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

[LSCII]

Shes an impossible trophy to get.

So you feel good that they choked against Chicago and St. Louis in the finals the way they did? And you're okay that they were one can dans in this year's playoffs despite setting records all season long for winning, and being the far superior team? What a really sad take.

 

[NeelyDan]

So you feel good that they choked against Chicago and St. Louis in the finals the way they did? And you're okay that they were one can dans in this year's playoffs despite setting records all season long for winning, and being the far superior team? What a really sad take.

hey....I'm a one can dan

 

[The don godfather]

So you feel good that they choked against Chicago and St. Louis in the finals the way they did? And you're okay that they were one can dans in this year's playoffs despite setting records all season long for winning, and being the far superior team? What a really sad take.

The 2019 loss at home was a debacle everything else I can accept.

 

[dugg133]

So you feel good that they choked against Chicago and St. Louis in the finals the way they did? And you're okay that they were one can dans in this year's playoffs despite setting records all season long for winning, and being the far superior team? What a really sad take.

Feel like it's ok to acknowledge that that core should've won at least one more cup while also acknowledging that they were one of the 5 most successful teams of the past 15 years. You aren't on sports radio, you can have a nuanced take.

 

[LSCII]

Feel like it's ok to acknowledge that that core should've won at least one more cup while also acknowledging that they were one of the 5 most successful teams of the past 15 years. You aren't on sports radio, you can have a nuanced take.

Absolutely. It’s never one extreme or the other. Where I take issue is whenever you try to be even slightly critical by saying something like you did, you get the apologist crowd shout you down with the rest of what you said.

 

[GordonHowe]

From The Hockey Writers,

Max Comtois is one player who stands out to me as a solid PTO option. After leading the Ducks with 33 points in 55 games in 2020-21, he struggled in back-to-back seasons, leading to the club not sending him a qualifying offer. Although he has had trouble replicating his past offensive success, he is still just 24 years old and has the potential to turn things around. Due to this and the Bruins needing more forward depth, they should consider looking at Comtois.

Max Comtois, Anaheim Ducks (Jess Starr/The Hockey Writers)
Zach Aston-Reese is another bottom-six forward who the Bruins should take a look at. The 29-year-old proved to be a valuable asset to the Toronto Maple Leafs last season, especially when it came to his defensive play. In 77 games last season, he posted 10 goals and 14 points. Although he does not dominate the scoresheet, he is a reliable defensive forward who offers versatility, being able to play both wings.

 

[GordonHowe]

Reluctant yes

24 y/o 1C is huge. Obviously Mac is a rock on this team, but I think with 37/46 off into the sunset a change like this would be a jolt of fresh air. The D group would be highly downgraded obviously, but would probably be passable

Having said that I can't really imagine a scenario where they would pull the trigger on that trade

The Bruins are not trading Charlie McAvoy.

 

[RHR37]

Hoping JVR and Shattenkirk have strong seasons so we can flip them for picks at the deadline.

 

[McGarnagle]

Phil Kessel is out there and has announced he's willing to be scratched and end the streak to get a new contract.

He could contribute as a 3rd line winger/PP guy if we can all let 13-year old bygones be bygones.

 

[GordonHowe]

I think the only way your getting a number one C is via trade and not FA

And I think you're right. The days of major acquisitions in free agency (Z, Savard) are over.

They may be able to find a good 1C possibility, but nothing sure fire. It's going to have to come via trade, and it's not happening anytime soon. Nor should it.

They need to find out what they have over at least a few months and go from there. Find out what the prospects can do. A clear(er) picture, even if it's already clear that Zacha and Coyle are likely not enough.

Then they're going to have to trade. I hope the market for goaltenders (Linus) and other "pieces" picks up.

Barry Pederson for Petterson and a first.

or

Frederic
Debrusk
Harrison
2nd

Throw in Neely and it's a deal.

 

[xjoeyc23x]

lemme get one of them Hertl guys....

San Jose is a dumpster fire rn

 

[GordonHowe]

I went back and looked into this a while ago, but I'm pretty sure Zacha filled in at center for like 10 regular season games and 4 playoff games last season and he was a PPG in them. Not saying he's gonna be a PPG player this season, but I think he's gonna surprise some people with how well he does. Think he's gonna solidify himself as a true top 6 center option for us going forward.

I like Pavel and I think he'll be fine in the top six.

But they need more than Zacha and Coyle. It's obvious. Eventually, they're going to have to deal for a legitimate center to stabilize and hopefully significantly upgrade the position. They probably understand this.

Absent a breakout season from Georgie, et. al., a trade will have to be made. Whether that happens this season or next, I don't know. They may want to wait until next off season, when $$ afford better options.

 

[dugg133]

Absolutely. It’s never one extreme or the other. Where I take issue is whenever you try to be even slightly critical by saying something like you did, you get the apologist crowd shout you down with the rest of what you said.

Calling Bergeron and Chara losers and that the culture they set isn't worth continuing is extreme though, you do get that right? Like that's basically what you said here:

Carrying on the culture chara and Bergeron created? You mean choking hard in the playoffs and coming up short more often than not? Thank god we got someone to preserve that losing culture of quitting on multiple coaches….

This is extreme lol

 

[GordonHowe]

I thought I was the only one who still believed in Ullmark. I still firmly believe he can take a team on a deep playoff run . Maybe it won’t be with the Bruins and if he sucks this year in the playoffs; sure , let him go , but I still believe in him .

