Bruins ship Kobasew to Wild; Lucic to LTIR

A lot of news coming out tonight folks. The Bruins have made two big announcements and here they are, courtesy of their official website.

BOSTON, MA – Boston Bruins General Manager Peter Chiarelli announced today that the club has acquired a second round draft choice in the 2011 NHL Entry Draft, the rights to unsigned draft choice Alexander Fallstrom and forward Craig Weller from the Minnesota Wild in exchange for forward Chuck Kobasew.

BOSTON, MA – Boston Bruins General Manager Peter Chiarelli announced today that the club has recalled forwards Guillaume Lefebvre, Brad Marchand and Vladimir Sobotka from the Providence Bruins and placed forward Milan Lucic on Long Term Injured Reserve. Lefebvre’s recall is on an emergency basis.

My take ~

Call me a psychic, but I saw this Kobasew trade coming. Kobasew has only one point in seven games this season, and has been always known as a streaky player. Peter Chiarelli has always liked consistency, and Kobasew couldn't seem to find any.

Another big factor with Kobasew was his salary. Kobasew makes, $2.33 million a season, and with the production he has been giving, is being severely overpaid.

The Bruins put Milan Lucic on Long Term Injured Reserve (LTIR) and with the rules of LTIR, Lucic will not be able to return until at least the November 12 game against Florida.

With Kobasew now gone, and Milan Lucic out for the next month, Boston has called up Lefebvre, Marchand and Sobotka to the varsity. Brad Marchand has been great for Providence so far this season, so I would expect Marchand to take Kobasew's spot on the third line.

Sobotka, of course has the most NHL experience with Boston and will likely get a look on the fourth line. Lefebvre played 11 minutes on the fourth line in Saturday night's loss against Phoenix, but isn't as good a player as Sobotka and Marchand.

One thing that may help Lefebvre is that he is a bruiser, and with Milan Lucic out, he may be needed to help Shawn Thornton in dropping the gloves.

One final note is that sources have told me that Dennis Wideman will be back in the Boston lineup for Wednesday's tilt against Nashville.

So, while one Bruin is out via trade, and another with an injury, it looks like one will be back in Wideman.

I'll try to get more tomorrow night, as I'm sure Peter Chiarelli will address the media tomorrow.