the team if this were the Pats.  I suspect Chiarelli will address this and I hope he does.

 

[PedroSpecialK]

The pitchfork brigade is out in full force. Anything to drive clicks I guess.
 
Joe Haggerty ‏@HackswithHaggs  1m
Can't see how B's trade deadline can be looked at as anything but a loss. Arch-enemy got a player that torments you. You got depth D-men

 

[mcpickl]

And Belichick as a damn fine GM and HC.  That doesn't exempt either from dealing with obvious questions.
 
I love them both but their excellent track record doesn't insulate them from having to face the music.  Whether they choose to answer is another story.  The good news here is that Chia is usually pretty forthright.
 
Another thing: That there are some questions here doesn't mean that there aren't good answers.  Given how intelligent and hard working Chiarelli is, I suspect he's got some good ones, such as the salary cap.

I think the issue in this town is the music they should be facing is smooth jazz, not the heavy metal they get from sports radio squealers.

 

[allstonite]

The Habs acquired a talented forward for a price that looks manageable.
 
Sorry but that there may be very good answers doesn't mean the Bruins GM shouldn't have to explain to his fans why the Bs weren't able to beat the Canadiens to the punch. 
 
Whether he chooses to answer is his right, and we know that Bill would give a bland non-answer about the best interests of the team if this were the Pats.  I suspect Chiarelli will address this and I hope he does.

 
Salary Cap + not a spot of need = answered

 

[TFP]

The Habs acquired a talented forward for a price that looks manageable.
 
Sorry but that there may be very good answers doesn't mean the Bruins GM shouldn't have to explain to his fans why the Bs weren't able to beat the Canadiens to the punch. 
 
Whether he chooses to answer is his right, and we know that Bill would give a bland non-answer about the best interests of the team if this were the Pats.  I suspect Chiarelli will address this and I hope he does.

 
I explained it in 3 sentences. The price going back to the Isles was not the issue. Fitting him under the cap and onto the roster was the issue. It didn't make sense at all.

 

[ForceAtHome]

Klesla going to the Sabres as well.

 

[Smiling Joe Hesketh]

The Habs acquired a talented forward for a price that looks manageable.
 
Sorry but that there may be very good answers doesn't mean the Bruins GM shouldn't have to explain to his fans why the Bs weren't able to beat the Canadiens to the punch. 
 
Whether he chooses to answer is his right, and we know that Bill would give a bland non-answer about the best interests of the team if this were the Pats.  I suspect Chiarelli will address this and I hope he does.

 
You sound like a jilted prom date. No offense, but really. You're better than this. SOMEONE MUST ANSWER. Come on.
 
OK, the Habs got a talented forward. Go take a look at the Bruins' cap and tell me how they could have fit Vanek into their cap space.

 

[PedroSpecialK]

They weren't able to beat the Canadiens to the punch because they would have had to move Johnny Boychuk or Chris Kelly to make the cap work after having NYI retaining 30% more of Vanek's salary than they did in the Montreal deal. Meszaros was rightly evaluated as filling a more pressing need.
 
Christ, is everybody forgetting that this team has Loui Eriksson on its third line?

 

[ForceAtHome]

Katie Carrera ‏@kcarrera 42s
It’s official, #Caps acquire Jaroslav Halak and a third round pick (2015) from Buffalo for Michal Neuvirth and Klesla.
 
Well done.

 

[RedOctober3829]

The Habs acquired a talented forward for a price that looks manageable.
 
Sorry but that there may be very good answers doesn't mean the Bruins GM shouldn't have to explain to his fans why the Bs weren't able to beat the Canadiens to the punch. 
 
Whether he chooses to answer is his right, and we know that Bill would give a bland non-answer about the best interests of the team if this were the Pats.  I suspect Chiarelli will address this and I hope he does.

Theo, why should the Bruins GM have to explain anything to his fans?  There isn't an obvious need for a forward.  Vanek was a luxury.  This team is good enough to win the Cup as presently constituted.

 

[TFP]

I can understand criticizing that they didn't get enough in Meszaros, or should have got a more impact player on D. But in no way, shape, or form do I understand criticizing them for not getting Vanek. Doesn't compute.

