Boston Bruins 2023-24 Roster and Salary Cap Discussion VII

[Dr Hook]

Wotherspoon is basically the same size, he’s an inch taller and weighs less. I guess it’s just a perception thing

And a playstyle thing, too. Mitchell is 6' 195 or thereabouts, but he looks like a small dman out there probably because of how he plays. Then again, that could be considered undersized in today's NHL for a defenseman.

 

[Gordoff]

Wotherspoon is basically the same size, he’s an inch taller and weighs less. I guess it’s just a perception thing

He's also way more physical than Gryz or Mitchell or even Carlo and Lindholm. IMO he's the 2nd most physical D-man we have to McAvoy.

 

[The don godfather]

Just throw a 6th round pick at most for a playoff drive. What el cheapo names are out there? Heck if nobody just sign Perry at 750 k and let's roll. I love bargains.

 

[MarchysNoseKnows]

The average NHL Defenseman is 6’1 3/4” and 202 pounds. Basically Charlie McAvoy (he’s listed at 6’1 209). So while it’s an average and not a median, pretty close to half of the defenseman in the NHL are smaller than Charlie McAvoy.

 

[CDJ]

Lindholm plays like he’s under-sized and he’s definitely soft. Orlov was a deadline trade, no?

Lindholm gets a minor for interference every night, he definitely doesn’t play soft. He doesn’t bang everything that moves or fight but he’s not afraid of contact at all. You don’t pace for over 80 PIM by playing small.

 

[HustleB]

Colageo: Boston Bruins Searching For Secret Sauce

Saturday night’s game pitting the Boston Bruins against the St. Louis Blues was odd in that it brought back very few memories of the teams’ 2019 Stanley Cup series. The heartache of a young generation of Boston fans was all but forgotten amidst cataclysmic changes to both squads. It actually...

bostonhockeynow.com

Unless the Boston Bruins are willing to trade Linus Ullmark to Minnesota for, say, Joel Eriksson-Ek or to Calgary for Elias Lindholm, they are going to have to continue improving their faceoff and puck-possession game with in-house, on-the-job development. Is impending free agent Jake DeBrusk a chip? Perhaps but not by himself to solidify the center position.

A center who can play a sturdy defensive game and win key, defensive-zone faceoffs would be welcome, but the belief here is that the Bruins are committed to their path.

The Boston Bruins need a physical, snarly, left shot to pair with Charlie McAvoy and ease the game for their do-it-all defenseman. They could also use a physical, snarly forward to inject some intimidation into the forecheck and distract if not discourage opponents’ puck retrievals.

The premise guiding any sense of confidence that such acquisitions can be made is based on a team out of the playoff race and probably in the Western Conference, presumably looking to get younger and willing to move established talent, especially if said target is nearing the end of his contract.

Minnesota defenseman Jake Middleton, 28, would make an excellent complement to McAvoy.

Middleton has one more year remaining after this one on a modest contract that earns him $2.45 million per season, then he’ll hit the open market after the 2024-25 season. Acquiring Middleton to skate in the top four opposite McAvoy would require serious compensation, as in Minnesota GM Bill Guerin needs a goalie.

By the way, where is Parker Wotherspoon’s ceiling? Chosen 112th overall by the N.Y. Islanders in the 2015 draft, Wotherspoon was the victim of a numbers game and at age 25 escaped AHL purgatory by signing a one-year, $775,000 deal with Boston. On July 1, he will be a restricted free agent with arbitration rights. According to CapFriendly.com, he is with Boston on emergency loan.

The 6-foot-1, 190-pound left shot has shown he can play either side of the ice. He skated nearly 19 minutes in St. Louis and is averaging over 17 minutes. Wotherspoon more than mitigates the loss of Connor Clifton and continues to show upside so that, when Brandon Carlo returns, he may gets some reps with McAvoy just to see what it looks like.

In the meantime, Derek Forbort is on LTIR with a lower-body injury that goes back to last season. His predecessor in the lanky, left-shot, penalty-killing role, Jarred Tinordi, is carrying a $1.2 million cap hit in his final year with Chicago. Another name to think about: Jan Rutta, the former Tampa Bay defenseman (now with San Jose) who has one more year remaining at $2.75M.

I await an email for Las Vegas bookmakers on which superstar will be first to sustain a season-changing injury because his team is skating him too many minutes.

Players who refused to take less money against the NHL’s flat cap are finding that their employers are looking to mitigate their resultant lack of roster depth by requiring their salaried superstars work longer nights.

Nathan MacKinnon is a joy to watch play hockey, but will his 23:01 ATOI catch up with him? What about the 27 minutes David Pastrnak played in Arizona? Is that a factor in his sloppy puck handling of late?
Would you package Matt Poitras with DeBrusk in order to pry away Elias Lindholm from Calgary? You’ve got to give to get.

Ed. Note: No Mick, I would not package Matt Poitras in any deal, at least as yet. JDB, yes.

