Bruins Buy Out Schaefer's Contract, Kessel and Thomas invited to team USA camp

USA Hockey announced today that Boston Bruins goalie Tim Thomas and forward Phil Kessel have been invited to the Men’s Olympic Orientation Camp from August 17-19, 2009 at the Seven Bridges Ice Arena in Woodridge, Illinois. The camp is designed to assist in the preparation of the 2010 U.S. Olympic Men's Ice Hockey Team that will compete at the XXI Olympic Winter Games to be held from Feb. 12-28, 2010, in Vancouver, B.C.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Boston Bruins General Manager Peter Chiarelli just announced a couple of hours ago that the club has bought out the last year of forward Peter Schaefer’s contract.

Following the buyout, Schaefer becomes an unrestricted free agent and can sign with any other NHL team.

With Schaefer bought out, the Bruins will have to carry $566,667 toward their cap number in 2009-10 and 2010-11.

By my calculations Boston's current cap number is, $49,950,000. This number includes the following players.

Forwards:

Marc Savard, $5 million

Patrice Bergeron, $4.75 million

Michael Ryder, $4 million

David Krejci, $3.75 million

Marco Sturm, $3.5 million

Chuck Kobasew, $2,333,333 million

Glen Murray, $1,383,333 million (buyout)

Blake Wheeler, $875,000

Milan Lucic, $850,000

Peter Schaefer, $566,667 (buyout)

Shawn Thornton, $516,667

Defensemen:

Zdeno Chara, $7.5 million

Dennis Wideman, $3.875 million

Aaron Ward, $2.5 million

Andrew Ference, $1.4 million

Mark Stuart, $1.3 million

Goalies:

Tim Thomas, $5 million

Tuukka Rask, $850,000

The 2009-2010 NHL salary cap is set at $56.8 million. At the moment, Boston is $6.85 million under the cap.

Now how does Boston fill out their roster with $6.85 million? This number may spell the end for Phil Kessel in Boston.