They play in buildings separated by less than three miles, but in terms of their general managers’ attitudes to free agents, the Red Sox and Bruins are worlds apart.
In the last few years, while the Red Sox have waved goodbye to players who reach free agency, the Bruins have given them shiny new deals and extensions.
The Bruins were never renowned for being big spenders. Quite the opposite, in fact, with many blaming the team’s reluctance to bring in more big players for their Stanley Cup drought.
When the NHL introduced a salary cap five years ago, however, that changed. The Bruins have been near the cap every year, and it is difficult to call a team like that "cheap."
One gets the feeling the B’s are close to reaching the Stanley Cup Finals and just need that little spark to send them there, be that a big acquisition, a Hart Trophy-calibre season from someone or a stroke of luck.
Over in the Back Bay, one is not instilled with the same optimism. Only four hitters who were starters for the 2007 World Series campaign remain so, and it is possible the team will be almost unrecognisable when they open the 2 ...
Read Full Article at Bleacher Report - NHL
Article written by Adam MacDonald
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