Broons

News over the last couple days:

Checking-line expert C Dave Scatchard signed for three years.  He's one of the most talented third-line centers in hockey, but could also serve as insurance against Patrice Bergeron's development... if he doesn't step it up and win the second-line job, Scatchard is more than capable.

Martin Lapointe signed with Chicago.  Boy, it'll be weird to not blow a playoff game in the last few minutes because of a stupid Lapointe penalty.

Mike Modano left our money on the table and stayed with Dallas.  Ehh, he's got too many miles to justify a five-year deal.

Speaking of too many miles, Brian Leetch signed for one year.  Not a bad consolation prize after missing out on Sergei Gonchar.

So at present (assuming our key restrictos sign on the line that is dotted) our lineup looks something like this:

                   

LW	C	RW	D	D
Samsonov	Bananas	Murray	Boynton	Leetch
Isbister	Bergeron	McEachern	Moran	Gill
Axelsson	Scatchard	Fitzgerald	Girard	Kutlak?!?
Huml?!?	Hilbert	Orr?

G:  Raycroft
G:  ?

They're still half-baked, but Mike O'Connell told the Globe that they still intend to add one more major forward and two defensemen.  They've proven themselves to be active in the new market, making offers for Modano, Gonchar, and Pronger, so if I were Zdenek Kutlak or Ian Moran, I'd watch my ass.

Then again, as the above article implies, Joe "Bananas" Thornton and Sergei Samsonov have both seen their values rise since the Bruins' initial offers.  So maybe O'Connell is the one who needs to watch his ass.