Here is some potential bad news for Mike Bales:  The Maine Mariners (AHL farm
team of the Boston Bruins) announced yesterday that they were "suspending
operations" due to financial reasons.  Seems their 5 year affiliation
with the Boston Bruins has just run out, and they lost an average of
$500,000 per year over that period.  This leaves the Boston Bruins without
a viable first level farm team (ie no place to put those promising
college players who need a little more seasoning to make the parent club).
 
It's not clear what the B's will do about this situation, though its hard
to beleive that they won't make a deal with SOME farm team for their players.