Boston Bruins 2023-24 Roster and Salary Cap Discussion VII

[Sheppy]

How many times do we go back to the dance with Grzelcyk on defense? And at what point does it teeter on the edge of insanity?

 

[8thRoundPick]

How many times do we go back to the dance with Grzelcyk on defense? And at what point does it teeter on the edge of insanity?

I am curious to see what ends up unfolding here. Both Lohrei and Wotherspoon have looked like they belong, so we are going to have a real logjam on D.

I'm hoping we move Gryz for a forward. I'm expecting DS to trade Jake for Noah Hanifin and run with 9 D.

 

[BradMarchandismydad]

I want Travis Sanheim on the left side.

I will continue to scream into the ether about it.

 

[goldnblack]

Gryz can't be worth anything really in a deal. In a vacuum would you get a 3rd? Even that?

 

[Dizzay]

Trade Gryz for 2nd-3rd whatever you can get and get his cap off the books!
I 100% include Lohrei in a deal that makes us better this year and down the road, just not for a rental like Lindholm. I'm also not object to keeping Lohrei and hoping he's ready to ride shotgun with either McAvoy or Carlo next season and be a legit top 4 defender. This year is just an experience building season and I see him trending up there already.

 

[Dennis Bonvie]

I disagree with most of the board yet again. I don't love what I have seen from Poitras and would be very willing to move him. Same for Merk and even Lysell. Leave the draft pick out of it though.

So what is it that you don't love about the 19 year-old who's playing in the NHL?

 

[Dennis Bonvie]

It's the left D I keep feeling uneasy about for a playoff run.

Right being Charlie, Carlo, Shatty and now Wotherspoon...you have to feel amazing about that. Is there any NHL team with a better RD numbers 1 through 4?

The left though...Gryz and Lohrei I'm not excited about for playoff hockey. Forbort and Hampus have their work cut out. We need their best. I'd love a new body on the left.

Wotherspoon is a lefty.

He's probably better on the left side but can play either one.

 

[Dizzay]

To Boston: Jake Middleton + Patrick Maroon (3.25 million)
To Minny: Matt Gryzelcyk + Oscar Steen + Georgi Merkulov (4.4 not including Merkulov)

 

[NDiesel]

How many times do we go back to the dance with Grzelcyk on defense? And at what point does it teeter on the edge of insanity?

When he was on the 3rd pair they made it within one win of the cup. The issue is since that run he's been in the top 4 and it just hasn't worked in the playoffs.

Running it back with him on the 3rd pair could be plausible again with Shatty or Wotherspoon playing opposite of him, but given his UFA status it's probably smarter to trade him before the deadline.

 

[weaponomega]

I disagree with most of the board yet again. I don't love what I have seen from Poitras and would be very willing to move him. Same for Merk and even Lysell. Leave the draft pick out of it though.

From you that means these guys are actually all studs and we should hold on to them.

 

[Sheppy]

When he was on the 3rd pair they made it within one win of the cup. The issue is since that run he's been in the top 4 and it just hasn't worked in the playoffs.

Running it back with him on the 3rd pair could be plausible again with Shatty or Wotherspoon playing opposite of him, but given his UFA status it's probably smarter to trade him before the deadline.

That was also 5 years ago.

The Bruins defense is soft. He adds to that. The physicality on the back end has hindered them for a while now. I don't mind Grzelcyk being a 7th D-man, but he shouldn't be playing a regular shift.

 

[RoccoF14]

Gryz can't be worth anything really in a deal. In a vacuum would you get a 3rd? Even that?

This is exactly the point that the "trade Griz" crowd has a tendency to overlook.....

To use their description: He's a soft, under-sized, bottom pair to 7th D-man who gets exposed in the playoffs and who makes $4mil on an expiring contract. And yet we think we are going to be able to trade him for a 3rd rounder?

You wanna try to move Griz to upgrade our D-corps? Fine by me. Just don't expect him to bring a whole lot back in return.

 

[NDiesel]

That was also 5 years ago.

The Bruins defense is soft. He adds to that. The physicality on the back end has hindered them for a while now. I don't mind Grzelcyk being a 7th D-man, but he shouldn't be playing a regular shift.

Think it depends on his partner. Pairing him with a big bodied stay at home type allows Gryzs lack of physicality to not be exposed as much, and allows his partners lack of skating/puck moving to not be exposed.

But overall I tend to agree, I think Gryz is done here and would rather move on and see what this D corps can do without him.

 

[NDiesel]

Gryz can't be worth anything really in a deal. In a vacuum would you get a 3rd? Even that?

A 7th is better than losing him for nothing. A team lacking a PMD would surely give a 3 or 4 for him, or he can be used to even out cap space in a trade.

I just think if you have no plans to use him in the playoffs, like Monty last season, and you aren't re-signing him, why keep him over Lohrei or Wotherspoon? 3rd, 4th, 5th etc, is a nice consolation.