 

[PedroSpecialK]

Sabres PR ‏@SabresPR  2m
#Sabres have acquired G Michal Neuvirth and D Rostislav Klesla from Capitals in exchange for G Jaroslav Halak and a 3rd-round pick in '15.
 
edit: wait, why is Terry Murray giving up a 3rd rounder in a strong draft to get Michal Neuvirth and an impending UFA?

 

[RedOctober3829]

"2nd straight trade deadline day Peter Chiarelli sitting by the phone waiting for the call"
--Hockey guru Michael Felger

 

[j44thor]

Could BOS have afforded Vanek cap wise if they didn't add Meszaros who by most accounts is barely an upgrade.  I could care less about the 3rd rd pick but taking on his pro-rated cap space might have made this a bad deal in and of itself.
 
We were willing to pay considerably more for Iginla last year than MTL paid this year for Vanek.  In some respects is does feel like BOS missed out.  

 

[FelixMantilla]

I'm very happy with picking up the two depth defensemen. This is a very good team with some cap restrictions this year.

 

[Ferm Sheller]

The Bs are a better team than they were just a few hours ago and they're still better than the Canadiens.  Cup in 2011, one game away last year and their roster is pretty damn loaded.  Plus, Vanek couldn't fit under the cap without trading away a high-salary player.
 
I don't understand the teeth-gnashing over Vanek.

 

[TFP]

They weren't able to beat the Canadiens to the punch because they would have had to move Johnny Boychuk or Chris Kelly to make the cap work after having NYI retaining 30% more of Vanek's salary than they did in the Montreal deal. Meszaros was rightly evaluated as filling a more pressing need.
 
Christ, is everybody forgetting that this team has Loui Eriksson on its third line?

 
They're not trading Boychuk (since they are thin at D) and why on earth would the Islanders want Kelly? Would it make sense to dump Kelly to add Vanek (imo....no)? How exactly would this have work (AND get the Isles to retain salary as you said). It just makes no sense.

 

[Ferm Sheller]

Was it all over when the Penguins acquired Iginla?

 

[TFP]

Also, can we stop posting Felger quotes? Take that to the Felger thread in the media forum.

 

[RedOctober3829]

Also, can we stop posting Felger quotes? Take that to the Felger thread in the media forum.

I just need to stop listening to Felger.

 

[Jed Zeppelin]

Could BOS have afforded Vanek cap wise if they didn't add Meszaros who by most accounts is barely an upgrade.  I could care less about the 3rd rd pick but taking on his pro-rated cap space might have made this a bad deal in and of itself.
 
We were willing to pay considerably more for Iginla last year than MTL paid this year for Vanek.  In some respects is does feel like BOS missed out.  

 
Sure, but then you've upgraded an incredibly deep forward group that didn't need it at the expense of a D corps that's one more injury away from being truly fucked, and is already relying on mostly untested youngsters.

 

[TFP]

That is also sound advice.

 

[BoSoxFink]

I can understand criticizing that they didn't get enough in Meszaros, or should have got a more impact player on D. But in no way, shape, or form do I understand criticizing them for not getting Vanek. Doesn't compute.

agreed, I am more angry that the biggest Bruins killer out there probably, went to the Bruins heated rival.  If he had gone somewhere out west I would have been a lot more ok with it.
 
However I do agree that Meszaros is not a big enough upgrade on the blue line I don't believe, but then again there was not a lot of talent that was moved that was better than him so it wasn't like he could have gotten more.

 

[ForceAtHome]

 
Sabres PR ‏@SabresPR  2m
#Sabres have acquired G Michal Neuvirth and D Rostislav Klesla from Capitals in exchange for G Jaroslav Halak and a 3rd-round pick in '15.
 
edit: wait, why is Terry Murray giving up a 3rd rounder in a strong draft to get Michal Neuvirth and an impending UFA?
 

