Matt Fraser is on waivers, along with Derek Roy
https://twitter.com/FriedgeHNIC/status/549250384112680960
https://twitter.com/FriedgeHNIC/status/549250384112680960
Fraser waived - claimed by Edmonton
- Thread starter PedroSpecialK
- Start date
Any thoughts as to why management is waiving Fraser? Just decided they had better options? Or the first of many dominoes to fall?
Probably just trying to get him to Providence, he's been basically useless all season. Caron/Fraser swap on the big club.
It speaks volumes about Claude that a guy known for his shot could not rise above the 4th line.
Or something like that. I don't know, I'm pissed off about this while stupid season.
Or something like that. I don't know, I'm pissed off about this while stupid season.
I don't know, I think they gave Fraser ample time to show something. The center he played the most minutes with was Soderberg (94 minutes of ES TOI) so it wasn't like he was with Campbell the whole time. He was given an opportunity and wasn't able to produce. He's an elite wrist shot but doesn't seem to have any other useful skill. Fraser can't create own shot, he's so/so along the boards and he doesn't help kill penalties. It he gets the puck i scoring position he can bury it but he doesn't seem to find those seams and open areas on the ice.
Edit: Fraser strikes me as a Chris Bourque type AAAA player.
Edit: Fraser strikes me as a Chris Bourque type AAAA player.
That seems about right with Fraser. One elite skill, but doesn't do enough of the other things to merit a regular spot on the roster. Maybe he can stick with another team or in another system - but one dimensional players never stay here for long and it would seem that's what they were trying to figure out with him.
cshea said:
I'm not sure of the waiver rules, can they pull him back or are they now going to lose one of the "assets" they got in the Seguin deal for nothing because they just had to get Jordan Caron back on the roster? Pete couldn't even get a low round pick for the guy knowing Edmonton was interested in him?
He's gone.
They didn't waive him to get Caron on the roster. If that was their single purpose they would've just sent Griffith down since he doesn't need waivers. They waived Fraser to gain roster flexibility. Unfortunately he was claimed, but that is the risk.
They didn't waive him to get Caron on the roster. If that was their single purpose they would've just sent Griffith down since he doesn't need waivers. They waived Fraser to gain roster flexibility. Unfortunately he was claimed, but that is the risk.
cshea said:
Am I the only one who thought Fraser sucked at literally everything but taking a shot? Good riddance. We don't need a a left handed Glen Murray (the later years) on the team. Frankly, Caron gives them more than Fraser, and I think Caron sucks too.
But what good is that flexibility when they need forwards more than ever with Bergeron and Lucic out now? I don't get it.cshea said:
TheRealness said:
I thought he was better than this. He was a perfectly fine AAAA type player who can play a bottom 6 role when needed. They just gave him away for literally nothing at a time when they aren't exactly stacked with healthy forwards. Doesn't make much sense to me.
The timing, in light of the Bergeron and Lucic injuries, is certainly curious. The only reason I can think of to waiving him yesterday was that they were hoping to sneak him through right after the roster freeze while teams may have an extra player or two around and unable to make the claim. My guess is that the Bruins were hoping to gain roster flexibility for any potential trades. If he had cleared then the Bruins would've been able to send him to Providence without waivers for a month. So if there was a trade that Chiarelli came across and they needed to gain some cap space in a hurry, he could've just sent Fraser down.The Four Peters said:
I'm starting to get really frustrated with this season. What a waste of an asset. You don't just give away 24 year old players for nothing to gain roster flexibility. He could have grown into a really useful bottom 6 guy that was inexpensive. If anything, they lost future roster flexibility.
There's got to be something more to this than we can see right now. If it really was to get Caron up - not the most efficient way to do so.
Does there though? Why can't the explanation simply be that Chiarelli just flat out fucked up? Let's not speculate on things we have no idea about. On the surface, this is a terrible mismanagement of assets.Reardons Beard said:
If there was some behind the scenes issue with Fraser, which I highly doubt is the case, then that says more about the Bruins than it does anything else.
