Bruins trade Kobasew, make roster moves

First the big news as forward Chuck Kobasew has been traded to the Minnesota Wild. In return the Bruins get a second round draft choice in the 2011 NHL Entry Draft, the rights to unsigned draft choice Alexander Fallstrom, and forward Craig Weller.

Some info about Fallstrom and Weller:

Fallstrom, selected in the fourth round (116th overall) of the 2009 NHL Entry Draft, began his freshman year at Harvard University in September, 2009. A native of Gothenburg, Sweden, he played for Brinken, Lindigo and Djurgarden in Sweden before moving to Minnesota where he attended Shattuck St. Mary's School from 2007-2009. A senior captain at Shattuck St. Mary's in 2008-09, Fallstrom led his team with 40 goals and 87 points (40-47=87) in 52 games. In his first season with Shattuck he had 67 points (20-47=67) in 62 games.

Weller, a fifth round selection of the St. Louis Blues in the 2000 NHL Entry Draft (167th overall), has played in 95 NHL games with the Phoenix Coyotes and Minnesota Wild and has 4-10=14 totals with 127 penalty minutes. This season, Weller has played five games for the Houston Aeros (AHL) and has one assist and seven penalty minutes. Last season, Weller played in 36 games for the Wild and earned 1-2=3 totals and 47 PIM's.
Source

I've seen Weller in some games when he played for the Phoenix Coyotes and Minnesota Wild and he's more of a fourth line player, somewhat like Byron Bitz but not with the offensive upside of Bitz. But Weller will fight more and is a more experienced fighter than Bitz.

The Bruins earlier today loaned forward Guillaume Lefebvre to the Providence Bruins (AHL) for a game today. But later tonight they recalled Lefebvre and also called up forwards Brad Marchand and Vladimir Sobotka. Also Milan Lucic was placed on the long term injured reserve with a broken finger. Hopefully Lucic's finger heals quickly and he can come back and play.

Krejci likely to play tonight

Good news for the Bruins and for tonight. David Krejci is expected to play in tonight's game vs the Washington Capitals.

Bruins coach Claude Julien on David Krejci:

"The official (decision) will be (today), but right now things are looking good," Julien said after practice yesterday. "He's feeling better and more confident. He's ahead of schedule and a lot of the credit has to go to two different (parties): Obviously him, with how hard he's worked at it; but also our trainers for how hard they've worked. Donnie (DelNegro) and Scott Waugh have done a tremendous job in rehabilitating him and putting him ahead of schedule."
Source

The lines for tonight's game seem to probably look like:

1st line:
C - Marc Savard
LW - Milan Lucic
RW - Marco Sturm

2nd line:
C - David Krejci
LW - Blake Wheeler
RW - Michael Ryder

3rd line:
C - Patrice Bergeron
LW - Mark Recchi
RW - Chuck Kobasew

4th line:
C - Steve Begin
LW - Shawn Thornton
RW - Byron Bitz

G - Tim Thomas

Recent roster moves by the Bruins
On Saturday, the Bruins the following players were waived to go to Providence (AHL): Drew Fata, Drew Larman, Guillaume Lefebvre, Dany Sabourin, Trent Whitfield and Andy Wozniewski. None were claimed so they will be with the Providence Bruins. Mikko Lehtonen, Jeff LoVecchio and Adam McQuaid have also been assigned to Providence (AHL); and Kirk MacDonald has been returned to Providence.

On Monday, the Bruins sent forwards Zach Hamill and Brad Marchand to the Providence Bruins (AHL).

On Wednesday, forward Vladimir Sobotka was sent to Providence (AHL).

Bruins send Lehtonen to Providence

Today the Bruins sent forward Mikko Lehtonen to the Providence Bruins (AHL).

Lehtonen earned his first career recall on Friday, April 10 and made his NHL debut on Saturday, April 11 during the Bruins’ loss to Buffalo. He was a healthy scratch during Boston's regular season finale against the Islanders on Sunday, April 12.
Source

Update on 4/15 @ 5:08 PM
On Tuesday the Bruins assigned forward Vladimir Sobotka to Providence (AHL).

Bruins recall Mikko Lehtonen

On Thursday the Bruins recalled forward Vladimir Sobotka on an emergency basis from the Providence Bruins (AHL). He did not play against the Canadiens on Thursday though.

Today the Bruins recalled forward Mikko Lehtonen from the Providence Bruins (AHL) on an emergency basis.