I would not deal Poitras and DeBrusk for Lindholm. If it’s Lindholm and Hanifin that is a different story.

 

[Dr Quincy]

Has anybody outside of Murphy reported it and if not then why exactly are we giving it the time of day?

Yes.

Darren Dreger reported it. Murphy was just poaching Dreger after the fact.

 

[GordonHowe]

I would not deal Poitras and DeBrusk for Lindholm. If it’s Lindholm and Hanifin that is a different story.

I'm just saying I would not deal Matthew for anything at the moment.

To receive either Lindholm or Hanifin will require a good deal more than Jake Debrusk.

I hope the Bruins wait until the off-season to address the center position. They will have money, and they'll have time to make a judicious decision. They don't have enough of either in-season.

Two bangers, one on d, one up front. I keep saying it and I doubt it will happen but that's what they can do.

Bringing in another marginal scoring forward, ie Monahan, is not going to move the proverbial needle.

They don't need more bottom six players ala Danton Heinen -- who's been great -- to score a few more goals.

They don't need more of that. They need size, physicality and attitude. The latter two are almost entirely lacking at present.

But, leave it to Sweeney to go after SM or some other 29 year old tweener.

He did a great job prior to last season's deadline per the kind of player I'm talking about, but that has never been his M.O.

We'll see.

 

[Fenian24]

I would be happy with a deadline that sees Grizz gone and some young forward grit brought in. Unless Sweeney decides to go all in again and get a top line center, top 6 forward and top 4D I don't move Poitras , either goalie or Lohrei, which is where you start if you want impact players.

If he goes shopping for some depth scoring I would look at Vatrano who seems to have matured into a solid top 6 forward, Yanni Gourde, Sean Monahan or a similar Coyle level second or third line level forward. I still look for a Luke Kunin or Brandon Duhaime for some toughness up front. I would put any prospect except Poitras or Lohrei in play. Lysell and Merkulov I would put on the block for a forward signed for a couple more years.

Also if Nashville falls out of contention I would look at Tommy Novak among several players I like on that team.

 

[Ozzy Osbourne]

Lindholm gets a minor for interference every night, he definitely doesn’t play soft. He doesn’t bang everything that moves or fight but he’s not afraid of contact at all. You don’t pace for over 80 PIM by playing small.

Really? I’m not seeing any physicality at all from Lindholm, ever.

 

[Bruinswillwin77]

Lindholm gets a minor for interference every night, he definitely doesn’t play soft. He doesn’t bang everything that moves or fight but he’s not afraid of contact at all. You don’t pace for over 80 PIM by playing small.

He has the 2nd most PIM on the team with 44 PIM next to Marchand(47).

If you watch the games you can tell his penalties haven't been run-of-the-mill ones.

 

[Ozzy Osbourne]

He has the 2nd most PIM on the team with 44 PIM next to Marchand(47).

If you watch the games you can tell his penalties haven't been run-of-the-mill ones.

All I see from him are lazy holding and interference calls. When did that become a good thing? Virtually no physical play from such a big player and we applaud his minor penalty total. It’s called Bruins.

 

[chizzler]

All I see from him are lazy holding and interference calls. When did that become a good thing? Virtually no physical play from such a big player and we applaud his minor penalty total. It’s called Bruins.

It’s the same complaint from people on Pasta and Marchand. These guys are putting in tons of ice time with the shortened bench. They are getting gassed towards the end of these games. Monty is going to the short bench too soon and too often. It’s going to bite them in the ass.

 

[Bruinswillwin77]

All I see from him are lazy holding and interference calls. When did that become a good thing? Virtually no physical play from such a big player and we applaud his minor penalty total. It’s called Bruins.

I am agreeing with you. I was trying to find a list of penalties per player but I had no luck. I'm honestly curious how many of his penalties are stick checks or what. Obviously he doesn't believe in fighting after almost 700 gp with a giant 0 under his belt.

 

[Hookslide]

It’s the same complaint from people on Pasta and Marchand. These guys are putting in tons of ice time with the shortened bench. They are getting gassed towards the end of these games. Monty is going to the short bench too soon and too often. It’s going to bite them in the ass.

Solid post, you saved me the time.

 

[kdog82]

I would not move Poitras for Lindholm. No thank you.

What I would do is move Lohrei + Debrusk + 2025 1st for Hanifin and Elias Lindholm. Probably not enough but perhaps a basis of a deal.

Zacha-Lindholm-Pastrnak
Marchand-Coyle-Geekie/Poitras/JVR
Heinen-Poitras/Geekie-Frederic
mix of 4th line

Hanifin-Mcavoy
Lindholm-Carlo
Grzelcyk/Forbort-Shattenkirk/Wotherspoon

I might be missing a player but its early for me.

 

[Hookslide]

I would not move Poitras for Lindholm. No thank you.

What I would do is move Lohrei + Debrusk + 2025 1st for Hanifin and Elias Lindholm. Probably not enough but perhaps a basis of a deal.

