Nov 7, 2013; Detroit, MI, USA; Dallas Stars defenseman Stephane Robidas (3) skates with the puck against the Detroit Red Wings at Joe Louis Arena. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports
Robidas: One of the Bruins’ Better Possibilities
We have more news linking the Boston Bruins’ trade hopes to a specific veteran defenseman around the league.
According to CSNNE’s Joe Haggerty, Dallas Stars‘ defender Stephane Robidas has the potential of becoming a Bruin before the trade deadline passes.
Spoke to one NHL exec that said Dallas will be moving Stephane Robidas before deadline & "would be a perfect fit for Bruins." #BruinsTalk
— Joe Haggerty (@HackswithHaggs) March 4, 2014
Looking back at many of the other Bruins’ trade rumors, this particular speculation about Robidas may bear the most validity. He truly fits the hard-edged veteran mold that the Bruins are seeking in a deadline acquisition.
Andrew MacDonald, another viable prospect for the B’s, could also hit the market right now after the New York Islanders‘ defense relinquished a two-goal advantage to the Florida Panthers yesterday.
Which one of these two players has a greater chance of landing in Beantown, though?
You really have to examine each teams’ interests to come up with an answer to this question.
From the Islanders and Stars’ standpoint, they are looking to survive financially and possibly gain a valuable prospect or draft pick out of one of their experienced defensemen. According to CapGeek.com, Robidas’ cap hit is listed around $3 million dollars. MacDonald, on the other hand, is a cheaper $550,000 loss.
Robidas salary is much higher, but we can assume that he will accept a low salary based on his old age. McDonald is only 29 years old, while Robidas is aged 37.
Think about what the Stars’ D-man can carry over to the Bruins vs. MacDonald. Robidas is a reliable passer capable of knifing accurate zippers into the neutral zone. That’s really what the Bruins defense needs: a player who can limit turnovers and take care of the puck. Sure, Boston’s young defenders–Torey Krug and Matt Bartkowski to name a couple–have been trying their best to overcome classic amateur mistakes. Unfortunately, they haven’t shown firm consistency following the Olympic break.
Robidas will carry a dependable, seasoned attitude over to Boston. When healthy, he has proved his worth to his squad. NHL.com statistics show that for all 24 regular season appearances this year, Robidas has tallied a commendable +12 plus-minus ratio.
Although it’s understood that Robidas is coming off of a difficult broken leg injury, Mike Heika of the Dallas Daily News stated a report that the veteran Canadian is recovering exceptionally well from this issue.
The glaring difference between the two defensemen lies in the fact that the 13-year professional doesn’t produce on offensive side (only four goals) very often.
Even though MacDonald hasn’t performed up to his usual benchmarks, holding a career-worst -19 plus-minus ratio, he possesses a fair amount of assists (20) and is clearly more effective than Dallas’ man on the offensive end.
When push comes to shove, Chiarelli will add a D-man in the context of their price, experience and defensive acumen. A well-rounded defender isn’t necessarily the goal here. The Bruins’ general manager specified that he wouldn’t be open to ridding his team of a first-round draft pick for MacDonald. Haggerty explained a few days ago that Islanders GM Garth Snow was pushing this certain avenue.
Robidas will surely arrive to the B’s on simpler terms than MacDonald. In any event, both men will surely fill Boston’s veteran gap.
Update as of March 4: According to multiple sources, Robidas was acquired by the Anaheim Ducks for a fourth-round draft pick.