 
Shhhhh. McPhee was great this deadline. (Let's ignore 2013) When you remove the 4th coming in and going out, and Klesla, it breaks down to:
 
Additions: Penner, Halak, Brown (prospect), 3rd
Subtractions: Erat, Neuvirth, Mitchell (non-prospect throw away)
 
Halak is an upgrade on Neuvirth. Considering everyone knew Erat wanted out, getting Penner as a replacement is nice. And then add in a decent prospect and a 3rd? Awesome two days for the Caps.

 

[TheoShmeo]

"Face the music" was an unfortunate turn of phrase.  I retract.
 
That said, there were rumors the Bruins were "in" on Vanek.  I understand the salary cap answer.  I understand that forward wasn't a pressing need.  I understand that the Isles may not have given the Bs a chance to bid against the Habs' last offer.  I understand that the Bs may not have offered anything. 
 
But if the Bruins were indeed trying to acquire Vanek -- no sure thing -- then it means, perhaps, that PC thought he could manage the cap implications, and I am interested in his comments, should he choose to provide them. 

 

[smastroyin]

The only argument I was have against TFP is that to believe you couldn't fit Vanek means you are a believer in the current third line (which is a totally fine thing to believe).  But I do think this is a big departure from the conventional wisdom that is out there, and I think a bunch of people thought that Yeti looking so much better at center was going to give them the ability to move Kelly to the 4th line.  
 
As for the people disappointed in general, I do think there is some thought that Reilly Smith could to turn into a pumpkin.  I do also think people still struggle with the rolling three lines idea compared to most other teams that have flashier top lines.  
 
Regarding Meszaros, I have to think Quaider's injury lingering is the main reason they would take his cap hit (virtually ending their chances of doing anything else), but I think it's a worse hit than others.  Probably not much choice though.

 

[TFP]

The only argument I was have against TFP is that to believe you couldn't fit Vanek means you are a believer in the current third line (which is a totally fine thing to believe).  But I do think this is a big departure from the conventional wisdom that is out there, and I think a bunch of people thought that Yeti looking so much better at center was going to give them the ability to move Kelly to the 4th line.  

 
By "fit", I meant fit under the cap, not fit into the lineup. I would definitely would love to have him as a top 9 forward and move Kelly to the 4th line, but there's no way to do so without clearing salary. Either that means losing a defenseman (not an option) or losing a top 9 forward (Kelly) which hurts your defensive game. I just don't see how logically he would fit in here. 
 
If was as simple as sending a prospect and a pick and slotting him right in, then 100% I would love to do that. I just don't think it quite fits that way.

 

[j44thor]

 
Sure, but then you've upgraded an incredibly deep forward group that didn't need it at the expense of a D corps that's one more injury away from being truly fucked, and is already relying on mostly untested youngsters.

 
But my question is does Meszaros improve the team more than Vanek?  I don't watch many Flyers games but he has hardly played on at best a mediocre defensive team.  
Just by adding a body doesn't necessarily make the team better, for all we know the untested kids may be better than Meszaros.  That was certainly the case last year when Krug and Bart shined in the playoffs.

If I had to choose either Meszaros or Vanek I choose Vanek every time.  If MTL had to surrender a package that included a 1st and a Subban level prospect now it is a different story.  From simply a value perspective this was a steal for MTL which makes it a tougher deal to accept as their primary rival.

 

[Greg29fan]

The Penguins apparently got Lee Stempniak but the trade call hasn't gone through or something.

 

[kenneycb]

"Face the music" was an unfortunate turn of phrase.  I retract.
 
That said, there were rumors the Bruins were "in" on Vanek.  I understand the salary cap answer.  I understand that forward wasn't a pressing need.  I understand that the Isles may not have given the Bs a chance to bid against the Habs' last offer.  I understand that the Bs may not have offered anything. 
 
But if the Bruins were indeed trying to acquire Vanek -- no sure thing -- then it means, perhaps, that PC thought he could manage the cap implications, and I am interested in his comments, should he choose to provide them. 

Given his reflection on his dealings with the Iginla press conference last year, I doubt he'll mention anything specific outside of cap space and absolutely needing to bolster the D core.

