Zac Rinaldo leads list of players on waivers before trade deadline
Boston Bruins forward Zac Rinaldo was the most intriguing name amongst a large group of players placed on waivers Sunday.
According to TSN’s Bob McKenzie, Colorado Avalanche backup goaltender Reto Berra ($1.45 million salary cap hit), Columbus Blue Jackets forward Rene Bourque ($3.33 million), San Jose Sharks forward Mike Brown ($1.2 million), Pittsburgh Penguins defenseman David Warsofsky ($600,000), Vancouver Canucks forward Adam Cracknell ($575,000) and Winnipeg Jets forward Adam Pardy ($1 million) were placed on waivers along with Rinaldo ($850,000).
General Fanager explained how putting players on waivers Sunday can save money for Monday’s trade deadline.
Busy waiver wire. For players loaned to AHL tomorrow, will save team equivalent of their cap hit in deadline space up to a max of $950,000.
— General Fanager (@generalfanager) February 28, 2016
In late June, the Bruins acquired Rinaldo from the Philadelphia Flyers for a 2017 third-round draft pick. After Boston traded for Rinaldo, general manager Don Sweeney praised the 25-year-old forward for his energy and believed he could insert a jolt into Boston’s lineup.
In the past, Rinaldo had problems with on-ice discipline.
“But he’s got a tremendous enthusiasm for the game, and speaking with him yesterday, (he) was very, very excited about being a member of the Boston Bruins and doing whatever he could to help us win,” Sweeney said. “So you guys are evaluating the prices paid and such, and the rest of us are evaluating the conversations we’re having and what those prices are going to be, so when you find a deal that you feel helps your hockey club, that’s what you’re trying to do.”
Rinaldo has mostly kept his nose clean this year. He hasn’t been suspended or fined in 51 games with the Bruins, though he did draw the ire of the Flyers after a big hit on Sean Couturier.
In 51 games played, Rinaldo has one goal and two assists.
Berra has played 14 games with Colorado this season, and has a 2.41 goal-against average and .922 save percentage. He’s been on a conditioning stint in the AHL, but this move could mean the team would rather stick with Calvin Pickard as the group’s backup to Semyon Varlamov following the conditioning period.
The 34-year-old Bourque has bounced around between the Montreal Canadiens, Anaheim Ducks and Blue Jackets the last several years. He’s averaged 10:37 of ice-time in 42 games this season, scoring three goals and adding three assists. In 2013-14 with the Habs, Bourque has 11 points in 17 postseason games, which the Blue Jackets hope could draw some attention for a team looking for veteran playoff depth.
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Josh Cooper is an editor for Puck Daddy on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at puckdaddyblog@yahoo.com or follow him on Twitter! Follow @joshuacooper
