2017/18 edition Bruins that will not be back for next season....

[Root]

The way I'd like to see them look at things this summer is this...

Marsh - Bergeron - #1RW
#2LW - Krejci - Pastrnak
Vatrano - Backes - #3RW
Beleskey - Kuraly/Nash - Acciari

Chara - McAvoy
Krug - Carlo
#5D - C.Miller

Rask - #1bG

I'd let all of the UFA's walk. I liked them all to different degrees but you've got kids who can hopefully bring a little more life and drive to the team. So, candidates to fill the slots and roles listed above...

#1RW = In terms of style I think I'd like to see a power forward here. I feel like Marchand and Bergeron shoot more (and score more goals) when they play with heavy net front guy like Backes or even Connolly last year. I'm not sure there's an in-house option for this spot that's going to be ready next year either. Can DeBrusk play RW? It's probably not fair to expect Senyshyn to do it any sooner than 2 years but you never know. Sweeney has assets he could trade in Spooner and Colin Miller, I'd love to see him put his stamp on this team with a Wideman for Horton type deal and really solidify the identity he wants this team to play with.

#2LW = In my mind Cehlarik has the inside track here. He outscored DeBrusk in terms of points per game and he had fantastic chemistry with Krejci and Pasta.

#3RW = I think folks are forgetting about Czarnik, or at the very least, selling him short. He didn't have a very productive season but it was his first in the NHL. Reilly Smith came to the B's in a similar spot and folks didn't think anything of him either, then broke out in his second year. Another option would be to shift Vatrano to RW and look at DeBrusk. Bjork's a wild card here too.

#5D = The expansion draft makes this hard to predict. Does Vegas take Kevan Miller? Do they take Quaider? What if they pass on both and grab Morrow? I also think both O'Gara and Grzelcyk could be serviceable bottom pair guys next year and they're both lefties which fits well with Colin Miller.

#1bG = I really think they need someone who can play 30 games. Rask's become very inconsistent and whether that's because he's "tired" or "hurt" or whatever, I'm not crazy about Debby in that role. McIntyre has promise... He had a great year but he only played 30 games, is he ready? Is a competition between those two good enough to get it done or should they try to grab a Ryan Miller on a Recchi-like farewell contract?

I like your layout for the Offense. Ideally Beleskey would be traded this offseason but I think the Bruins will have a hard time moving that contract. I'd love to roll out a Cave/Blidh-Kuraly-Acciari fourth line but I also think Beleskey can bounce back next year (I'm in the minority on that).

One guy I would love to add is Brett Ritchie. I think he would fill a need and has potential to be a top 6 forward. He's had a slow start to his career but did score 16 goals last year. Dallas has a lot of needs, I'm sure a trade could be worked out. Start him on the third line but I could see him moving up.


Chara-Carlo
Krug-McQuaid
K. Miller-McAvoy

That's the defense I want to see next year. You can put those pairing in any order you want. I'm not sold on Colin Miller and wouldn't shed a tear if he wasn't with the Bruins next year.

The Bruins have been linked to Kulikov a couple times over the last two seasons. Would not be surprised to see them bring him in. He is a UFA, had a tough year injury wise. May be able to get him on short money. I'm not advocating it, but would not be surprised.

 

[bobbyorr04]

Not too long ago, people where saying similar things about K Miller, that his mistakes far outweigh his attributes. Not that they are similar players, but this was C Miller's first real season. Tough to make definitive judgement on a D so early. That being said, it's up to Vegas, if they take C Miller or McQuaid.

Agree.

I have a feeling the B's might regret losing C. Miller if they don't/can't protect him. IMO, his best years are yet to come, and I'd prefer they were with the Bruins.

If it's up to me I keep Kevan Miller, and although I've always liked McQuaid, I keep C. Miller over McQuaid only because of Quaider's injury history.

 

[dredeye]

Obviously gone

Liles
stafford (although if they move Belesky somehow I think he stays
Moore
Cross

Hopefully gone
Backes
Hayes
Belesky

Lose spot
Hayes

Vegas takes
C.miller (much prefer mcQuaid)

Surprised to be back
Spooner. Pretty sure he's gone at or before the draft

 

[WhalerTurnedBruin55]

I like your layout for the Offense. Ideally Beleskey would be traded this offseason but I think the Bruins will have a hard time moving that contract. I'd love to roll out a Cave/Blidh-Kuraly-Acciari fourth line but I also think Beleskey can bounce back next year (I'm in the minority on that).

One guy I would love to add is Brett Ritchie. I think he would fill a need and has potential to be a top 6 forward. He's had a slow start to his career but did score 16 goals last year. Dallas has a lot of needs, I'm sure a trade could be worked out. Start him on the third line but I could see him moving up.


Chara-Carlo
Krug-McQuaid
K. Miller-McAvoy

That's the defense I want to see next year. You can put those pairing in any order you want. I'm not sold on Colin Miller and wouldn't shed a tear if he wasn't with the Bruins next year.

The Bruins have been linked to Kulikov a couple times over the last two seasons. Would not be surprised to see them bring him in. He is a UFA, had a tough year injury wise. May be able to get him on short money. I'm not advocating it, but would not be surprised.

If McQuaid is in our goddam top 4 all season again... our defense is in trouble.

 

[chizzler]

Bruins can't add. They need to resign Pasta. They can get pluggers but nothing too big. They already have a few contracts that will be painfully pretty soon. They need the kids to plug those areas. The defense will be ok. McAvoys presence drops almost all defensemen down a position. They need more help on offense.

 

[laxdoc]

I don't get all these predictions that have Backes moving back to center. He was signed to be a right wing. He no longer possesses the skill set to be a high end center and he knows it. He demurred when asked earlier in the season about moving back to center, but it was clear that center is no longer in the cards for him. You don't pay 3C's six million. He will be on the wing next season.

 

[tboothman]

I don't get all these predictions that have Backes moving back to center. He was signed to be a right wing. He no longer possesses the skill set to be a high end center and he knows it. He demurred when asked earlier in the season about moving back to center, but it was clear that center is no longer in the cards for him. You don't pay 3C's six million. He will be on the wing next season.

Because he is a center. He can play right wing well but he is a great defensive center and could create one of the best trio of centers in the league. He doesn't have the speed that we need to fill in on the wings. He could also be a great mentor that could push guys like Vatrano, JFK, Kuraly to pick up their game next year.

 

[Greek_physique]

If McQuaid is in our goddam top 4 all season again... our defense is in trouble.

I dunno about that....I've always questioned him being a top 4; but this year he was easily a top 4 dman.

Considering our depth, he still would be a mainly used on the PK....Krug and him are an excellent pairing at even strength too.

Miller/McAvoy will still see a lot of ice time at 5 on 5; same with Chara/Carlo.

Its actually a nice thing to have going forward...if we somehow maintain McQuaid.