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

[Mr. Make-Believe]

Where did I criticize? Yzerman lit it up by going against the grain with his later round picks and it paid off. But he started with 1OA Stamkos and 2OA Hedman before he took the job. Not a bad couple guys to inherit on a rebuild. He didn’t draft either of them.

Every GM is a mixed bag. But given a long enough timeline, the only way one would consider Sweeney as anything but a very good GM is to ignore what other GMs have done over the same time period.

So I’ll ask - other than Yzerman and Sakic - which is hilarious for all the heat he took until they won but ok - what GMs do you think have done a better job?

Dude, you said Yzerman had a horseshoe up his ass (otherwise known as drafting well). You mention him already having Hedman and Stamkos, while completely ignoring what Sweeney inherited when HE took over. And then said "how's that young group coming along?" And you don't know where you criticized?

 

[MarchysNoseKnows]

Yzerman’s first draft pick? Brett Connolly at 6OA.

He then went Namestikov in 11. Slater freaking Koekkoek at 10 in 2012. Then Drouin at 3, Tony DeAngelo at 19. His first round picks after that are Brett Howden, Cal Foote and Nolan Foote. Those are the first rounders Yzerman drafted in Tampa except…Vasilevsky at 19 in 2012. Keep in mind he drafted Slater Koekkoek at 10 in the same draft.

It’s incredibly impressive that Yzerman took Vasi (the story has been told and Yzerman earned that one). Point couldn’t skate if you can believe it - and Yzerman saw through it and got him at 79. Kucherov was a complete wildcard and is probably the weirdest person in the NHL, but Yzerman took him at 58.

Since then…Cirelli in the 3rd and Colton in the fourth was excellent. Got Perbix in the 6th. But that’s it. And in Detroit other than reaching for Seider, he hasn’t gotten any pick approaching any of those.

Great GM, best of the last decade, and it’s not particularly close. But his draft history is terrible early, great for four years late, and then nothing since 2015.

 

[RHR37]

Sweeney is a top 5 GM in the league and everyone knows it except Bruins fans. Go look at what these other teams have done to put it in perspective. Especially the last 5 years.

Based on?

 

[BlackFrancis]

They will get in and hope linus turns into the hulk.

This gets overlooked often. The league saw Shesterkin have an absolutely mental season just couple years ago. Borderline historic. Ullmark topped it. Until he got hurt in game #81, he put up the most dominant goaltending season I've witnessed.

It doesn't always click when the playoffs roll around, but if a goalie like that goes nuts in the playoffs, we all know it can go a long way.

 

[UncleRico]

Sweeney is a top 5 GM in the league and everyone knows it except Bruins fans. Go look at what these other teams have done to put it in perspective. Especially the last 5 years.

So of the 6 GMs to win cups while Sweeney has been GM of the bruins, which two is he better than?

Also there are only 3 GMs tenured longer than Sweeney who currently don’t have a cup. Time is ticking.

 

[BlackFrancis]

So…Yzerman but only when he was in Tampa? Brisebois but doing it with Yzerman’s guys? You’re left with…Sakic. Or someone tell me who else.

That hydra they've got running things in Carolina are doing quality work. Every draft, I find myself damning them for picking players I believe are quality. And if I've got the feel of things right, they make their valuations on potential acquisitions and stick with them. Might lead to rigidity (passing on the deadline), but if they finally figure out how much coaches matter in that league, the potential is there to be King Kong for a spell.

 

[MarchysNoseKnows]

So of the 6 GMs to win cups while Sweeney has been GM of the bruins, which two is he better than?

Also there are only 3 GMs tenured longer than Sweeney who currently don’t have a cup. Time is ticking.

“Time is ticking”

Get over yourself.

I already did a paean to Yzerman. I’m not going to give a tongue bath to MacLellan (could people have named him without looking?) or Armstrong. Vegas is more egregious than Tampa with what they did with the cap but ok can’t argue. You can have McCrimmon.

Who drafted Crosby and Malkin? Who are you giving Pittsburgh to?

And then Sakic.

Who else?

 

[Gordoff]

Bruins Announce New Numbers​

The Bruins also announced new numbers for several players for the 2023-24 season. These players include offseason additions and prospects. They are as followed:

• Mason Lohrei, No. 6
• Ian Mitchell, No. 14
• Jayson Megna, No. 20
• Fabian Lysell, No. 23
• Parker Wotherspoon, No. 29
• Brandon Bussi, No. 30
• Jesper Boqvist, No. 70
• Alec Regula, No. 75
• Anthony Richard, No. 90

Bruins News & Rumors: Krejci, Forbort, Geekie, New Numbers - The Hockey Writers Boston Bruins Latest News, Analysis & More

David Krejci's retirement announcement could be coming soon, while Derek Forbort is standing out as a trade candidate for the Boston Bruins.

thehockeywriters.com

No news on Geekie's number? Is he sticking with 67? I feel like 6, 19, and 67 are kinda "iffy" numbers for Bruins players.

 

[PB37]

Dude, you said Yzerman had a horseshoe up his ass (otherwise known as drafting well). You mention him already having Hedman and Stamkos, while completely ignoring what Sweeney inherited when HE took over. And then said "how's that young group coming along?" And you don't know where you criticized?

