Boston Bruins 2023-24 Roster and Salary Cap Discussion VI

[Dizzay]

We don't have a pick in the first 3 rounds until 2025 and generally have one of the lowest ranked prospect pools in hockey, and yet somehow we're gonna trade for a top 4 defenseman, a top 6 center, and the exact type of bottom pair defenseman that typically gets overvalued at the deadline.

Glad to see we have reasonable expectations for Sweeney for the rest of the season lol.

Poitras/Beecher/Lysell/Merkulov/Lohrei/Harrison........nothing there eh? 3 of them have spent a decent amount of time in the NHL this season on the 2nd best team in the NHL, 1st place in the East. Just because some idiot writer says we have a poor prospect pool doesn't make them right.

p.s. I also had a bit of "fantasy" in my post so I wasn't exactly expecting it all to come true.

 

[Number8]

"I think the Bruins should still try Geekie, Frederic, and Heinen with Zacha and Pastrnak to" prove that it is:

HEI/ZAC/PAS
MAR/POI/GEE
van/COY/DeB
BEE/FRE/STE

a part of this is Frederic at center. of course Geekie can cover center while injuries get healed, but Beecher is almost treading ice in the middle of a strong stream -- he might need to ride the sides for the balance. Heinen and Frederic can play center. this team here and now should activate Frederic to lead a proper fourth line. ignore the bad press on Poitras -- he's fine, overall. is Zacha out?

HEI/GEE/PAS
MAR/POI/DeB
van/COY/STE
LAU/FRE/BEE

to get started on the change that needs to be made. and I think the target is planning to end the project with another team's Lindholm like

ZAC/___/PAS
MAR/POI/GEE
van/COY/DeB
HEI/FRE/STE

which I believe means offering from a pool of like Grzelcyk, Shattenkirk, Lohrei, Lauko, Zboril, Wotherspoon. the problem being that the cap math isn't there, leading to the whole DeBrusk discussion. if you go there, I'd want

ZAC/___/PAS
MAR/POI/GEE
van/COY/HEI
BEE/FRE/STE
LIN/CAR
LOH/McA
FOR/MIT
SWA
ULL

which all means that I think the team's real trade bait for getting that top star center is Grzelcyk, DeBrusk, Shattenkirk.

I love your posts. I do the Sunday NYT crossword puzzle religiously. It’s not easy, but I come back and read your posts, and then return to the NYT. All of a sudden it fits like a glove and I feel accomplished. And I thank you for that.

 

[Number8]

We don't have a pick in the first 3 rounds until 2025 and generally have one of the lowest ranked prospect pools in hockey, and yet somehow we're gonna trade for a top 4 defenseman, a top 6 center, and the exact type of bottom pair defenseman that typically gets overvalued at the deadline.

Glad to see we have reasonable expectations for Sweeney for the rest of the season lol.

You have no faith. Santa is older than dirt and not exactly svelte. Still each year he hauls his caboose into a sleigh, pulled by flying reindeers no less, and travels around the globe in one night. During that process he climbs down billions of chimneys and brings joy to children around the world.

If Santa can do it, then Sweeney can damn well man up and deliver. The world is too soft these days if you ask me.

 

[Ratty]

Back to the Waiver Wire for Vrana. Won't cost anything but $$$$.

 

[Hookslide]

Back to the Waiver Wire for Vrana. Won't cost anything but $$$$.

I have read most posts about this guy, lots of negativity centering around his effort and attitude, but positive on his offensive abilities, not so much his defense, Well, you know what they say sometimes, you need to hit rock bottom, before you rise up, at the right price and he is young enough maybe he is worth a chance.

 

[GordonHowe]

I think giving DeBrusk 7 million would be a huge mistake.

The Boston Bruins are not giving DeBrusk 7 million.

Someone else probably will, however.

 

[Number8]

The Boston Bruins are not giving DeBrusk 7 million.

Someone else probably will, however.

