Bruins Save Best For Last

 Leading up to the deadline the Boston Bruins began setting the stage for their biggest move yet.  Kimmo Timonen and Mike Knuble were sent to Detroit to provide both veterans with an opportunity to win a cup. Bruins were able to acquire Matt D’Agostini, and Detroit’s 1^st and 2^nd in 2011.

With many rumors surrounding James Neal future with the Bruins, GM Valente finally pulled the trigger on a trade to acquire additional pieces for the future. “James was starting to find his groove and place in the league – we felt he is going to be a fierce competitor for years to come but we received an offer we felt could help our organization in our long term outlook.” The Bruins received son of Steve Thomas, Christian Thomas along with Philadelphia’s 1^st, Calgary’s 2^nd and Atlanta’s 2^nd round draft pick in 2011.

With an hour left to the deadline GM Valente got a phone call from the Pittsburg Penguins GM Bennett. With a minute left in the trade deadline the Bruins faxed in the paper work to acquire Shea Weber. Along with Weber the Bruins received a 4th and 5^th round draft pick in 2012 in exchange they sent one of the most highly touted prospect goalies in Jonathan Bernier, defensemen Erik Johnson, a second round pick in 2011 and prospect Tyler Pitlick to Pittsburg.

What was most surprising about this deal was that earlier in the evening GM Valente sent Ilya Bryzgalov packing to Columbus in exchange for promising defensemen PK Subban and prospect Curtis Hamilton.

 “The opportunity to acquire a young premier defensemen – that we feel will play some of his best hockey in the coming years - does not arise very often. This is something our organization lacked and we felt that we had the pieces in place to speed up our competitiveness.”

The next time the Bruins will be this busy will be on the 2011 Draft day. GM Valente has stockpiled eleven picks in total, an astonishing seven of them are 1^ST round picks. “We have identified a couple of young players we would like to acquire in this upcoming draft, but that doesn’t mean we won’t use some of these picks as leverage in a deal on draft day either – whatever makes us better.”

It is clear that GM Valente is looking to next year and though he hasn’t officially given up on the season he has taken the deadline as an opportunity to clean house.