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| | Monday, March 6 | ||||||
BOSTON -- At the end of Saturday's 3-0 loss to the Flyers, Bruins captain Ray Bourque skated over and picked up the game puck.
Bourque did not attend practice Sunday, and when the Bruins play
the Ottawa Senators tonight at the FleetCenter, he is not expected
to be in uniform.
Reports out of Boston say a trade involving Bourque could be announced as early as today. The NHL's trading deadline is March 14. ESPN's Al Morganti reported Sunday that the Bruins have given the Detroit Red Wings and Philadelphia Flyers lists of players they would accept in a trade for Bourque. A source told Morganti on Saturday that Bourque would approve a trade to either team. Bruins general manager Harry Sinden told WBZ-AM on Sunday that the 39-year-old perennial all-star attracted interest from several teams. But Sinden said it could take until the trading deadline, if a deal can be worked out at all. Sinden said he spoke with Bourque Sunday and advised him to stay out of Monday's lineup. "I just said it might be better if you don't (suit up)," Sinden said. "You have to really take into account injury, because he won't get what he wants, the team that wants him won't get what they want and we won't get anything, either." After spending his entire 21-year career with the Bruins without winning a Stanley Cup, Bourque would like to be traded to a contender for a chance at a championship. Boston is 19-29-17 and probably will miss the playoffs. Bourque, who will make $6 million this season, is in the last year of his contract and has not said if he will be back next season. After playing the Senators at the FleetCenter on Monday night, the Bruins begin a road trip and don't play at home again until after the trading deadline. The Boston Herald, citing a source it did not identify, reported Friday that Bourque "would welcome a trade" and that he will be dealt before the March 14 deadline. Bourque, his agent, Steve Freyer, and Bruins assistant general manager Mike O'Connell denied that Bourque wants out. "No decision has been made in that department yet," Bourque told the Herald after a 5-2 loss to Montreal on Thursday night. "Obviously when things go like this it's tough. It's not the way you want to end the season. You like to be in the dance. Right now we're outside looking in." O'Connell said the team has approached Bourque about staying around after he retires. But Bourque has always said he won't make any decisions until he is finished playing. O'Connell said he will assume Bourque wants to remain with the Bruins "unless Raymond states it's going to be different." If he changes his mind, O'Connell said, the team owes it to its biggest star to help. "I don't even want to comment on that, because it gives it a whole new life," O'Connell said. "But he's been an outstanding player, and role model."Information from The Associated Press was used in this report. | ALSO SEE B's fans wouldn't mind seeing Bourque raise Cup elsewhere Rumor central: Who's next? Flyers top Bruins as everybody wonders about Raymond Legends on the move  | ||||||
