Lyle Richardson On Toucher & Rich: Don't Think Bruins Could Have Done Any Better At Deadline
BOSTON (CBS) -- The Boston Bruins didn't make the big splash most of their fans wanted at Wednesday's trade deadline, leaving many worried about the team's chances at another Stanley Cup title.
Boston acquired a pair of defensemen on Wednesday, trading for Philadelphia's Andrej Meszaros and claiming Corey Potter off waivers. 98.5 The Sports Hub's Bruins play-by-play man Bob Beers called the moves "underwhelming" on Wednesday afternoon, but Lyle Richardson of The Hockey News doesn't think there was much out there for Boston.
"I don't think they could have done any better," Richardson told 98.5's Toucher and Rich. "You look at Meszaros and up until this season, he's had an up and down career with Philadelphia. He had a couple seasons where he played well but then last season he started having difficulties. But he had a decent Olympics, playing with Zdeno Chara on the Slovakian team, and maybe this is an instance of the old saying 'a change is as good as a rest.' He's only 28 so he still has upside, and he's coming to a team where perhaps playing under Claude Julien could be beneficial to him."
Richardson said that the Bruins remain the co-favorites with the Pittsburgh Penguins in the Eastern Conference.
"You have to consider the East, it's still down to the Bruins and Penguins. You bring in a guy like Mezsaros to replace Seidenberg, which addressed a significant need. They also plucked Potter off waivers for a good depth move, especially with McQuaid still sidelined," he said. "I do like those moves, patching up a couple needs. But you look over the roster and their goaltending is superb with Tuukka Rask and their forwards can match up with any team's. They can roll four lines without any difficulty. I do think the Bruins are still in cup contention."
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Richardson isn't sold that Montreal's acquisition of Thomas Vanek makes them a contender in the East,but he does think they could give Boston fits in a seven-game series.
"I wouldn't say contender, but it improves their odds to advance in the playoffs. He's a big body forward, not overly physical, but he carries his large frame and moves well," he said of Vanek. "He has tremendous offensive skills but he does tend to be a streaky scorer; he'll go through stretches where he does not wrong and he goes through stretches where he can't buy a goal.
"Out of all the teams in the Eastern Conference, the Habs are the only team the Bruins really have to worry about," said Richardson. "They may be a small team, but they have given them fits over the last few seasons," said Richardson. "Throw in a guy like Vanek, if he's on his game that could be potential trouble for the Bruins if they meet the Habs in the playoffs."
Lyle Richardson Says Bruins Couldn't Have Done Any Better At Deadline
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