Bruins GM mum on status of negotiations with RFAs Smith, Krug
Boston Bruins general manager Peter Chiarelli briefly held court at the rookie tournament at the Ford Ice Center outside Nashville on Sunday, and offered the following non-update on the status of negotiations with restricted free agents Reilly Smith and Torey Krug.
No resolution so far on Reilly Smith and Torey Krug. Chiarelli gave no indication whether either will be at camp on Thursday.
— Amalie Benjamin (@AmalieBenjamin) September 14, 2014
In other words, the young pair may or may not be signed prior to training camp, and it appears Smith missing part of the festivities is a real possibility.
If Smith is not in camp, Chiarelli said that might open things up for young guys to play higher up as they try out for the open spots.
— Amalie Benjamin (@AmalieBenjamin) September 14, 2014
Both players are coming off stellar first seasons in Boston, with Krug and Smith contributing 40 and 51 points respectively. Due to the nature of their entry-level deals, neither player is free to sign an offer sheet, although Krug is believed to have been offered a sizable deal from an unnamed KHL club.
Failing to report to camp is a viable but risky option, as it hinders both the players and the team.
Heading into training camp, the Bruins are over the salary cap ceiling, albeit with impending wiggle room with Marc Savard's contract soon eligible to be filed under long-term injured reserve. The situation is fueling rumors that a defenseman (i.e. Johnny Boychuk) may be traded at some point in the near future, and Chiarelli may be looking to make that move prior to signing Smith and Krug.