Post by bruinscage on Mar 3, 2004 21:09:47 GMT -5
The Boston Bruins acquired Sergei Gonchar from the Washington Capitals for Shoane Morrisonn and a first and second round draft pick in the 2004 NHL Entry Draft.
"The addition of Sergei makes us a better hockey club,'' Bruins general manager Mike O'Connell said in a statement. "He is one of the premier offensive defencemen in the game and that was an element that we felt needed upgrading on our team. He moves the puck very well, has great awareness on the ice and will be a great addition to our power play.''
The 29-year old veteran has seven goals and 49 points this season, leading all NHL defenceman in scoring.
"Sergei Gonchar is an outstanding player, but given the uncertainty we are all facing next season and his impending unrestricted free agency thereafter, we thought it best to make the move to acquire young assets now," said Capitals General Manager McPhee.
In the season of 1999, Gonchar became the first Russian defensemen to score 20 goals in one NHL season.
Morrisonn, a Vancouver native, had one goal, seven assists and a plus-10 rating in 30 games with the Bruins this season. He's the kind of young NHL defenceman Caps GM George McPhee was insisting had to be part of any Gonchar trade.
“Shoane Morrisonn was the best young defensemen available and the player we wanted," McPhee added. "We are pleased to have him and expect him to be one of our top four defensemen for a very long time."
Gonchar is in the last season of his four-year contract, he will be a free agent at the end of next year. Last year the Bruins acquired a very good goalie last year before the trade deadline, hmm… does the name Jeff Hackett ring a bell? The Bruins last year before the trade deadline acquired Hackett, and he as well was in the last year of his contract. He is now with the Flyers. Will Gonchar be the next Hackett? We will let that play out, but for the present time I thought this was a very good pick-up for the Bruins.
"The addition of Sergei makes us a better hockey club,'' Bruins general manager Mike O'Connell said in a statement. "He is one of the premier offensive defencemen in the game and that was an element that we felt needed upgrading on our team. He moves the puck very well, has great awareness on the ice and will be a great addition to our power play.''
The 29-year old veteran has seven goals and 49 points this season, leading all NHL defenceman in scoring.
"Sergei Gonchar is an outstanding player, but given the uncertainty we are all facing next season and his impending unrestricted free agency thereafter, we thought it best to make the move to acquire young assets now," said Capitals General Manager McPhee.
In the season of 1999, Gonchar became the first Russian defensemen to score 20 goals in one NHL season.
Morrisonn, a Vancouver native, had one goal, seven assists and a plus-10 rating in 30 games with the Bruins this season. He's the kind of young NHL defenceman Caps GM George McPhee was insisting had to be part of any Gonchar trade.
“Shoane Morrisonn was the best young defensemen available and the player we wanted," McPhee added. "We are pleased to have him and expect him to be one of our top four defensemen for a very long time."
Gonchar is in the last season of his four-year contract, he will be a free agent at the end of next year. Last year the Bruins acquired a very good goalie last year before the trade deadline, hmm… does the name Jeff Hackett ring a bell? The Bruins last year before the trade deadline acquired Hackett, and he as well was in the last year of his contract. He is now with the Flyers. Will Gonchar be the next Hackett? We will let that play out, but for the present time I thought this was a very good pick-up for the Bruins.
