By Joe Haggerty
CSNNE.com Bruins InsiderFollow @hackswithhaggs
The Bruins have met with the agents for both Tomas Kaberle and Michael Ryder, and its been determined that both unrestricted free agents will be hitting the free market for the July 1 frenzy. Peter Chiarelli confirmed that both could land in greener NHL pastures if another hockey club emerges from the free agent pool and shoves a long term, high-dollar offer in front of thembut the Bruins GM didnt shut the door on either player potentially returning to the Black and Gold fold either.With Tomas Kaberle and with Michael Ryder were doing the same thing. We certainly havent parted ways, said Chiarelli during a Thursday conference call with reporters. Im wary of the market, where it stands right now and I said, Look guys, go out there and see whats going on and lets continue to talk. The risk that we run is that they will get a deal then they cant come back to us. I understand that risk. So thats where those two guys stand.It's a wise choice considering that the free agent market has already hit "ludicrous speed" before July 1 even officially arrived.There are a bevy of defensemen comparable to Kaberle that have received hefty offers in the last week including Montreals Andrei Markov and Carolinas Joni Pitkanen, and a 10-year deal for Christian Ehrhoff in Buffalo first reported on Thursday night. Theres a hesitancy from Chiarelli to get locked into a long-term deal with a player in Kaberlethat never truly seemed to fit in Boston, and it's certainly prudent to avoid spending the crazy money around July 1 that is getting tossed around.While its true Kaberle did have three points in the Stanley Cup Final and finished tied with Dennis Seidenberg for the Bs postseason lead among defensemen with 11 points, the 33-year-old also never managed to get beyond the third blueliner pairing during the final two playoff series in Bostons Cup run.Ryder could get a solid two or three year deal in a free agent market largely bereft of wingers, but its difficult to gauge given Ryder's inconsistent track record. The forwards solid playoff run after two straight lackluster regular seasons (less than 20 goals in each campaign) make determining his value more complicated.Its doubtful the Bs are willing to go three years with a winger that played like Tarzan for much of the postseason, but skated a little too much like Jane during the last two regular seasons.Chiarelli said that the Bruins would be cutting ties with 35-year-old defenseman Shane Hnidy after he signed on with the team for the last couple of months of the season and dressed for three games in the playoffs.Weve told Shane that we arent resigning him, said Chiarelli. I think hell be a good addition somewhere else and I told him that. And certainly Id help him along the way for that.
Joe Haggerty can be reached at jhaggerty@comcastsportsnet.com. Follow Joe on Twitter at http:twitter.comHackswithHaggs