This is Lehtonen's first career recall to the NHL. He is expected to join the Boston Bruins today and accompany the team on their two game road trip to Buffalo and Long Island this weekend.

Lehtonen was the P-Bruins' leading goal scorer this year after potting 28 goals in 72 games. His 10 power play strikes ranked tied for first and his 53 total points were the fourth most on the squad. 2008-2009 was the first professional season for the 6'3" 196-pound winger from Espoo, Finland, as he played the last four years with the Blues of the Finnish Elite League.

The 22-year-old Lehtonen was originally drafted by the Bruins in the third round (83rd overall) of the 2005 NHL Entry Draft.
Source

Bruins news & Bruins All-Stars

On Thursday, the Bruins sent forwards Vladimir Sobotka and Martin St. Pierre, and defenseman Matt Lashoff to the Providence Bruins (AHL).

All-Star weekend news:

The Boston Bruins return to action after the NHL All-Star Break on Tuesday, January 27th when they host the Washington Capitals at 7:00 p.m. ET. Five Bruins will participate in this weekend's NHL All-Star festivities, with Zdeno Chara, Marc Savard and Tim Thomas suiting up for the Eastern Conference All-Stars, head coach Claude Julien coaching the Eastern Conference All-Stars and rookie Blake Wheeler participating in the 2009 YoungStars game. Milan Lucic was selected to play in the YoungStars game but he will be unable to participate due to injury. The All-Star festivities will be televised nationally in the U.S. on VERSUS on Saturday, January 24 at 7:00 p.m. ET (SuperSkills Competition) and Sunday, January 25 at 6:00 p.m. ET (All-Star Game).

Source

Sturm update and roster moves

On Tuesday it was announced that Bruins forward Marco Sturm underwent successful surgery to repair his meniscus and anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) in his left knee, which will force Sturm to miss the rest of the 2008-2009 NHL season.

Other roster moves that were made was: the Bruins recalled defenseman Matt Lashoff from the Providence Bruins (AHL) on an emergency basis. They also assigned goalie Tuukka Rask to the Providence Bruins (AHL).

Today the Bruins recalled forward Vladimir Sobotka from the Providence Bruins (AHL) and assigned forward Martins Karsums to the Providence Bruins (AHL).

Sobotka and St. Pierre sent down

Today the Bruins sent forwards Vladimir Sobotka and Martin St. Pierre down to the Providence Bruins (AHL). The Bruins host the Carolina Hurricanes on Saturday and I would expect both players to be recalled for that game.

In other Bruins news, Zdeno Chara, Marc Savard, and Tim Thomas have been named to the Eastern Conference All-Star roster for the 2009 NHL All-Star game. This will be Chara's fourth All-Star appearance, Savard's second All-Star appearance, and Thomas's second All-Star appearance as well. Congrats to all three.

Vladimir Sobotka recalled on emergency basis

Today the Bruins recalled forward Vladimir Sobotka on an emergency basis from the Providence Bruins (AHL). In last night's game vs the Lightning, forward Stephane Yelle collided with a linesman and was seen going off the ice slowly, so I'm assuming Yelle is injured and Sobotka will be taking his place.

The next Bruins game is on Wednesday vs Alex Ovechkin and the Washington Capitals at 7pm EST.

Update on 12/11 @ 4:05pm

Stephane Yelle appears to not be injured as he played last night in the loss against the Washington Capitals.

Bruins recall Sobotka and Hunwick

Today the Bruins recalled forward Vladimir Sobotka and defenseman Matt Hunwick from the Providence Bruins (AHL). Sobotka has two goals and two assists in two games with the Providence Bruins this season. Hunwick has two assists in two games with the Providence Bruins this season. They both will travel to Montreal for the Bruins next game. Not sure if they will play though.

Bruins recall Vladimir Sobotka

With Milan Lucic not going to play tonight, I believe because of precautionary reasons for the hit he took yesterday from Bryan Berard, have recalled center Vladimir Sobotka from the Providence Bruins (AHL).

More on Sobotka (source):

Sobotka, 20 years old, was assigned to Providence on September 23 and has played in 15 games for the P-Bruins. In this, his first AHL campaign, he has tallied seven goals, seven assists and a +/- rating of +10. A native of Trebic, Czech Republic, Sobotka was Boston's fifth pick in the 2005 NHL Entry Draft (106th overall).