Bruins Trade Rumors Not So Threatening

Yesterday, rumors were flying wild about a potential trade of the Bruins' Marc Savard and Blake Wheeler to Columbus for their first round draft position. This morning, the waters are settling down a little bit.

Most sources are now brushing off the rumor has mostly phantom gossip. There are several reasons to believe that this trade has no chance of going through, and most of them combine to give Bruins fans the satisfaction that there is no way their GM could mess this one up.

1. Marc Savard has a no-movement clause.

Savard signed a 7-year extension that will become active in July, and while it is unsure whether that contract has a no-movement clause (although some sources claim Savard has said it does), it is known that Savard's exisiting contract does have one. So, there is no way the Bruins can move Savard before draft day without his consent. He signed the 7-year deal at a lower salary than he could have earned. Why? Because he loves Boston. He loves the intensity, he loves the knowledge of the fans, and he wants to win a Cup. Chances are, Columbus is not the place for Savard to fulfill those desires. I see no chance Savard waives his clause to go play for the Blue Jackets.

2. Cap issues in Columbus.

The Blue Jackets have some salary cap issues here. Savard has a front-heavy contract that will pay him about $7 million next season. That contract, along with Wheeler's, would put the Jackets right at the edge of the salary cap, leaving them no room for improvements. Granted, they need a center to play alongside Rich Nash, but this isn't the most ideal fit for them -- a 33-year old who is locked up for 7 more years, taking up a decent hit in their cap space.

3. Chiarelli has confirmed he will take either Seguin or Hall.

What does this have to do with anything, you may ask? Well, Chiarelli confirmed that he will not trade the #2 pick and that he will take either Hall or Seguin. This tells me he feels that either of these players can fit into the system they currently have -- no conditional factors. He will definitely take one. So, why trade Savard? If the Oilers were to take Seguin, you would now have a center deficiency having drafted Hall and trading Savard. It just doesn't make much sense, this move alone. Unless it was a part of some greater scheme, the pieces do not match up.

4. The #4 pick is simply not worth the value of Savard and Wheeler.

I'll take a proven star over a potential star any day, especially in the #4 slot. Yes, Hall and Seguin are pretty sure bets to become NHL studs. But after those first two, how good is the second tier of prospects? Who knows. Whoever you get at #4, they would have to be a hell of a pick to equal the value of Savard and Wheeler. Trading Sobotka and Wheeler might be more reasonable if they were eyeing another forward that can have immediate goal scoring impact, but even still -- draft picks are never a guarantee.

5. The Bruins are sitting pretty. Why would they screw around?

Bottom line is, the Bruins are sitting real pretty right now. With their full squad healthy, you could argue they would have gone to the Stanley Cup finals this year. Three very solid centermen, and the chance -- if Seguin can transition to a winger -- to create some very dynamic combinations up front. They also have a pick in the middle of the first round, and then Toronto's early pick in the second round. On top of that, you consider that the Leafs have no big picks to improve -- will they struggle again next year? You would hope so, because Boston has their first round pick in the 2011 draft.

The future is mega-bright for Boston. Savard is one of the anchors to the future, having signed a 7-year deal. I think Bruins fans can rest a little easier now, having assessed the possibilities and having heard from some new sources. Most say this deal doesn't have the legs to go through, and the evidence suggests that it wouldn't go through in the end, anyway.