Burga's Mock Offseason

 
Okay let's get right into it.

With just about 9.8 million in cap space, there's not a whole lot of room to maneuver. So my first move would be to ship Rich Peverley. He's a speedy, versatile player but has offered little other than depth and PK ability while boasting a $3.5 mill cap hit. That type of production can easily be replaced by someone with a lower cap hit.

Transaction 1: Trade Peverley to Columbus for a Conditional 3rd round pick (becomes a 2nd if they make the playoffs). They could use depth from a guy who can help on the penalty kill and has some offensive upside.

What's your ideal offseason?

Pretend you're Peter Chiarelli for a moment. You're General Manager of the Boston Bruins and you're entering one of the busiest times of the year. You gotta decide who to re-sign, who to let go, who to trade, who to seek in free agency, and more.

Admit it, you're always thinking, "Well if it were up to me, I would trade Player X, and re-sign player Y" and so forth. We've all imagined what decisions we would make if we were in charge. Well now you can. Using the template I've created, below, you can manage your ideal offseason.

Bruins Offseason Considerations

Though we all still have a bitter taste in our mouths, the Bruins are about to go through one of the most exciting couple weeks of the year. The NHL Entry Draft is on Sunday and is always a special event. Though the Bruins don't have a first round pick this year due to the Jagr trade, they could still trade up (unlikely) and the draft is always riddled with last minute trades.

Then Free Agency officially starts. The Bruins will have some very important tasks at hand and some difficult decisions to face. Because the cap is coming down next year following the recent CBA, GMs across the league will be in a pinch to sort out their rosters and fit them under the cap. Here are some thoughts on what options the Bruins will have this summer.

Well That Sucked, But...

I'm not gonna go into the detail of what happened in the final two minutes last night. We all watched, we all saw what happened. The better team won. I'm not going to re-live those last moments. Say I'm an optomist, say I'm in denial, whatever.

Some people are up in arms, angry and looking for someone to blame. If Tuukka made this save, if somebody covered that guy, if this person scored here...

Take yourself back to last fall. Remember that Bruins game in November? I don't. You know why? There were no games in November. Or October, or December. People forget that we almost didn't have a season this year due to the lockout.

Tweet of the Day

Absolutely unreal.

Bruins Have an Opportunity

The performance of the Bruins in Game 3 illustrated exactly the kind of game they want to play and how they have found success to bring them to this point. They dominated face-offs, they killed another 5 penalties, they played physical, and Tuukka was outstanding. And don't forget the powerplay goal from Bergeron for the cherry on top!

It will take more of the same to keep the momentum going in Game 4. Quenneville and the Blackhawks are becoming increasingly frustrated by the Bruins' suffocating style of play and it's showing in their game. Quenneville has been shuffling the lines around, scrambling to find a combination that isn't completely stunted by the Black and Gold.

Jesus, Doc. Make Up Your Mind

 Doc and Some Guy.

ESPN is reporting that the Clippers have backed out of talks with the Celtics, leaving the C's without any new players, an elderly star in KG that either has to come back to the team that just tried to trade him or retire, and a coach that obviously doesn't have his heart and soul poured into the franchise anymore.

As complicated as that sounds, the Celtics are merely back to the same position they were in before talks with the Clippers began. KG is old and may or may not be a Celtic, and Doc wants to coach but doesn't want to coach the C's, wants to go back to broadcasting, but doesn't want to be that busy, but wants to take time off to watch Austin play, but Austin sucks so no one wants to watch him.

Tebow or not Tebow, is it even a question?

Remember this? This is Tim Tebow in the 2009 National Championship game against the Oklahoma Sooners giving them the infamous "Gator Chomp" resulting in an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty.

When most people think of Tebow, they think of the quiet, reserved "Tebowing" QB who has been the center if media attention around the NFL for the past few seasons. The average NFL fan does not remember the heart, passion and raw football ability that Tebow brought to the table night in and night out down in Gainesville. With Tebow recently signing a 2 year contract with the New England Patriots, what can we come to expect from the college standout in the short term and long term moving forward?

