Capitals Place Chris Bourque on Waivers

[caps87]

This makes no sense to me...

Chris Bourque was placed on waivers at noon, the team has confirmed. The move could give the Caps some salary cap flexibility if the winger is claimed.

If he is not claimed, Bourque will start the season with the Caps in Boston, Coach Bruce Boudreau said.

While Bourque making the team out of camp was an accomplishment for the 2004 second round draft pick, his long term future in Washington is anything but guaranteed with the team up against the salary cap and both Tomas Fleischmann and Eric Fehr due back from injuries in a matter of weeks.

Full

[chilly666]

there was a story somewhere about how the caps claimed to have told bourque if he didn't make the club, they would find another team for him in the nhl. this is just a move so when fehr or fleischmann come off ir that they can send bourque down (has to be within 30 days or else he has to clear again). if they can find him a team now great for both for stated reasons, if not then bourque is gonna go back to hershey which he doesn't want to do.

[caps05]

Originally Posted by chilly666

there was a story somewhere about how the caps claimed to have told bourque if he didn't make the club, they would find another team for him in the nhl. this is just a move so when fehr or fleischmann come off ir that they can send bourque down (has to be within 30 days or else he has to clear again). if they can find him a team now great for both for stated reasons, if not then bourque is gonna go back to hershey which he doesn't want to do.

I thought I read somewhere that Bourque refuted that story?

[chilly666]

i don't know, i never saw anything about him refuting it.

[caps05]

Originally Posted by chilly666

i don't know, i never saw anything about him refuting it.

From Tarik El-Bashir's (writer for the Washington Times) twitter account on September 20:

Chris Bourque, btw, denied a story in today's Boston Globe suggesting he's been told he'll be traded if he doesn't make the Caps' roster.

http://twitter.com/TarikElBashir/status/4127725464

[DaleHunter32]

i was a little thrown off by this as well.... thought he made it b/c flash was hurt (had no clue about fehr)

hopefully someone gives this kid a chance and scoops him off waivers

he came out of school way too soon IMO

[caps05]

Originally Posted by DaleHunter32

(had no clue about fehr)

Fehr had offseason surgery, but when I read that, no timetable had been given for his return.

[CapsFan99]

it would be cool to see Colorado or Bosten pick him up, so that he could play on the same team his dad used to play.

[LORDAL]

Rangers??

[caps87]

Here's an update.

Chris Bourque was placed on waivers earlier today because of salary-cap concerns, I'm told.

Bourque likely wouldn't have been waived had the Caps managed to move Michael Nylander as they had hoped. But that hasn't happened, and so the Caps must absorb his $4.875 million cap hit -- for now.

Because Nylander was not waived by noon, it's expected he'll be on the opening-night roster when it's submitted at 3 p.m. Wednesday.

"We'll see," GM George McPhee said of Nylander, who has two years remaining on his contract but has fallen out of favor with the coaching staff and management. "We're still working on things."

If Bourque is claimed, the Caps will not receive any compensation. If he clears, it's possible he could be assigned to Hershey of the American Hockey League and Nylander could be in the lineup for the opener Thursday in Boston because of the injuries to Tomas Fleischmann and Eric Fehr.

What is freeing up 500k or whatever he makes going to do to help us? I dont buy salary as the reason.

And Mcphee is an asshole. You tell the kid he makes it and now he's on waivers.