YES!RIFan said:The whole "gave out too many NMC's to marginal players" is way overplayed. Not all NMC's are the same. Most are modified that still give the team some ability to move the player. Typically, they'll have a full NMC for the 1st season or two and then be reduced to having the player submit a list of 6-8 teams they won't accept a trade to. I don't know of any case where they had something on the table and the player voided the deal. Maybe it's happened and been kept in house, but I doubt it.
Going into this year, 8 players had NMC's. Bergeron, Lucic, Marchand, Kelly, Krejci, Chara, Seidenberg and possibly Eriksson (if it wasn't voided during the trade). Chara is the only one who appears to have a full NMC with Bergeron's in force until the last 2 years of his deal. If there were deals to be had, they would find a way.
Can anyone name one player the Bruins have been stuck with because of a NMC?
Even a rumor of a guy they tried to move but the player was unwilling to waive a NMC?
Can't think of one instance, yet the caterwauling from the fans/Felgers on them is incessant.
If they aren't complete non-issues, they're damn close.
I get kicking Chiarelli for drafts, the Seguin trade, but the NMCs I will never understand.
Wish they gave Chiarelli another year, but looks like his fate was cast with Jacobs earlier comments.
Thanks for the Cup Peter! Flags fly forever.