Game 1 Quick Thoughts

 

Well, that certainly didn't end how we would've wanted it to. The Bruins battled hard and certainly got their chances, but the Blackhawks scored in 3OT to take Game 1. It was a frustrating loss for the Black and Gold, who were up 2-0 and 3-1 but couldn't close it out. However, this series isn't over yet. The Bruins will be back on Saturday with a vengeance, looking to knot up the series headed back to Boston.

Here are some quick thoughts from Game 1:

-This is the best team they've played all year. I don't even think it's close. They have the skill of Pittsburgh, but unlike the Penguins they play like a team. The Blackhawks were fast, physical, they were deep, and their goaltending was outstanding. It's gonna take a lot to beat this team.
 

Tuukka Time, Not Tebow Time

 

I am as sick as anyone of the Tim Tebow hype. So at the risk of falling victim to the Tim Tebow Media Machine, I will make this short and sweet. Partly because I don't want to divert the attention that should be focused on the Bruins but also because I dont think my opinions on Tebow stray too far from most folks. I like Tebow. The media makes me not like Tebow, or at least makes me feel like I shouldn't like Tebow. They have, unfairly, turned him into more of a celebrity than a football player, like a religious, slightly more successful football-playing Kardashian is Tebow:  a good-looking human, with a lot of buzz and publicity for someone who has not accomplished a whole lot in their profession. That being said, I have alwyas felt if Tebow could shake the myths and the storylines, he has the qualities to be a successful and likable football player.

I Don't Know What it is About Your Face....

As the countdown ticks down to just mere hours before puck drop of the 2013 Stanley Cup Finals between the Bruins and Blackhawks, I encourage you to soak in all the friendly media coverage you can. The witty, and overly respectful banter, each team gushing about the others ability to lock down on defense and one another's explosive offensive threats.  This gentlemanly display is a brief prelude to the nastiness that will surely come.  I will admit, as part time admirer of the Chicago Blackhawks franchise over the past few years, it pains me to say this, but, no matter what, you will end up hating many of these Blackhawks. And if you are unable to put aside your Black-and-Gold Fandom and view the game as an unbiased observer, you may well end up despising them all.

This is not at all to say that Chicago is exceptionally dirty, or whiny, or entitled. It is that they are good. And not only are they good, they are alot like the Bruins, tenacious, gritty, tough, fast, physical and fun to watch. During the regular season you can watch the Blackhawks and enjoy them and the way they play the game.  Afterall they are separated from you by 4 states, a giant lake and a Western Conference. But as they say, "Familiarity Breeds Contempt", and I dont care how much you like another team during the regular season, a seven game series will make you hate them.  Its only natural. You will hate their captain, their goals, their hits, their stupid celebrations, their trainer, and their faces. So on that note, lets take a look at the faces that will surely rile you up and make you scream obscenities at your television as they menacingly grin after a questionable hit, or smile ear to ear after a, likely, "lucky"goal.

#88 Patrick 'Hattrick' Kane - Oh really, a Mullet? Ya Cool Bro, Jagr rocked that times 10 and put it to sleep before you even tried on a pair of skates. Kane's a Certified Dangler, Better hope he doesn't score, Dude's cellies will drive you nuts.

Tuukka Rask: Embracing the Spotlight

 

The past few years, playoff goaltenders have had to be nothing short of superhuman to win their team the Stanley Cup. Two years ago the Bruins had their own superman in Tim Thomas; last year was the impermeable Jonathan Quick. Goalies can steal a playoff series or an entire run to the Stanley Cup, and have been doing so for the games entire history. Sawchuck gives up 5 goals in 8 games in ’52, rookie Ken Dryden shutting down the big bad Bruins en route to the cup in ’71, Bernie Parent taking the mid ‘70’s by storm, Hextall in ’87, Ranford and ’90, Roy dominates to get his last cup in 2001, even Cam Ward in 2006; hockey playoffs can be won and lost on the goaltenders performance.