I like Jake. Seems like a nice kid and when he’s on, he’s super fun to watch.

However if the Bruins spend a chunk of their upcoming Cap relief (sounds so foreign to type that) by paying him$7M my head will explode.

 

[GordonHowe]

I think it has to do with the mental aspect of his game. Folks might be drawing a comparison to Lucic wanting to go to a team closer to home for reasons.

In my opinion, something is off with DeBrusk, and he seems to be fighting through something. Whether it's mental or physical, who knows, but at some point, the law of averages say he should get out of his slump soon. I think the questions surrounding his fit on the team, inconsistency, and future based on his contract are fair. It would be ideal if he starts showing he's the DeBrusk we all know because Zacha and Pastrnak can use that player on their line.

A salutary development for all involved. The goals will help the Bruins in season, and both management and Jake will benefit if his trade value rises.

I get the feeling that Jake will go elsewhere. Just a feeling.

 

[Gonzothe7thDman]

Can’t imagine Calgary moving their two best trade pieces to the same team without a crazy overpayment.

If they want to maximize assets they will most likely move them in separate deals.

Lindholm and Hanifin would have to force a deal to Boston.

Even then some teams may want to knowingly acquire them as only rentals and could outbid Boston at the deadline.

 

[neelynugs]

Back to the Waiver Wire for Vrana. Won't cost anything but $$$$.

i wouldn't count on boston picking him up. guy is a dog.

 

[The Andrew Peeke Fan]

I like Jake. Seems like a nice kid and when he’s on, he’s super fun to watch.

However if the Bruins spend a chunk of their upcoming Cap relief (sounds so foreign to type that) by paying him$7M my head will explode.

Something close to that won't look too bad in 2-3 seasons, I'd bet. Relative to the rest of the league and the money similar/comparable players will get, I mean.

 

[bruinmann77]

does any current Bruins know him?

 

[Number8]

Something close to that won't look too bad in 2-3 seasons, I'd bet. Relative to the rest of the league and the money similar/comparable players will get, I mean.

Maybe so, but I’d still counsel Sweeney to consider his spending very carefully. I just cannot see the current rendition of JDB being worth $7M.

 

[DKH]

Elias Lindholm has been brutal - hopefully it’s a Calgary thing

I would not do a sign and trade until I see him here

Huberdeau is Mac Jones level broken

i wouldn't count on boston picking him up. guy is a dog.

Hanifin a UFA in 5 months can’t see him signing with anyone knowing he’s going to be so highly sought

 

[Dizzay]

Can’t imagine Calgary moving their two best trade pieces to the same team without a crazy overpayment.

If they want to maximize assets they will most likely move them in separate deals.

Lindholm and Hanifin would have to force a deal to Boston.

Even then some teams may want to knowingly acquire them as only rentals and could outbid Boston at the deadline.

Hanifin has been rumored to want to sign in Boston. He's got a modified NTC for 8 teams.......you dont think he can Taylor Hall his way to Boston for cheap? Who's paying a kings ransom for a defender who wont sign there?

If rumors are true, Hanifin will be a Bruin by/before March.

 

[Gonzothe7thDman]

Hanifin has been rumored to want to sign in Boston. He's got a modified NTC for 8 teams.......you dont think he can Taylor Hall his way to Boston for cheap? Who's paying a kings ransom for a defender who wont sign there?

If rumors are true, Hanifin will be a Bruin by/before March.

Nobody has stated that a team will pay a kings ransom for a pure rental. Though teams have paid quite a bit for deadline pickups they opted not to re-sign.

If teams think Hanifin is the missing piece to a long playoff run they aren’t going to care about re-signing him and can easily outbid what Boston should pay.

Krejci was “rumored” to re-sign in Boston the same season he eventually took a year off to play overseas.

I’ll believe the rumors when pen is put to paper.

