We've been blogging about it recently, and Boston Bruins GM Peter Chiarelli has finally pulled the trigger on a deal that was rumored to be in the works. Within the last hour, the B's sent defenseman Dennis Wideman in a package with their 15th overall selection in the draft to the Florida Panthers. In exchange, Boston acquired forwards Nathan Horton and Gregory Campbell.
Horton is a strong forward and a former top prospect. In 2003, Florida drafted Horton 3rd overall. Most Panthers fans believe that he was never able to live up to his potential and use his size and strength properly to his advantage. However, he did notch 142 goals and 153 assists in his 422 games as a Panther, including one season (2006-07) with 31 goals and 20+ goals in each of the past 5 seasons. Horton Scored 20 goals and added 37 assists for 57 points in just 65 games for Florida last season.
Campbell seems like, more-or-less, a piece to make the trade work salary-wise. He's only gathered 85 points in 363 career games, and he has never had a plus-minus greater than zero in six NHL seasons. Dennis Wideman, meanwhile, experienced a drop-off this season, watching his 50-point total from two years ago drop to just 30 points this past season.
If you're a Bruins fan, having seen how poorly Wideman played last year, you have to be pretty happy about the concrete pieces swapping sides in this deal. Horton is a good player who still has the potential to be a big, physical factor in the offense. The downside is giving up that #15 pick, but don't forget that Boston still has two picks in the second round that they can maneuver as they wish.
Overall, I'll give this trade a good rating. I'm excited about what Nathan Horton can do in a B's uniform.
this is a steal! in florida he had no talent around him and now hes has that talent in boston! he gives boston another scoring threat! good move by pete! hopefully there more good moves ahead
ReplyDeleteI agree that Horton may flourish in Boston and I can't help but sneak a few thoughts in my head of Cam when he arrived, but that # 15 pick is a tough one to part with even if it got rid of Wideman. I firmly believe that Wideman may have been the least physical, softest defenseman that I can remember in the NHL along with Gonchar, but adding another journeyman center and giving up that pick makes me a little nervous considering the potential player it could have produced. That being said, I'll give it a C for now, as in I'll wait and see.......cautiously
ReplyDeleteYeah, I definitely see that point. I was a little surprised that they gave up the 15th pick... but here's my best reasoning around it. I consider Wideman and this other random player, Campbell, a wash. We didn't want Wideman, they didn't want this guy. So we traded the 15th pick for Horton. Horton's a solidified 20+ goalscorer (5 consecutive years), and you might suggest he should score 30 goals a year now that he has playmakers around him (he had none in Florida). Here's the other part. I see another move coming. I see the Bruins packaging Thomas, a lower pick (2nd round probably), and another forward (potentially Wheeler, Paille, Ryder, or maybe even Sturm -- we can afford to lose one of these guys now, if you look at our healthy roster) and using that package to move up into the top 10, maybe even the top 5 of the first round to draft a top defensive prospect. Rumor has it Chiarelli really wants to make a push into the top 7 of the first round and get another big prospect. With rumors flying that Thomas is being shopped and Tampa Bay is a contender for him (Tampa has the #6 spot in the first round), it's definitely something to keep an eye on.
ReplyDeleteLOVE IT!
ReplyDeleteDRob, good point of view. In looking at it from that angle, I can see some light. I would be willing to trade the #15 for Horton if he becomes what he appears he could become.
ReplyDeleteHope you're right as far as another deal out there. I'm still a little gun shy about Chiarelli thus far, so I'm hoping your thoughts find their way to him :)
Haha, I know. Sometimes I wish I could call the shots for the team, but behind the scenes, it's much more difficult than us fans make it seem! And we don't get ridiculed when we're wrong, either! But I mean, yes, you can get some great players with the 15th pick. And there's a good chance that player could turn out to be a better player than Horton eventually. But there's also the chance they aren't NHL ready for a few years, that they never become that player they were thought to be. So I try to look at the bright side with the advantages of having a player in hand, you know? Instead of the ticket to choose a rookie, sometimes it's not bad to just take the player who is already proven he can contribute. Plus, Horton's only 26, so he could still further develop.
ReplyDeleteBut yeah, I sure hope they can pull the trigger on another move. Jumping up with another high pick in the first round would be ideal, but I'm just interested to see if they are able to build a package around Tim Thomas that teams would be interested in trading for.