It's hard to separate Sweeney from the players that were already on the roster when he became GM because he was a part of the brain trust that brought them in. Hedman and Stamkos were both on the Lightning before Yzerman was the in the organization.

And let's face it, a part of drafting well is having a horseshoe up your ass. Yzerman got lucky with some of his player selections in the two years the Lightning weren't a playoff team, but he also made some astute signings to help build their future championship core.

No news on Geekie's number? Is he sticking with 67? I feel like 6, 19, and 67 are kinda "iffy" numbers for Bruins players.

Unless Zboril is gone or changed his number, Geekie is going to have to wear something new.

 

[KrugAvoy]

No news on Geekie's number? Is he sticking with 67? I feel like 6, 19, and 67 are kinda "iffy" numbers for Bruins players.

Geekie is 39

 

[Gordoff]

Geekie is 39

View attachment 734070

Ah thanks, I hadn't seen it listed anywhere. If we squint really really hard maybe he'll look like Patrice.

 

[Bruinswillwin77]

Geekie is 39

View attachment 734070

Matt Beleskey's old #!

 

[quietbruinfan]

It's hard to separate Sweeney from the players that were already on the roster when he became GM because he was a part of the brain trust that brought them in. Hedman and Stamkos were both on the Lightning before Yzerman was the in the organization.

And let's face it, a part of drafting well is having a horseshoe up your ass. Yzerman got lucky with some of his player selections in the two years the Lightning weren't a playoff team, but he also made some astute signings to help build their future championship core.



Unless Zboril is gone or changed his number, Geekie is going to have to wear something new.

What's that you say? I am glad there is yet another reason to ditch Zboril.

 

[The don godfather]

I feel merkulov makes the team book it.

 

[BruinsFanSince94]

I feel merkulov makes the team book it.

When you book everything, it loses its value. Significantly.

 

[RiverbottomChuck]

When you book everything, it loses its value. Significantly.

If you sling every turd against the wall you eventually just have a wall covered in turds.

 

[JayMark]

When you book everything, it loses its value. Significantly.

and you can book that statement.

 

[Mainehockey33]

and you can book that statement.

Does that make it a double negative? Merkulov is the new 1C.

 

[DominicT]

“Could be…”

LOL

In fairness to Mark, that "rumor" came out the day before and he's just jumping on the bandwagon.

I have no idea what is going to happen with Krejci. But here is DK46's own words just a day before coming back for McAvoy's wedding:

"I don't think I'm going to 99 percent start the season anywhere. In the NHL, in the Czech Republic, not even in Europe. If it takes me until Christmas to decide, it will be until Christmas. Of course, I will maintain myself so that a few weeks or a month is enough for me if I decide to jump in,"

 

[TCB]

With Karlsson going to Pittsburgh, its made the challenge for the Bruins making the playoffs that much harder. I see it as a 9 team fight but Buffalo and the Islanders could make it more interesting. I think the Bruins will make it, but it'll be a dog fight.

Tampa
Toronto
Florida
Ottawa
Boston
Carolina
Jersey
Rangers
Penguins

 

[TCB]

In fairness to Mark, that "rumor" came out the day before and he's just jumping on the bandwagon.

I have no idea what is going to happen with Krejci. But here is DK46's own words just a day before coming back for McAvoy's wedding:

"I don't think I'm going to 99 percent start the season anywhere. In the NHL, in the Czech Republic, not even in Europe. If it takes me until Christmas to decide, it will be until Christmas. Of course, I will maintain myself so that a few weeks or a month is enough for me if I decide to jump in,"

Sounds like Kreech is ready to join the Bruins sometime in the year 2024, hopefully just before the trade deadline.

 

[Mainehockey33]

Sounds like Kreech is ready to join the Bruins sometime in the year 2024, hopefully just before the trade deadline.

It would make sense, wouldn’t be away from the family all season and would have more left in the tank for the playoffs.

 

[Dennis Bonvie]

I don’t see those as criticisms. I think the post was factually laying out that Yzerman, the gold standard of GMs, was granted a magnificent opportunity and took advantage. Since leaving Tampa he hasn’t found the same success. Ie. GMing is hard. There are no guarantees.

Especially when some people consider them successful only if their team wins the Cup. In a 32 team league.

 

[DominicT]

Sounds like Kreech is ready to join the Bruins sometime in the year 2024, hopefully just before the trade deadline.

There are only 3 options here:

1) The original 2 sources are lying
2) Krejci is not 100% truthful
3) The original report is a lie and everyone just picked up on it.

 

[DominicT]

In fairness to Mark, that "rumor" came out the day before and he's just jumping on the bandwagon.

I have no idea what is going to happen with Krejci. But here is DK46's own words just a day before coming back for McAvoy's wedding:

"I don't think I'm going to 99 percent start the season anywhere. In the NHL, in the Czech Republic, not even in Europe. If it takes me until Christmas to decide, it will be until Christmas. Of course, I will maintain myself so that a few weeks or a month is enough for me if I decide to jump in,"

Here's the link to the full article NHL | Další rána pro Boston! Krejčí má oznámit svůj konec v NHL, lákadlem je domácí MS - Sport.cz