McLaren seeks trade from Bruins
By Nancy Marrapese-Burrell, Globe Staff, 7/17/2002
Defenseman Kyle McLaren broke into the NHL as an 18-year-old in 1995-96 and played under the tutelage of future Hall of Famer Ray Bourque. That was an idyllic situation, but McLaren now feels the circumstances in Boston have deteriorated, and after seven years with the Bruins, he wants out.
''We think after seven years here, he's had a lot of bad luck, misfortune, and injuries,'' said attorney Neil Abbott, who made the trade request on behalf of his client. ''I believe in good luck and bad luck and for Kyle, a change of scenery with a new city and a new team would be really good for him. He enjoyed playing in Boston and all that but after seven years, you're either going forward or you're going backward. I think it would be a good thing, so we're hopeful something could be worked out.''
Efforts to reach McLaren were unsuccessful.
Because of various ailments, McLaren was limited to just 38 games last year. In 2000-01, he played just 58. A source close to the Players Association said the situation was inflamed because the Bruins offered McLaren a two-way qualifying offer of $1.755 million (for playing in the NHL) over $30,000, which is the salary he'd make if sent to the minors. McLaren hasn't spent a second in the minors. O'Connell said the rules allowed the team to do it that way.
Abbott acknowledged his client was disenchanted with the last couple of seasons, but there were no hard feelings toward the Bruins.
''He's been injured multiple times,'' said Abbott. ''He had two injuries last year, both of which qualify under bad luck - a pectoral muscle, which you don't see in hockey players, and the wrist tendon. I think change is good for a hockey player some times. It's good and it's normal. Wayne Gretzky played for four teams in his career. We've asked the Bruins to do something with Kyle. We just think it would be in everybody's best interest.
''I'm convinced it would be good for him. It would give him a chance to break out of the cycles he's in. I'm not the least bit acrimonious. The last couple of years, he's spent more time at Mass. General than the FleetCenter. I think psychologically, it would be the greatest thing in the world for him. I think there's nothing that can be done to change that.''
O'Connell said they tried. In talking to Abbott last week, O'Connell proposed the agent and player sit down with whichever members of management they were comfortable with - such as O'Connell and coach Robbie Ftorek - and try to figure out a solution to McLaren's unhappiness. But the GM said the plan was rejected.
He said trading McLaren would be extremely difficult and could turn out to be a long process.
''I'm disappointed and based on the letters I got, it's not about the money,'' said O'Connell. ''I really like Kyle. He's had some unfortunate luck with regard to injuries. But to trade a Kyle McLaren, I've got to get a Kyle McLaren back. How am I going to do that?''
Another of Abbott's clients - forward P.J. Axelsson - is up for renewal. Abbott said he is hoping he and the team can come to terms on a two-year agreement. He said he has put forth a proposal to O'Connell ... Abbott also said he would be open to the Bruins trying to lock up another of his clients - Sergei Samsonov - to a long-term deal prior to his contract expiring next summer. Samsonov and center Joe Thornton are two of the team's linchpins. Both have arbitration rights next year. Given the way the Bruins have done business in the past, it seems a long shot. ''I've not raised Sergei's name to them and they haven't raised it to me,'' said Abbott. ''If they ever wanted to talk about Sergei, I'd listen tomorrow.'' ... The Bruins have come to terms with goaltender John Grahame and defensemen Nick Boynton and Sean Brown on one-year contracts. They also signed free agent forward Michal Grosek to a one-year deal. O'Connell said he expects Grosek, who scored three goals in 15 games with the New York Rangers and 14 in 48 with Hartford of the AHL last year, to pot 15-20 this season ... O'Connell said the team is close to reaching a contract agreement with right wing Glen Murray, which would mean avoiding arbitration. Murray was the only Bruin who filed for a hearing.
By Nancy Marrapese-Burrell, Globe Staff, 7/17/2002
Defenseman Kyle McLaren broke into the NHL as an 18-year-old in 1995-96 and played under the tutelage of future Hall of Famer Ray Bourque. That was an idyllic situation, but McLaren now feels the circumstances in Boston have deteriorated, and after seven years with the Bruins, he wants out.
''We think after seven years here, he's had a lot of bad luck, misfortune, and injuries,'' said attorney Neil Abbott, who made the trade request on behalf of his client. ''I believe in good luck and bad luck and for Kyle, a change of scenery with a new city and a new team would be really good for him. He enjoyed playing in Boston and all that but after seven years, you're either going forward or you're going backward. I think it would be a good thing, so we're hopeful something could be worked out.''
Efforts to reach McLaren were unsuccessful.
Because of various ailments, McLaren was limited to just 38 games last year. In 2000-01, he played just 58. A source close to the Players Association said the situation was inflamed because the Bruins offered McLaren a two-way qualifying offer of $1.755 million (for playing in the NHL) over $30,000, which is the salary he'd make if sent to the minors. McLaren hasn't spent a second in the minors. O'Connell said the rules allowed the team to do it that way.
Abbott acknowledged his client was disenchanted with the last couple of seasons, but there were no hard feelings toward the Bruins.
''He's been injured multiple times,'' said Abbott. ''He had two injuries last year, both of which qualify under bad luck - a pectoral muscle, which you don't see in hockey players, and the wrist tendon. I think change is good for a hockey player some times. It's good and it's normal. Wayne Gretzky played for four teams in his career. We've asked the Bruins to do something with Kyle. We just think it would be in everybody's best interest.
''I'm convinced it would be good for him. It would give him a chance to break out of the cycles he's in. I'm not the least bit acrimonious. The last couple of years, he's spent more time at Mass. General than the FleetCenter. I think psychologically, it would be the greatest thing in the world for him. I think there's nothing that can be done to change that.''
O'Connell said they tried. In talking to Abbott last week, O'Connell proposed the agent and player sit down with whichever members of management they were comfortable with - such as O'Connell and coach Robbie Ftorek - and try to figure out a solution to McLaren's unhappiness. But the GM said the plan was rejected.
He said trading McLaren would be extremely difficult and could turn out to be a long process.
''I'm disappointed and based on the letters I got, it's not about the money,'' said O'Connell. ''I really like Kyle. He's had some unfortunate luck with regard to injuries. But to trade a Kyle McLaren, I've got to get a Kyle McLaren back. How am I going to do that?''
Another of Abbott's clients - forward P.J. Axelsson - is up for renewal. Abbott said he is hoping he and the team can come to terms on a two-year agreement. He said he has put forth a proposal to O'Connell ... Abbott also said he would be open to the Bruins trying to lock up another of his clients - Sergei Samsonov - to a long-term deal prior to his contract expiring next summer. Samsonov and center Joe Thornton are two of the team's linchpins. Both have arbitration rights next year. Given the way the Bruins have done business in the past, it seems a long shot. ''I've not raised Sergei's name to them and they haven't raised it to me,'' said Abbott. ''If they ever wanted to talk about Sergei, I'd listen tomorrow.'' ... The Bruins have come to terms with goaltender John Grahame and defensemen Nick Boynton and Sean Brown on one-year contracts. They also signed free agent forward Michal Grosek to a one-year deal. O'Connell said he expects Grosek, who scored three goals in 15 games with the New York Rangers and 14 in 48 with Hartford of the AHL last year, to pot 15-20 this season ... O'Connell said the team is close to reaching a contract agreement with right wing Glen Murray, which would mean avoiding arbitration. Murray was the only Bruin who filed for a hearing.
COOZ