Tampa Signs Brandon Bochenski
Submitted by timothy on July 8, 2008 - 08:38
Update: TSN is now confirming that Tampa Bay has signed Brandon Bochenski to a two-year deal. Like Konopka's deal, the first year of the deal is a two-way contract with a one-way deal for the final year..
This morning, NHLPA.com was indicating that enigmatic right winger Brandon Bochenski had signed a contract with the Tampa Bay Lightning that would pay $500k at the NHL level.
“Brandon is a proven player at the AHL level with more than 100 games of experience in the NHL,” vice president of hockey operations Brian Lawton said. “Adding him for the next two years continues to address our need to build organizational depth.”
The former UND standout was a teammate with Lightning defensive prospect Matt Smaby in 2003-2004 during Smaby's freshman season with the Fighting Sioux. Bochenski, a prolific college and AHL scorer that has had trouble translating his dynamic offense at the NHL level, would be a huge boost to a Norfolk Admirals team that suffered through an anemic offense last season. Bochenski last played in the AHL for the Admirals during the 2006-2007 season, putting up an astronomical 33 goals and 33 assists in just 35 games. Bochenski has scored 89 goals and 93 assists in 143 career AHL games for Binghamton and Norfolk.
Firepower
Konopka and Bochenski on the same AHL team will pile up huge numbers, and it appears to me that either Hutchinson or Niskala will be running the power play. That's four veterans now, by my count. They've got two more open spots now, and I would expect one will go to picking up another veteran d-man.
Both Hutchinson and Niskala
Both Hutchinson and Niskala are on one-way deals...
Vets
We already have Segal,Koci,Konopka,Smith and maybe Bochenski so we could only dress one more vet.
Plus we already have too many blueliners
In no order
Mihalik-Wishart
Fletcher-Quick
Boyle-Rogers
Jackson-(smaby/Lundin)or both
You're right, I forgot Segal
You're right, I forgot Segal and Koci. I still don't think they can afford to go into next season without a couple of veteran defensemen. That's a recipe for disaster.
Disaster.....
Pete I think when they signed all those vet Dmen last year it was a disaster...The last few seasons Chicago was our affiliate we seemed to always rely on just youth on the blueline and it worked pretty well as long as we had some offensive threats. Of course thats only my take on it.
No way in hell a bunch of
No way in hell a bunch of Western League guys like OK and Melrose go into the regular season with a d-corps as soft as Carle, Ranger, Kuba, O'Brien, Picard, Niskala, and Hutchinson. Not a chance.
Bieksa?
Is it possible they trade for Bieksa involving jokinen and a draft pick or oullete? Although I'm nopt sure what Bieksa will make this year so I guess it would also be contingent on that.
No
Bieksa makes over $4M and he's not a gritty, stay-at-home type.
The rumor Crisdotero published was Jokinen moving out for a 2nd round pick. That would free up a shade over $1.8M, but that money has already been eaten up by the Recchi signing.
Which Bieksa have you been
Which Bieksa have you been watching?
He is about as gritty as they come. Mean and always in ill humor. Kevin would be awesome on the Tampa blueline. Not only can he play the game, but because he hits, fights, and just doesn't take any you-know-what! Sounds exactly like the type of player a bunch of Western Canadian owners would like.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cfjrHD0Dgfg&feature=related
Being a guy who fights
Being a guy who fights doesn't make you a solid stay-at-home thumper.
He hits, he fights, he plays
He hits, he fights, he plays good defense, and he can contribute offensively.
What else does he have to do?
He's a minus player for his
He's a minus player for his career.
He has 3 NHL seasons under
He has 3 NHL seasons under his belt and he is a -11, big whoop.
In his first 3 NHL seasons, Zdeno Chara was a -34.