Bruins Training Camp Opens with Goalie Battle and Neely's Holdout

Strategic Insights -

The Boston Bruins started their training camp yesterday with over 70 players on board, including eight goalies vying for the number one spot. Absent was holdout Cam Neely, the 50-goal scorer suffering from cranky knees. Bruins general manager Harry Sinden stated that the next move in Neely's contract stalemate is up to the big right winger and his agent, Jay Fee. The situation remains uncertain, with Neely wanting to waive compensation to accept the one-year contract offered by the Bruins, while Sinden wants to retain the right to match any future contract.

Key Takeaways:

  • Cam Neely, the 50-goal scorer, is holding out from training camp due to a contract dispute with the Bruins, citing cranky knees as an issue.
  • Neely's agent, Jay Fee, has not accepted the one-year contract offer from the Bruins, which the team wants to waive compensation for.
  • Bruins general manager Harry Sinden expressed frustration with the contract negotiations, stating that Neely and his agent rejected a proposed contract "out of hand".
  • The Bruins are struggling with a void in their goalies, particularly after No. 1 goalie Jon Casey left for the St. Louis Blues as a free agent over the summer.
  • The top contenders for the starting goalie position in camp are Vincent Riendeau, John Blue, Evengy Ryabchikov, and Blaine Lacher, with neither Lacher nor Ryabchikov having played a minute in the NHL.
  • Bruins coach Brian Sutter remains optimistic about the team's goaltending prospects, despite the uncertainty around Neely's contract.

Statistics:

  • 8 goalies are vying for the number one spot in the Bruins training camp.
  • 50 goals was Cam Neely's scoring record from last year before suffering an injury to a knee.
  • 49 games is the number of games Neely scored 50 goals in last year.
  • 22 games is the number of games Neely played in the 1991-92 and '92-93 seasons due to an injury.
  • The Bruins acquired three first-round draft choices from the Hartford Whalers in exchange for defenceman Glen Wesley.

Sources:

  • Associated Press - No specific date mentioned in the original text.