 

[SoxFan58]

If most Bruins fans can infer the reasons they did not land Vanek, why does Chiarelli need to state the obvious?

 

[FL4WL3SS]

Could BOS have afforded Vanek cap wise if they didn't add Meszaros who by most accounts is barely an upgrade.  I could care less about the 3rd rd pick but taking on his pro-rated cap space might have made this a bad deal in and of itself.
 
We were willing to pay considerably more for Iginla last year than MTL paid this year for Vanek.  In some respects is does feel like BOS missed out.  

the need for an impact forward was a lot greater last year.

 

[The Napkin]

Next year I'm going to call in sick on the day of the trade deadline and spend the day in a cabin in the woods without electricity and nothing but a case of beer or 2 and some pizza. I'll be accepting applications if people want to join me.

 

[RedOctober3829]

Next year I'm going to call in sick on the day of the trade deadline and spend the day in a cabin in the woods without electricity and nothing but a case of beer or 2 and some pizza. I'll be accepting applications if people want to join me.

Can I bring the strippers?

 

[TFP]

Next year I'm going to call in sick on the day of the trade deadline and spend the day in a cabin in the woods without electricity and nothing but a case of beer or 2 and some pizza. I'll be accepting applications if people want to join me.

 
I'm there.

 

[ForceAtHome]

Stemp for a 3rd.

 

[Ed Hillel]

Sorry to have to ask this, but I haven't seen it. Are cap hits for traded players the full cap hit of the season or are they prorated based on the amount of time left in the season? If it's the full amount, the Bruins couldn't have acquired Vanek without cutting around 2 million in salary. If it's prorated, it looks like he would have barely fit without having to cut anyone.

 

[j44thor]

the need for an impact forward was a lot greater last year.

 
See that is the problem, rather than looking at the best value we were looking to fill holes from a relative position of weakness.  I'm certainly not going to criticize Chia given his track record but I do think given the position in the standings and the team as constituted they could have looked at value as opposed to marginal upgrades.

 

[BoSoxFink]

Sorry to have to ask this, but I haven't seen it. Are cap hits for traded players the full cap hit of the season or are they prorated based on the amount of time left in the season? If it's the full amount, the Bruins couldn't have acquired Vanek without cutting around 2 million in salary. If it's prorated, it looks like he would have barely fit without having to cut anyone.

without the Meszaros trade, yes, but once they picked up Meszaros they couldn't fit him anymore.

 

[Red Right Ankle]

What music?

>Insert stupid wrestling reference here<

 

[kenneycb]

Can I bring the strippers?

Wouldn't that be a little awkward with your mom?

 

[veritas]

without the Meszaros trade, yes, but once they picked up Meszaros they couldn't fit him anymore.

 
It's prorated, before Meszaros they would have had to cut or have the Islanders cover $2m (prorated). After Meszaros, it was more like $6m they would have had to get rid of

 

[Ed Hillel]

 
It's prorated, before Meszaros they would have had to cut or have the Islanders cover $2m (prorated). After Meszaros, it was more like $6m they would have had to get rid of

 
Don't you mean it's not prorated? If I'm reading CapGeek correctly, they charged the Bruins the full 4 million for Meszaros. You're right in that they would have had to shed about 2 million to bring on Vanek (7.5 million cap hit, about 5.4 million in space, maybe less given Iginla's earning potential). The only feasible option would have been Kelly, and I'm not really sure Vanek is worth the upgrade, given the other assets you'd have to give up. Close call, but not a slam dunk at all. Shoring up the D for far less was probably the better option, given how the team is currently constructed.

 

[TSC]

 
Don't you mean it's not prorated? If I'm reading CapGeek correctly, they charged the Bruins the full 4 million for Meszaros. You're right in that they would have had to shed about 2 million to bring on Vanek (7.5 million cap hit, about 5.4 million in space, maybe less given Iginla's earning potential). The only feasible option would have been Kelly, and I'm not really sure Vanek is worth the upgrade, given the other assets you'd have to give up. Close call, but not a slam dunk at all. Shoring up the D for far less was probably the better option, given how the team is currently constructed.

No. It's prorated.