One thing I overlooked was Simon Gagne still being on the roster. It is inexcusable to waive Fraser before Gagne. I feel bad for Gagne but that's a wasted spot on the roster right now. He would've cleared and they could have assigned him to Providence if he returns. They basically have the same contracts, so if my guess on roster flexibility is right, there's no reason to waive Fraser when you've got the Gagne's dead (pardon the use) roster spot and cap money.
I'd much rather have Fraser on this roster right now then Greg Campbell. At least Fraser may have grown into something. God forbid they move a couple of Claude's guys and actually make him incorporate some young players into what looks like a lost season. I'm starting to question whether we have the right GM/coach going forward to rebuild this thing. They won a cup and went to another finals, so they deserve the shot to rebuild over the next 2-3 years (the length of their contracts) but I have to say I'm not that optimistic at this point.
edit- Holy crap, I forgot Gagne was still on the roster as well. Terrible roster management. Just awful.
edit- Holy crap, I forgot Gagne was still on the roster as well. Terrible roster management. Just awful.
Salem's Lot said:
It's unfair to insinuate that the young guys, specifically Fraser, haven't been given a fair shot this year. Fraser has gotten ample opportunity on the 1st, 3rd, and 4th lines this year and basically done nothing outside of one game. Falling into the "Claude only plays veterans" tropes isn't accurate here.
That said, this is just a waste of an younger asset for no reason and I hate the move.
Let's not get carried away. They've been one of the top 3 coaching/GM duos in the league over the last several years. Down years happen. It's frustrating and there are definitely things to criticize (losing Fraser being one), but to judge them on half of a season where injuries have been the overarching storyline is a bit much.Salem's Lot said:
Let's see what they can do to turn this season around and how they end up at the end of the season.
The Four Peters said:
I don't think he fit well into a bottom 6 role, as to be productive he would need ice time consistent with what he got in the AHL. With his skill set, that's not happening. Add in he's not good in his own zone, skates like he's in cement, and is not exactly a physical presence, and I understand why he didn't have a place on the team.
Still, despite my anger at all things Bruins right now, I agree it's terrible management of an asset. You would think they could have at least tossed him in as a sweetner or something if they were ready to make a deal.
Lots of things going on with the Bruins right now that makes you scratch your head. It's getting to the point where even my overly optimistic self is starting to think this season is lost.
I'm not thrilled at losing Fraser, but I don't think he was ever:
a) a major component of the Seguin trade
b) going to pan out into anything beyond a Brandon Bochenski-type career at his absolute best
If by some miracle Magnus Paajarvi-Svensson - who was also waived today - manages to get to the B's I'd love to take a flier on him alongside fellow Swedes Söderberg/Eriksson in Fraser's stead.
For tonight, looks like Matt Lindblad is getting the call-up. If he is passable, I am hopeful but not optimistic that that puts the final nail in Campbell's coffin.
a) a major component of the Seguin trade
b) going to pan out into anything beyond a Brandon Bochenski-type career at his absolute best
If by some miracle Magnus Paajarvi-Svensson - who was also waived today - manages to get to the B's I'd love to take a flier on him alongside fellow Swedes Söderberg/Eriksson in Fraser's stead.
For tonight, looks like Matt Lindblad is getting the call-up. If he is passable, I am hopeful but not optimistic that that puts the final nail in Campbell's coffin.
Matt Fraser has 0 assists in 38 NHL games, despite playing with some pretty good players. That's pretty awful.
The only thing he's not poor at is shooting, and that skill hasn't really translated to the NHL. He's a tick above average at 10% for his career. I don't see what the big deal is, there are a handful of guys in Providence who would be at least as valuable to this team right now as Fraser.
The only thing he's not poor at is shooting, and that skill hasn't really translated to the NHL. He's a tick above average at 10% for his career. I don't see what the big deal is, there are a handful of guys in Providence who would be at least as valuable to this team right now as Fraser.