Tim Wharnsby: Bruins dumped Kobasew to clear cap space
Last Updated: Monday, October 19, 2009 | 10:16 PM ET
By Tim Wharnsby, CBC Sports
Dumping forward Chuck Kobasew and his $2.3-million US salary allows the Bruins to free up cap space. (Christian Petersen/Getty Images)This is the first of many stories you will read daily on CBCSports.ca from Tim Wharnsby, who is widely regarded as one of the top hockey journalists in the country.
Tim will provide you with daily news and notes to illustrate what happens inside the world of hockey. And he looks forward to reading your comments!
Bruins clear cap space
The Boston Bruins freed up salary cap space by dumping forward Chuck Kobasew ($2.3 million US) to the Minnesota Wild in exchange for Craig Weller and a second-round pick. So does this mean that the Bruins are primed to make an even bigger deal down the road? Big things were expected of the Bruins this season, but they have emerged with a disappointing 3-4-0 start. It should, however, be noted that they were 2-2-3 after seven games last season and then reeled off 37 wins in their next 46 games. Kobasew should help the Wild.
The 27-year-old right-winger from Vancouver has the potential to be a first-line player. He has scored 20 or more goals in three of his six full NHL seasons. He only had one assist in seven games this season for the Bruins and really had not seen a substantial dip in his ice time. Last season, when he checked in with 21 goals, Kobasew played an average of 14 minutes and 41 seconds, compared with 14:22 this fall.
Cherry pushing Savard for Olympics
Don Cherry trumpeted one of Kobasew's former teammates, Marc Savard, during the Coach's Corner segment of Hockey Night in Canada on Saturday. Cherry urged Canadian Olympic men's hockey team executive director Steve Yzerman to select Savard.
Savard has been among the game's top playmakers since the 2004-05 lockout. Only Joe Thornton has more helpers in the past four-plus seasons. The top-five are: Thornton (327), Savard (272), Sidney Crosby (268), Henrik Sedin (257) and Pavel Datsyuk (252).
Former Habs struggling to find their own way
Chris Higgins and Mike Komisarek are close friends. Is there any coincidence that the former Montreal Canadiens teammates are struggling in their first NHL season apart? Higgins has yet to score in eight games with the New York Rangers this season, and Komisarek has been undisciplined and has yet to make an impact for the winless Toronto Maple Leafs.
When the two played against each other for the second time last week, Higgins began the game on a line with Chris Drury and Ryan Callahan, but the left-winger was moved off that line in the second period and exchanged places on the third line with Sean Avery. The Rangers are back in action at home against the San Jose Sharks on Monday night.