The Boston Bruins struck gold on their run to the 2011 Stanley Cup championship, as journeyman goaltender Tim Thomas went from quality regular season starter to a name atop that playoff hero list in mere weeks. The Bruins had put together a solid team and suddenly had an all world goalie to back; with the Cup win in ’11 there was hope for a nice run at a few more with the lineup at hand. But after the 2012 post season Thomas did the unthinkable. He walked away. He gave up on a championship caliber team. The man behind the mask, always unpredictable whether on or off the ice, lived up to his reputation. This move would have crippled many, if not most teams. Just think, the Rangers without Lundquist? Kings without Quick? Detroit without Howard? The Stanley Cup could go from in reach to unrealistic in moments. Not for the Bruins though. Waiting in the wings for the past few years has been Tuukka Rask, bred since trading for him in 2006 to be the next starting goalie, ready to shine and make us forget what we lost in Thomas.              

Magic Time in the Hub of Hockey

 

With the Stanley Cup Finals starting tomorrow, it's time to take a step back and look at the journey the Bruins took to get there. Much of the media attention has been focused on paralleling this playoff run from the championship run two years ago, and this is fair to a degree. Afterall, 17 of the players from the Bruins' roster were on the team that won it all in 2011. The only glaringly big difference is in net, but with way Tuukka has been playing, who's complaining?

However, I was reluctant to be a believer coming into the playoffs. The Bruins were playing sloppy hockey to end the regular season, unable to play a complete 60 minutes, letting leads slip through their fingers, and losing to bad teams. And through the first six games of the Toronto series and two period of Game 7, I remained admittedly pessimistic about their chances. But something changed that night in the Bruins, in the city, and in the minds of the fans themselves. We began to believe.

2013 Red Sox: Buy, Sell, or Hold?

Jackie Bradley Jr.

With the Red Sox being in the thick of competition that no one saw coming, and the emergence of young stars like Jackie Bradley Jr. and Will Middlebrooks, Ben Cherington and company have some interesting questions to ask; Do the Red Sox Buy, Sell or Hold at the July trade deadline?

Typically for the Red Sox, this answer is a no brainer, when they are competing, they are buyers and when they aren't they are sellers, but with their success stemming largely from the over-performances of veteran free agents, the Sox aren't necessarily looking for another veteran free agent to fill a role. I will break down reasons for each followed with my own prediction as well as what kind of fantasy implications could arise.

You could do better, Tennis

 

Is it an flaw in formatting, or just complete domination?

Rafael Nadal and Serena Williams waltzed to victory during their respective matches at Roland Garros this weekend to claim the Men's and Women's French Open title (Nadal: 6-3, 6-2, 6-3, and Serena: 6-4, 6-4). The question has to be asked how neither champion lost a set...in the finals, of a GRAND SLAM event.

Tweet of the Day

Peter Gammons is a Red Sox reporter for NESN and he tweeted this awesome bit of info this morning. Just further proof that Campbell's courage and dedication transcends rivalries and mutual hatred between cities. It has not gone unnoticed around the country and little things like this makes me love and respect the world of sports even more.

What Have I Done?

 

Decisions. Decisions.  What a role they play in the outcomes of our lives.  And what a forum Sports provides to second guess, debate, and contemplate those made by others.  Thus, on a night like tonight, it feels fitting to ask, "How's that decision working out for you Iggy?"  Just over 2 months after he made a mockery of social media, the NHL Trade system and the entire Boston Bruins Organization, Jarome Iginla, and hockey's version of the Miami Heat, were served due justice this evening at the steady hands of the team that he jilted.

Jack Edward's Speech on Greg Campbell

Sometimes blogs write themselves. Take a listen and get pumped up for tonight. Goosebumps...

Boston Red Sox Strong

 

Before delving too far into the 2013 edition of the local 9, I have a confession to make. While I liked the approach the front office took this season, my expectation was a third-place, .500 ballclub that just sort of, you know, sat there. While that could still be the case, I’d like to believe the first 61 games might be a good assessment of what is to come.

When a team trades players with the talent of Carl Crawford and Adrian Gonzalez, one would believe that the offense would suffer. Add to that early season injuries to your biggest bat (David Ortiz) and your brand new shortstop (Stephen Drew), and you expect the cry from fans for major change. But this team has been the best surprise ever, sitting atop the AL East.

