Boston Bruins 2023 Off-Season CAP, Trade Rumors and Free Agent Talk IX

[UncleRico]

The Bruins defense was also a flat out catastrophe. If you wanna say Linus bailed them out in those circumstances regular season but didn’t in the playoffs, that certainly is noteworthy.

But the defense was worse than had been all year. Playoff pressure forced truly full breakdown gaffes. The narrative that they were a regular season dynamo that didn’t fit playoff hockey, played out.

Ullmark was just as bad as the defense. What was it game 5 when the bruins were up 3-2 in the third and he allowed two 3rd period wrist shots from the point beat him.

He was allowing soft goals all series that’s just the most glaring off the top of my head

 

[Dr Quincy]

And don’t forget, the best playoff game the Bruins played this year was without Bergy and Kretch. Coyle took over that game.

Look, Lucic was brought in to be entertainment in a down year, but even if Bergy and Krejci are out, if the goalie tandem stays intact, I believe they still make the playoffs. I’m sure DS still lives under that mandate. If the old guys go, it’s 100% a soft transition year. Squeak in, get the playoff money, and clear some of the books.

This is true, but at the same time it's often ignored that FLA was without Ekblad and Duclair themselves.

 

[Trizz617]

With that lineup fight for a 8th spot finish me thinks .

I'm ok with it. Get in, and anything can and will happen...lol

 

[bme44]

I'm ok with it. Get in, and anything can and will happen...lol

I may be in the minority here, but I am okay with them not making the playoffs and trading off expiring contracts for assets for the future. At the trade dead line. We have been spoiled as Bruin fans. A year of regrouping to restock the cupboards is not the end of the world .

 

[Dennis Bonvie]

Ullmark was just as bad as the defense. What was it game 5 when the bruins were up 3-2 in the third and he allowed two 3rd period wrist shots from the point beat him.

He was allowing soft goals all series that’s just the most glaring off the top of my head

You really shouldn't post if you don't even know what game you are talking about.

 

[bbfan419]

I may be in the minority here, but I am okay with them not making the playoffs and trading off expiring contracts for assets for the future. At the trade dead line. We have been spoiled as Bruin fans. A year of regrouping to restock the cupboards is not the end of the world .

If it was not their Centennial year I could see them doing that, but I think they do everything they can to get into the playoffs, including adding again at the TDL if possible.

 

[Sevendust]

I may be in the minority here, but I am okay with them not making the playoffs and trading off expiring contracts for assets for the future. At the trade dead line. We have been spoiled as Bruin fans. A year of regrouping to restock the cupboards is not the end of the world .

This. I would love them to draft in the top 10 or with some lottery luck in the top 5. Try to draft an elite center prospect. Get some draft picks at the trade deadline and then make an splash in free agency with all the cap space. The season you are back in the mix and Detroit/Ottawa get the worse draft pick.

 

[Trizz617]

I may be in the minority here, but I am okay with them not making the playoffs and trading off expiring contracts for assets for the future. At the trade dead line. We have been spoiled as Bruin fans. A year of regrouping to restock the cupboards is not the end of the world .

I dont think that they'll be bad. With the goalie tandem, Pasta, Marchy, Mac et al, they'll be competitive at least.

Obviously, the huge question mark would be whether or not Bergy and/or Krejci returns and to what effectiveness. This team will be interesting to say the least. At the high end, a playoff team. At the "low", a 2015-2016 " retool" of sorts. I just dont envision a tank style with this group.

 

[JCRO]

The vast majority (myself included), thought they were going to struggle out of the gate last year while starting the season missing some key players. And they ended up more than handling their own.

Comparing them to the roster they had at the end of this past season is obviously going to leave you saying they're going to stink. But that roster was also a rare bird.

They'll make playoffs.

Dare I say- Book it?

 

[UncleRico]

You really shouldn't post if you don't even know what game you are talking about.

Sorry there were just so many soft goals by him that they kind of all blend together and I forget which games.

 

[GordonHowe]

Boqvist Signing Shores Up Bruins' Depth - The Hockey Writers Boston Bruins Latest News, Analysis & More

The Boston Bruins shored up their depth when signing forward Jesper Boqvist to a one-year contract worth $775,000.

thehockeywriters.com

 

[DKH]

I don’t get the Coyle hate. Anyone who has never listened to 1 second of Boston sports radio or ever belonged or had a twitter account I’d like to know what you see that is different from me

 

[Number8]

I don't get this rationale. First off I love Bergeron the player and all he has done for the Bruins and us fans. And I get that he's a team leader and a defensive force on the ice, but I'm sorry one single 38 year old player is not the difference between an easy playoff team and one fighting for a wildcard spot. It's not like missing a star QB in football or an ace pitcher in baseball

I'm sorry, but that is just a really bad take. If you think the addition or subtraction (UNLESS the back issue isn't healed) of Bergeron in his current state doesn't make a significant difference standings wise I don't know what to say.

If he's in the lineup we have options for trying different lines of a somewhat eclectic mix of players into lines that might work. If not we've got virtually none. That in and of itself is probably worth the point difference in question. Let alone the actual skills he still brings.

 

[DKH]

Yeah. And, probably, actually more knowledgeable than the people who like to very transparently let everyone know that they are cool for ironically liking him in some capacity.

Rarely, if ever, have seen a novel, independent take from any of them. But, codified leaning toward soft, social media analytics is definitely really smart, and reddit would frown upon having opinions about players based solely on watching them. Wouldn't want that lol

Lou might be the only one close to me in knowledge in sports. His departure following Glorydaze is a gut punch.