Zacha-Lindholm-Pastrnak
Marchand-Coyle-Geekie/Poitras/JVR
Heinen-Poitras/Geekie-Frederic
mix of 4th line

Hanifin-Mcavoy
Lindholm-Carlo
Grzelcyk/Forbort-Shattenkirk/Wotherspoon

I might be missing a player but its early for me.

Pass on your deal, and I hope it is not enough, have no interest in Lindholm. I also would not give up a 1st for player you can get in July, at least those players.

 

[HustleB]

I'm just saying I would not deal Matthew for anything at the moment.

To receive either Lindholm or Hanifin will require a good deal more than Jake Debrusk.

I hope the Bruins wait until the off-season to address the center position. They will have money, and they'll have time to make a judicious decision. They don't have enough of either in-season.

Two bangers, one on d, one up front. I keep saying it and I doubt it will happen but that's what they can do.

Bringing in another marginal scoring forward, ie Monahan, is not going to move the proverbial needle.

They don't need more bottom six players ala Danton Heinen -- who's been great -- to score a few more goals.

They don't need more of that. They need size, physicality and attitude. The latter two are almost entirely lacking at present.

But, leave it to Sweeney to go after SM or some other 29 year old tweener.

He did a great job prior to last season's deadline per the kind of player I'm talking about, but that has never been his M.O.

We'll see.

For the most part I agree but I hate to set a hard bar. I certainly don’t see Poitras as a sure fire superstar. I like him very much but sometimes the trade market is a buyers market and if that’s the case this year then I’d love to take advantage.

 

[Hookslide]

For the most part I agree but I hate to set a hard bar. I certainly don’t see Poitras as a sure fire superstar. I like him very much but sometimes the trade market is a buyers market and if that’s the case this year then I’d love to take advantage.

I am not sold on the Bruins prospects as much as many Bruins fans, but I am not moving them just to take on a higher contract of 30 plus player. If you can get a established 25/26/27 year old like a Hanifan ,Chychrun like players then do it .

 

[CDJ]

All I see from him are lazy holding and interference calls. When did that become a good thing? Virtually no physical play from such a big player and we applaud his minor penalty total. It’s called Bruins.

You are acting like he’s scared of contact, he clearly isn’t. Minor penalties aren’t good but they pretty clearly show a guy who isn’t as soft or plays as small as you claim. You don’t get those penalties without seeking out contact. You act like he’s Gryz, it’s not even f***ing close. THATS a guy who plays soft and small and doesn’t like contact.

So again he’s not a hitter and certainly not a fighter, but he uses his size quite well to both rub people out of plays and to play defense overall. He does not play small. Thats just untrue.

 

[Dennis Bonvie]

Really? I’m not seeing any physicality at all from Lindholm, ever.

He's been more physical lately.

Was especially so in the Vegas game.

 

[Dennis Bonvie]

I am agreeing with you. I was trying to find a list of penalties per player but I had no luck. I'm honestly curious how many of his penalties are stick checks or what. Obviously he doesn't believe in fighting after almost 700 gp with a giant 0 under his belt.

Bruins defensemen have had one "fight" all season.

Wotherspoon being a punching bag for Maroon.

Last season they had a 4-time fighter in Clifton.

Lindholm is not alone.

 

[mar2kbos]

Unless you get some desperate and good value player Sweeney really needs to just stick with what he has and think about what the future of this team will look like. No more giving up picks. If some young guy like Lysell doesn’t fit into the new mold trade him before he has no value. I hope they go into the playoffs with what they got. The real build comes with more cap space next off season. Another words Sweeney needs to stick to his transition year. As much as I biatch game to game I am ok with the transition year. He spends draft capital on some middling six player at the deadline I am not going to be happy.

 

[Ozzy Osbourne]

You are acting like he’s scared of contact, he clearly isn’t. Minor penalties aren’t good but they pretty clearly show a guy who isn’t as soft or plays as small as you claim. You don’t get those penalties without seeking out contact. You act like he’s Gryz, it’s not even f***ing close. THATS a guy who plays soft and small and doesn’t like contact.

So again he’s not a hitter and certainly not a fighter, but he uses his size quite well to both rub people out of plays and to play defense overall. He does not play small. Thats just untrue.

That’s your opinion and that’s fine. He looks to avoid contact whenever possible in my opinion. Gryz takes it to a whole different level where he slows up just enough to let someone else take the puck. To me, he is clearly not an NHL player. For some reason his name is permanently carved into the lineup so we have to enjoy watching his constant fear.

 

[Dennis Bonvie]

That’s your opinion and that’s fine. He looks to avoid contact whenever possible in my opinion. Gryz takes it to a whole different level where he slows up just enough to let someone else take the puck. To me, he is clearly not an NHL player. For some reason his name is permanently carved into the lineup so we have to enjoy watching his constant fear.

Amazing take.