Playoff Hockey at its Finest

 

Wow. All I can say is wow. For those hockey fans that stayed up last night to watch Game 3 in Boston, what else can you say? Wow. Pittsburgh came at us hard, and we knew they would. They are simply too talented of a team to not have strong scoring chances when their offense is clicking. But the Bruins stuck to their game, and despite some questionable calls and a few unlucky bounces, the Black and Gold find themselves up three games to none against the mighty Penguins.

The New MLB Draft (With Fantasy Takeaway)

Do you recognize this man teenager? Well if the current trend continues, Carlos Correa (2013 #1 Overall Pick) will be a household name within the next couple years. What used to be a 3-5 year process of grooming top prospects has become a much swifter system. Why are the NBA and NFL drafts so popular? Two reasons. Their college sports are widely televised meaning their players selected are more household names, and typically the players taken in these drafts immediately play at the highest level in their respective sport. Baseball has NEVER been that kind of sport and with the first-year player draft taking 50 rounds not including compensatory picks, it has been viewed as a waste to follow. Not Anymore.

Game of Thrones: "The Rains of Castamere" (S02E09) 4.5 Stars

Last night's episode of Game of Thrones was without a doubt the most shocking episode since Eddard Stark was beheaded in Season 1.  George R.R. Martin's writing style is very different than most authors; he does not conform to the usual approach about following one hero or heroine, their obstacles with evil, and eventual triumph with an expected happy ending. 

 In an interview with Entertainment Weekly, Martin said, "That was the hardest scene I've ever had to write. It’s two-thirds of the way through the book, but I skipped over it when I came to it. So the entire book was done and there was still that one chapter left. Then I wrote it. It was like murdering two of your children. I try to make the readers feel they've lived the events of the book. Just as you grieve if a friend is killed, you should grieve if a fictional character is killed. You should care. If somebody dies and you just go get more popcorn, it’s a superficial experience isn't it?"  
Before I watched this episode on HBO Go, about two hours after it aired live on the East Coast, I received multiple messages saying that I was going to hate the ending and be absolutely livid, so if you are reading this before seeing the episode, I have not really spoiled much for you, as I was aware of a character's death prior to viewing.  STOP HERE if you have not seen the entire episode yet, and watch the damn episode already!

Who Tweeted it?

Starting a new Beantown Lifestyle tradition. We post a tweet, you try to figure out who tweeted it. It will always be an athlete or celebrity and we''' try to pick the best ones.

Today's Who Tweeted it:

The Case Against Matt Cooke

As I mentioned in my Bruins/Penguins series preview, one of the underlying stories in this matchup is the villain Matt Cooke. One of the most hated players by the Hub of Hockey, fans are calling for Cooke's head and hoping Lucic or Thornton can pummel him into the ice. While this is something unlikely to be seen in a playoff game, Cooke certainly does seem to enemy number 1 in Boston.

Boston's Most Wanted: Dane Cook

On Thursday night at the TD Garden the Boston One Fund benefit concert that raised charity funds to relief those affected by the Marathon bombings featured performers like Aerosmith, New Kids on the Block, the J. Geils Band, and the Dropkick Murphys. The event was a huge success, except for a controversial miscue from polarizing comedian Dane Cook that led to an outrage of fans on social media.

The concert was available for online streaming, but fans saw their screen go black just as Cook was about to go on stage and then the image reappeared when his skit was over. This was not a technical mishap but a controversial decision by Dane to not allow his set to be distributed across the web because he didn't want it to be released to the public yet.

Bruins-Penguins Preview

What happens when an unstoppable force meets an immovable object? The classic paradox has perhaps never been more applicable to a hockey series than the Bruins/Penguins showdown that starts tonight. The run-and-gun offense that Pittsburgh employs will meet a Bruins team that has prided itself on its defensive play and the ability to roll four strong lines against their opponents.

There are so many intertwined storylines in this series that you almost need to draw them out on a piece of paper to fully understand the weight that this series bears. Let's take a look at some of them: