Bruins, Turco Agree To Deal

The Bruins have agreed to terms with free agent goalie Marty Turco

With the "lower body injury" to Tuukka Rask, the Bruins were in clear need for goaltending help. They had called up Michael Hutchinson from AHL Providence to warm the bench during the game against the Rangers, but it was clear to all fans that Hutchinson isn't capable of filling in once or twice per week to give Thomas some rest.

So, Peter Chiarelli decided to look outside the organization for help. And by outside, I mean way outside. He and former Dallas goalie Marty Turco agreed to terms on a one year contract that won't become official until he clears waivers. If he clears waivers, that is. Turco had been playing for a European League team out in Austria, and there's a 50/50 chance, according to Chiarelli, that Turco clears waivers. According to Kevin Paul Dupont of The Boston Globe, two teams that may place a claim on Turco are Ottawa and Tampa Bay (Tiwtter Link).

Personally I would be surprised by an Ottawa claim. They recently recalled the recently acquired goaltender Ben Bishop from the AHL, and are likely to let him try and prove himself down the stretch before making any sort of move for a goalie. Tampa Bay would also be a bit surprising. They're more or less out of the playoff picture, and although Dwayne Roloson is a mere shadow of the goalie he was last year, making a short term move for yet another aging goalie would be a poor decision by Yzerman,

In any case, assuming Turco clears waivers and joins the Bruins, this is a strong addition by Chiarelli. Turco is aging, but he is still a year and a half younger than Thomas, he has a lot of previous NHL experience, despite his big flop year in Chicago, and he's ten times better than picking up some scrub out of the NCAA and praying he can fill in.

If Turco doesn't clear waivers and is indeed claimed by another team, Plan b for the Bruins is to give Hutchinson a start or two in the next couple of weeks until the organization's number 3 goalie, anton Khudobin, is healthy, at which point Hutchinson would be sent down and Khudobin called up to back up Thomas until Rask can return to the lineup.