Wow what a crazy day in the NHL as free agency opened up with a bang! Trades and signings galore and money being thrown around like Pacman (I mean, "Adam") Jones just bought the Centerfolds franchise! But nothing, and I mean nothing, can top what the Boston media is sitting through as I write this. The Bruins called a impromptu but seemingly general briefing of the media via conference call. The call was set to begin at 6 PM and as of 7:45 PM, we are still waiting for GM Peter Chiarelli to speak to us.

The last update from their PR staff was that they were “awaiting word on a player to make a decision”. With many rumors connecting the Bruins to the highly coveted Marian Hossa since the trade deadline, the longer this has gone on, the more everyone has speculated that the announcement would be the Bruins had signed the Slovakian winger, but TSN has reported, as well as two sources to Murphy’s Law here that it isn’t Hossa. Those same two sources tell us Wade Redden was talking to Boston as is Michael Ryder, but Redden just signed with the Rangers.

Whoever it is, he better decide soon. I’m missing a Canada Day cookout in Dorchester, MA (transplanted Canadian friend of mine), and the music they’re playing on hold here has me feeling like I’m going through a painful root canal!

7:50 now!

Greetings again as we wait in conference call purgatory for Bruins GM Peter Chiarelli to hold a conference call originally scheduled for 6 PM. At least change the music guys! I’ve gone through like three root canals now! Still no word on who the player in question may be, but Ryder and Hossa continue to come in via texts!

Just a shout out to the posters on the Bruins page at HFBoards, without them, I would’ve dived head first into a bottle of Jameson’s by now! Simply priceless stuff and I spoke to Ian Moran guys and he says he’s staying retired!

8:07 now…

And the beat goes on! Except there’s no beat! Still the classical with a bit of cheesy jazz mixed in. Please conference call company, can we at least change the music? I’ve got some suggestions:

Maybe Henry Rollins, since I’ve got a bit of pent up frustration! Or Rage Against The Machine?

So nearly four hours into the Bruins Free Agency update conference call and no word on who “The Player” is that is trying to make a decision. Hearing maybe the Bruins could be involved a blockbuster trade, Dan Boyle? Or maybe numerous signings? Oh wait, is that Bruins PR man Matt Chmura… yes it is! Chiarelli to speak at 9:45 PM ET.

9:37 now…

No, Cam Neely isn’t coming out of retirement, and no, the Bruins didn’t keep the media and their fans hostage for over four hours to tell them that they signed one of this summer’s marquee free agents. Instead, those four hours were spent trying to re-convince Michael ("I was benched for the playoffs") Ryder that $4 million a year over three years was enough to play here.

When asked if those four hours were spent trying to make other signings or trades, Chiarelli again reiterated they weren’t and that it was just more convincing on their part that Ryder should come here. While this tired and frustrated scribe believes Ryder could regain his 30-goal form under his former Head Coach Claude Julien and possibly riding shotgun with Marc Savard, $4 million and four hours of classical music was just too much.

For Chiarelli’s sake and for the dedicated posters at HFBoards, here’s hoping Chiarelli was lying to me when he said that Ryder was the sole reason for the delay. He admitted that he was in the mix for a bigger name (we’re told it was definitely Hossa), but he backed off when he realized the offers this player was getting from other teams. According to Chiarelli, Ryder was No. 2 on his target list. Apparently, he didn’t notice Mats Sundin or Jaromir Jagr?

Well at least they got their second most coveted player, right? Meanwhile,I may start selling soundtracks for conference calls!

Goodnight at 10:51 PM