WILMINGTON--  At the Bruins practice facilities in Wilmington the Bruins prospects finished up their last session Saturday morning.

With Tyler Seguin present at camp the Bruins had a great turn out of fans. The Bruins management opened up the private area that was designated for staff.

 

“We had to let them into our little private area,” said Boston Bruins GM Peter Chiarelli.

There were over 100 people standing in the front corner entrance trying to get a glimpse of the Bruins prospects.

“A couple of the guys were saying that its been the most people they have seen in this building,” said Chiarelli. “You want our fans and our season ticket holders to look at it, and what we are trying to do and accomplish here.”

Seguin played really well scoring with ease at times during Saturday’s session. Most fans considered him a lock to make the team, but with the Bruins cap situation he actually could end up going back to juniors for one more season.

“Obviously its my goal to make the team, and be here next season,” said Bruins prospect Tyler Seguin. “I think it will come down to if they think I’m ready or not, and if they want me they will free up their cap situation.”

The Bruins currently have just under two million left for cap space, and they still need to sign Blake Wheeler and Gregory Campbell who they acquired from Florida in the Nathan Horton deal. 

Tyler Seguin would probably make $900,000 base pay, but his cap hit would be similar to Taylor Hall’s cap hit which is 3.750M. 

There is a bonus cushion though that allows the Bruins go 7.5% over the cap, but if all the bonuses are achieved the Bruins would receive a cap penalty. Once a bonus becomes unachievable it is taken off the cap hit.

So the Bruins would have a little extra flexibility as long as Seguin doesn't reach all of his bonuses. 

The easiest option for Boston to do is to send Michael Ryder down to Providence before the season begins, which would clear 4M in cap space. 

Tim Thomas and Marc Savard are also in trade talks as well because the Bruins are trying to clear cap space. Thomas has a 5M hit and Savard a 4M hit. 

The Bruins are all set with the Center position if no centers are moved because the Bruins have Savard, Patrice Bergeron, and David Krejci already on the top three lines.

“My rookie year (in juniors) I played left and right wing so i would be confident at either side,” said Seguin.

With Seguin on the wing the Bruins have a lot more flexibility on the roster. If a center did go down like David Krejci did in the playoffs, they can easily slide Seguin over to play Center.

Joe Colborne is another top prospect in the Bruins organization drafted in the 1st round during the 2008 NHL draft, he like Seguin is also a center.

Colborne moved from the University of Denver to the Providence Bruins at the end of last season after Denver was knocked out of the playoffs. 

“It was a big learning experience, a lot different style of play,” said Colborne reflecting on his transition to Providence. “The biggest thing I noticed was players were much better positioned all over the ice, and it was not as wide open as the college game.”

Colborne has had to go through a big change in systems leaving Denver.

“The Bruins system is much more structured, there is more guys behind the puck, and you take less chances inside the defensive zone,” said Colborne. “It comes right from the very top with Claude (Julien) who dictates what the Bruins do and Providence.”

Colborne would be open to playing the Wing for the Bruins to be able to make the team because of the Bruins current center situation.

“I would play defense or goalie if thats what it would take to get me on the big team,” said Colborne. 

Tommy Cross is another prospect from the college system, as he played last season under Jerry York at Boston College. Cross was drafted in the second round in 2008.

Cross has battled injuries ever since he was drafted, but he claimed to be 100% healthy now.

“In a number of ways (York) has helped my development, he is one of the greatest college coaches of all time,” said Cross. “Its the positive attitude and the work ethic of the ice, and it has rubbed off one me moving into my junior year.

Cross has no plans to leave Boston College after his junior year to join the Bruins yet, but he has not thought about it either. 

“I haven’t thought about that, I’m ready to go into junior year and to be back with my teammates,” said Cross.

Cross was part of last years national title team at Boston College. 

“It was an unbelievable experience, and I have learned a lot from the National Championship.

The Bruins had one Massachusetts native at the camp, defensemen David Warsofsky who was acquired at this past year’s draft for Vladimir Sobotka.

“Growing up in the area I was definitely was a Bruins fan, so it is pretty special to be able to wear the jersey,” said Warsofsky. “My favorite Bruins of all time are Bobby Orr and Ray Bourque, they were offensive defensemen like me.”

 

Bruins prospect Yuri Alrexandrov made his second development camp appearance last week.

“He struggled a bit, but was encouraging was how he picked up the pace on the ice and molded in with the other guys,” said Chiarelli about about Russian prospect Yuri Alexandrov.

 

Alexandrov played in the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL) last season. The KHL is the Russian pro league, which several NHL players have actually went to over the past few years which include Jaromir Jagr, Alexander Radulov, and Nikolai Zherdev. Zherdev actually just signed a deal with the Flyers last week, so he is making a return to the NHL.

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