 

[JoeIsAStud]

This is exactly the point that the "trade Griz" crowd has a tendency to overlook.....

To use their description: He's a soft, bottom pair to 7th D-man who gets exposed in the playoffs and who makes $4mil on an expiring contract. And yet we think we are going to be able to trade him for a 3rd rounder?

You wanna try to move Griz to upgrade our D-corps? Fine by me. Just don't expect him to bring a whole lot back in return.

And I think some team would have given them a 2 or a 3 last offseason. I am not sure that is the case with the way he has played this year. Not sure we can wait for the deadline, but at the deadline a lot of really crappy Defensemen get moved for 2s and 3s.

that said i think they are now in a position where they have to make a move with Forbert coming back, and that move should be to move Gryz on to a new home

 

[Hookslide]

When he was on the 3rd pair they made it within one win of the cup. The issue is since that run he's been in the top 4 and it just hasn't worked in the playoffs.

Running it back with him on the 3rd pair could be plausible again with Shatty or Wotherspoon playing opposite of him, but given his UFA status it's probably smarter to trade him before the deadline.

Within one win of the cup was 5 years ago, move on........

 

[MarchysNoseKnows]

And I think some team would have given them a 2 or a 3 last offseason. I am not sure that is the case with the way he has played this year. Not sure we can wait for the deadline, but at the deadline a lot of really crappy Defensemen get moved for 2s and 3s.

that said i think they are now in a position where they have to make a move with Forbert coming back, and that move should be to move Gryz on to a new home

No one is making that kind of trade right now. Non contenders aren’t trading for a UFA and contenders don’t have cap.

 

[NDiesel]

Within one win of the cup was 5 years ago, move on........

Well thats literally the last time he played on the bottom pairing in the playoffs..

 

[HustleB]

Gryz can't be worth anything really in a deal. In a vacuum would you get a 3rd? Even that?

Not this year. That ship seems to have sailed. I’d be happy to take a low level AHL prospect if we didn’t have to sweeten the pot. I don’t hate Gryz but he has not been doing the things that make him valuable this year.

 

[CellyHard]

I would happily move Gryz for some picks but I’m not moving a single asset out until this Zegras thing gets sorted out.

This may be the only chance Sweeney gets to acquire a young top six center with 1st line caliber talent while his value is at its lowest.

Yes he has warts in his game like FO% and defensive play but it’s all coachable.

Kind of surprised there isn’t as much chatter about him honestly

 

[NDiesel]

I would happily move Gryz for some picks but I’m not moving a single asset out until this Zegras thing gets sorted out.

This may be the only chance Sweeney gets to acquire a young top six center with 1st line caliber talent while his value is at its lowest.

Yes he has warts in his game like FO% and defensive play but it’s all coachable.

Kind of surprised there isn’t as much chatter about him honestly

Personally I am not a fan of Zegras - both the player and personality. I think he has a lot of maturing left. .

 

[goldnblack]

A 7th is better than losing him for nothing. A team lacking a PMD would surely give a 3 or 4 for him, or he can be used to even out cap space in a trade.

I just think if you have no plans to use him in the playoffs, like Monty last season, and you aren't re-signing him, why keep him over Lohrei or Wotherspoon? 3rd, 4th, 5th etc, is a nice consolation.

But having him for a playoff run is better than a very late pick. This is the only math that matters.

 

[NDiesel]

But having him for a playoff run is better than a very late pick. This is the only math that matters.

Perhaps. Are you sticking to this if they are out in round 1? If they end up scratching Gryz again? I'd take the pick this year, but I get why you wouldn't.

 

[Hookslide]

I would happily move Gryz for some picks but I’m not moving a single asset out until this Zegras thing gets sorted out.

This may be the only chance Sweeney gets to acquire a young top six center with 1st line caliber talent while his value is at its lowest.

Yes he has warts in his game like FO% and defensive play but it’s all coachable.

Kind of surprised there isn’t as much chatter about him honestly

It is all coachable, but is the player ? Stay far away from this kid, drama not needed. Besides he is out the next 6 weeks, look elsewhere for improvements you can make.

 

[GordonHowe]

How do you think the defense would look after this deal? Wotherspoon has looked good, but I don't know if he could regularly handle top 4D minutes.

The Bruins are not going to trade Carlo, who has been their best defensman this season. Certainly not for Middleton.

To Boston: Jake Middleton + Patrick Maroon (3.25 million)
To Minny: Matt Gryzelcyk + Oscar Steen + Georgi Merkulov (4.4 not including Merkulov)

Believe it or not I would consider this.

And I think some team would have given them a 2 or a 3 last offseason. I am not sure that is the case with the way he has played this year. Not sure we can wait for the deadline, but at the deadline a lot of really crappy Defensemen get moved for 2s and 3s.

that said i think they are now in a position where they have to make a move with Forbert coming back, and that move should be to move Gryz on to a new home

That's what Swami sees, too.