His loss will be felt

 

[Oates2Neely]

I don’t get the Coyle hate. Anyone who has never listened to 1 second of Boston sports radio or ever belonged or had a twitter account I’d like to know what you see that is different from me

It comes down to him being overpaid imo. 5.25m for 40 points isn’t ideal. What bothers me is he has the ability to be a force out there, but at times he chooses not to. He’s a great kid, defensively responsible, protects the puck well… but he just doesn’t leave it all on the ice enough. He’s like the Dodge Charger doing 60mph for 13 miles on I-93 in the high speed lane during morning rush hour traffic.

 

[JerseyBruin]

I'm sorry, but that is just a really bad take. If you think the addition or subtraction (UNLESS the back issue isn't healed) of Bergeron in his current state doesn't make a significant difference standings wise I don't know what to say.

If he's in the lineup we have options for trying different lines of a somewhat eclectic mix of players into lines that might work. If not we've got virtually none. That in and of itself is probably worth the point difference in question. Let alone the actual skills he still brings.

People said the same type of things when Chara wasn't resigned. At this point in time Bergy coming off yet another injury and at age 38 is not the same player. His leadership and defensive skill will be missed but even if he came back he really shouldn't be anything more than a 3LC . We can hold onto all the memories of the player he was but father time and injuries catch up to everyone especially in this sport.

 

[GordonHowe]

What's the _____?

McAvoy?
Pastrnak?
DiPietro?
Forbort?

I really like Rick DiPietro.

Whichever team ends up signing Mark Scheifele to a long-term extension that will kick in at 31 years old will regret it.

That Hertl contract won't age much better.

I think both are already too old to be considered long-term solutions to the Bruins center-ice position.

Lindholm is the best bet by far given his age and skill-set (strong two-way game that should age better). Even then, I'd have concerns long-term.

Has a team ever won a cup by going out an signing or trading for a 30-something year-old player to be their No.1 C?

100%

 

[Fenian24]

I don’t get the Coyle hate. Anyone who has never listened to 1 second of Boston sports radio or ever belonged or had a twitter account I’d like to know what you see that is different from me

An overpaid third line center. Not a bad player but nothing more than a non physical 3rd line center on a good team. If he is in your top 6 forwards you are in deep, deep trouble.

 

[MarchysNoseKnows]

It comes down to him being overpaid imo. 5.25m for 40 points isn’t ideal. What bothers me is he has the ability to be a force out there, but at times he chooses not to. He’s a great kid, defensively responsible, protects the puck well… but he just doesn’t leave it all on the ice enough. He’s like the Dodge Charger doing 60mph for 13 miles on I-93 in the high speed lane during morning rush hour traffic.

From a production standpoint, last year he was the 47th highest paid center and was 47th in points. Of course that includes ELC etc, but still not out of whack. Add in that he’s PK1 and his value isn’t far off from his cost at all. Not speaking to the muscle car analogy etc of course.

 

[GordonHowe]

I may be in the minority here, but I am okay with them not making the playoffs and trading off expiring contracts for assets for the future. At the trade dead line. We have been spoiled as Bruin fans. A year of regrouping to restock the cupboards is not the end of the world .

Yes, but the time to restock is next offseason, when they should have plenty of dough to spread around. That's when you'll see a significant restructure.

In the meantime, my expectations are modest.

I want to see the kids. Curious about the effectiveness of all 10 signings. It will be interesting to see how it shakes out.

 

[dugg133]

People said the same type of things when Chara wasn't resigned. At this point in time Bergy coming off yet another injury and at age 38 is not the same player. His leadership and defensive skill will be missed but even if he came back he really shouldn't be anything more than a 3LC . We can hold onto all the memories of the player he was but father time and injuries catch up to everyone especially in this sport.

I mean Bergy was still clearly our best center all year until that injury, while Chara was actively weighing down the top pair by the end. Not really the same situations.

 

[HustleB]

From a production standpoint, last year he was the 47th highest paid center and was 47th in points. Of course that includes ELC etc, but still not out of whack. Add in that he’s PK1 and his value isn’t far off from his cost at all. Not speaking to the muscle car analogy etc of course.

Additionally, he is powerful and hard to play against. He plays a responsible 200' game and he is good at the dot which all seems to imply that he is more than a fair value.

 

[GordonHowe]

It’s interesting that many here think the team is going to be awful but national media think they’re still excellent. The odds makers (who literally have everything to lose) also think they’re a top10 team.

Top ten is a bit much.

But, I think between the veteran, Geek Physique, depth signings, and Kids Incorporated, the B's will be a good to very good club that will make the playoffs.

If they don't, I'm okay with it.

I'm also keenly interested to see how Montgomery responds to what happened in R1, what he may have learned from the experience, and the adjustments he makes going forward.

There had better be adjustments.

As noted, at present, I actually believe JM is better suited to coaching a team that isn't loaded and expected to make a splash.

I would prefer to fly under the radar.

 

[Mainehockey33]

I’d rather have Hall for a few hundred thousand more than Coyle. I’m not even the biggest Hall fan but he was a lot better than Coyle in April. Sure if the cap doesn’t exist Coyle is fine.

 

[JerseyBruin]

I mean Bergy was still clearly our best center all year until that injury, while Chara was actively weighing down the top pair by the end. Not really the same situations.

Sure he was the top center on this Bruins team but its not like he was setting the world on fire . 11 of his 27 goals coming from specials(PP-9, SH-2) . That's certainly not 1st line C quality for most NHL teams.