Though If Hanifin wants an 8 year deal from Boston he will need to be acquired before the trade deadline passes. If Sweeney wants him that bad he may be forced to spend assets we don’t really have to spend.

 

[Mr. Make-Believe]

Nobody has stated that a team will pay a kings ransom for a pure rental. Though teams have paid quite a bit for deadline pickups they opted not to re-sign.

If teams think Hanifin is the missing piece to a long playoff run they aren’t going to care about re-signing him and can easily outbid what Boston should pay.

Krejci was “rumored” to re-sign in Boston the same season he eventually took a year off to play overseas.

I’ll believe the rumors when pen is put to paper.

Though If Hanifin wants an 8 year deal from Boston he will need to be acquired before the trade deadline passes. If Sweeney wants him that bad he may be forced to spend assets we don’t really have to spend.

Could the Bruins not acquire him (likely) after the playoffs but before July 1 and then sign an 8 year extension?

 

[The Hockey Tonk Man]

i wouldn't count on boston picking him up. guy is a dog.

But....they can re-make the Czech line!

Zacha can cover for both Pasta/Vrana's defense lapses, yeah? hahah

If the B's were not in first I'd consider it as a flier, but def not needed at this point.
I'd say it's a ~20% chance he could work out here.

 

[quietbruinfan]

I have read most posts about this guy, lots of negativity centering around his effort and attitude, but positive on his offensive abilities, not so much his defense, Well, you know what they say sometimes, you need to hit rock bottom, before you rise up, at the right price and he is young enough maybe he is worth a chance.

He has excellent ability. I would even say he is a poor man's Pasta, but given his off-ice problems, they should not take the risk.

 

[Gonzothe7thDman]

Could the Bruins not acquire him (likely) after the playoffs but before July 1 and then sign an 8 year extension?

I believe to sign an 8 year deal you need to be on the teams roster prior to the passing of the previous season Trade Deadline.

@MarchysNoseKnows will correct me if I am wrong

Which if true could possibly be a reason he would go elsewhere even if he does prefer Boston. An extra 6-7m or whatever he signs for could be what sways him more than playing back home.

 

[MarchysNoseKnows]

I believe to sign an 8 year deal you need to be on the teams roster prior to the passing of the previous season Trade Deadline.

@MarchysNoseKnows will correct me if I am wrong

No you can trade rights before July 1 in order to negotiate a deal.

 

[GordonHowe]

I think the totals matter.

And his larger body of work still leaves you with question marks. So much that we’re projecting a return to normal just to struggle to 20 goals.

An extension should pay for what you expect his production to be going forward. And frankly, I’m not sure how his larger body of work allows for a prediction that one would expect to be reasonably accurate.

There you go.

The inconsistent scoring introduces unpredictability, which means risk.

At this point, I don't see the Bruins resigning Jake. They won't give him the money or term he will likely seek, and I doubt DeBrusk will lower his demands enough for Boston to reconsider.

Conjecture, but I think that's the way it will go.

 

[Gonzothe7thDman]

No you can trade rights before July 1 in order to negotiate a deal.

I thought the reason Tkachuk signed 8 years w/ Calgary and was then traded was because of him not being on FLA before the passing of the previous trade deadline

 

[ON3M4N]

Elias Lindholm has been brutal - hopefully it’s a Calgary thing

I would not do a sign and trade until I see him here

Huberdeau is Mac Jones level broken


Hanifin a UFA in 5 months can’t see him signing with anyone knowing he’s going to be so highly sought

I think its a CGY thing for Lindholm. That team from a P% perspective is trending down for 2nd straight season

CGY, MIN & PIT are 3 teams that continue to see declines in P% year over year. It looks like Lindholm's most common linemates are Mangiapane & Sharangovich. Both guys are in that mid-40 points range for production over the last 3 years.

 

[Gonzothe7thDman]

I thought the reason Tkachuk signed 8 years w/ Calgary and was then traded was because of him not being on FLA before the passing of the previous trade deadline