Johnston & Haggs: Bruins Make Questionable Decision To Recall Caron, Waive Fraser
BOSTON (CBS) - 98.5 The Sports Hub's Ryan Johnston & CSNNE's Joe Haggerty, filling in for Toucher & Rich Monday morning, had a hockey discussion about the Bruins and their decision to waive Matt Fraser and promote Jordan Caron over the weekend -- a headscratcher to say the least.
"As soon as I saw [Caron] at practice yesterday I say, 'Oh boy. The fans are not going to be happy about this,'" Haggs said to lead the conversation.
Drafted in the first round (25th overall) by the Bruins in 2009, the Quebec native has shown very little signs of improvement in the countless opportunities he's been given in the NHL. Caron, 24, is a career minus-6 in parts of five seasons with the B's.
"When you're looking for a big change to the roster or some kind of shake up after you've given up six-plus goals for the fourth time in 36 games this year -- they did it twice in 82 games last year -- I think everybody was looking for some kind of statement to be made on Sunday, or before tonight's game against Detroit," said Haggerty. "The only thing you saw was Jordan Caron on the ice, and you hear they put Matt Fraser on waivers."
Fraser, also 24 years of age, was part of the package acquired from Dallas in the Tyler Seguin trade, along with Loui Eriksson, Reilly Smith and Joe Morrow.
Neither of the four players have shown enough consistency at the NHL level, but at least with Fraser you see the scoring potential (90 goals in 3 seasons in the AHL).
Haggerty expects Fraser to be claimed by another team by noon on Monday, which he believes is a shame.
"[Fraser] was playing on his right side as opposed to his natural left side. He was not seeing any power play time. He was not really playing with a David Krejci or a Patrice Bergeron, a center who could get him the puck in a scoring area. I don't know that we really saw him in his proper spot all year," added Haggs.
The move left Ryan Johnston's head scratching as well.
"It's one thing if you have no choice, like you have to put Matt Fraser on waivers because you're making a deal and you need the roster spot. But to put him on waivers so you can bring Jordan Caron back up? Really? Not that Matt Fraser is a budding superstar, but at the very least it seems like you're making the swap for no particular reason, and now you risk losing the kid."
How do you feel about the Bruins waiving Fraser and recalling Caron?
Listen below for the full discussion:
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