Unfortunately, I don't think Ullmark is a playoff goaltender.

Even if he wasn't injured in the FLA series, which he was, he does not appear durable enough to handle a lengthy playoff run with starts in every game. He clearly needs to split duty with Swayman in the regular season. That is not a recipe for success.

It may be unfair and untrue, but I don't believe he can handle the physical or mental demands of playoff hockey without succumbing to exhaustion.

I like Linus and I'm not trying to knock him. I just see what I see.

 

[GordonHowe]

Good assessment, I think. An infusion of talent at center, and I think the Bruins will be on their way. This might be a year of growing pains, but with some more cap money available and a couple of good signings, the Bruins will be in contention (or close to it) again.

I see no reason to believe Ullmark can’t have another good season if he’s healthy. I believe he can do it until he proves he can’t.

i would hope that if they traded Swayman for a center, he (the center) would be exceptional. There aren’t many centers out there that I’d trade Swayman for.

I could be wrong but the Bruins aren't going to trade what most believe is their goaltender of the future.

Ullmark's value will never be higher than it is now. Splitting starts with Swayman, there's no reason to think he won't be on top of his game.

Ullmark's play and contract make him Boston's most valuable trade asset, and I'll go out on a limb and say he will be dealt. Singly or likely with other assets, Linus should bring back good return. Either in terms of immediate NHL caliber help or draft selections.

Feel like it's ok to acknowledge that that core should've won at least one more cup while also acknowledging that they were one of the 5 most successful teams of the past 15 years. You aren't on sports radio, you can have a nuanced take.

*Thank you.*

 

[HustleB]

From The Hockey Writers,

Max Comtois is one player who stands out to me as a solid PTO option. After leading the Ducks with 33 points in 55 games in 2020-21, he struggled in back-to-back seasons, leading to the club not sending him a qualifying offer. Although he has had trouble replicating his past offensive success, he is still just 24 years old and has the potential to turn things around. Due to this and the Bruins needing more forward depth, they should consider looking at Comtois.

Max Comtois, Anaheim Ducks (Jess Starr/The Hockey Writers)
Zach Aston-Reese is another bottom-six forward who the Bruins should take a look at. The 29-year-old proved to be a valuable asset to the Toronto Maple Leafs last season, especially when it came to his defensive play. In 77 games last season, he posted 10 goals and 14 points. Although he does not dominate the scoresheet, he is a reliable defensive forward who offers versatility, being able to play both wings.

At one point I believe he was high on my list. A player with size who had done it at this level. However when I read about his injury it sounded as though he has just never recovered to something in his wrist that is impacting his shot and overall skill. However the bigger issue that I think he has is that I believe he may be implicated in some type of team Canada shenanigans. I am not 100% clear what his status is in that.

 

[quietbruinfan]

Hoping JVR and Shattenkirk have strong seasons so we can flip them for picks at the deadline.

Don't hold your breath...

 

[The don godfather]

Hoping JVR and Shattenkirk have strong seasons so we can flip them for picks at the deadline.

Or make a run deep in playoffs.

 

[PlayMakers]

Feel like it's ok to acknowledge that that core should've won at least one more cup while also acknowledging that they were one of the 5 most successful teams of the past 15 years. You aren't on sports radio, you can have a nuanced take.

I believe that in order to win the Cup, you have to have a young (in his 20's) number 1 center driving your offense. You can go back 20 years and not find a single team that won with a #1 center over 30. When Boston won the Cup, Bergeron was 26. When Boston lost the Cup in 2019, O'Reilly was 26 and Bergeron was 33.

Vegas, Colorado, Tampa, Washington, Pittsburgh, Chicago, LA, Boston, Det, Car, NJ... All driven by #1C's in their 20's. Heck, you can go back 50 years and you'll only find a couple of exceptions during the clutch and grab era and even those exceptions are unusual (like Detroit with 11 HOF'ers and a 23 year old Datsyuk on the 3rd line).

So my theory is this... the Bruins didn't "choke" they were simply asking too much from guys who were too old. We know playoff hockey is a different beast than regular season hockey. It makes sense that they could put up impressive regular seasons and then get beat by younger, hungrier players when the refs throw out the rule book and it's no holds barred.

 

[wintersej]

I could be wrong but the Bruins aren't going to trade what most believe is their goaltender of the future.

Ullmark's value will never be higher than it is now. Splitting starts with Swayman, there's no reason to think he won't be on top of his game.

Ullmark's play and contract make him Boston's most valuable trade asset, and I'll go out on a limb and say he will be dealt. Singly or likely with other assets, Linus should bring back good return. Either in terms of immediate NHL caliber help or draft selections.



*Thank you.*

If Ullmark plays at a top 5 level next year, his value will be higher than it is now just because more teams will have space and know it wasn’t a fluke. Having only one year left on his contract will claw some of the value back, but I still think you get more for him next summer.

 

[The don godfather]

If Ullmark plays at a top 5 level next year, his value will be higher than it is now just because more teams will have space and know it wasn’t a fluke. Having only one year left on his contract will claw some of the value back, but I still think you get more for him next summer.

I keep him and run the contract hes a monster in net. Keep games close and have a chance to win every night. Too valuable asset. Keep.

 

[The Andrew Peeke Fan]

I have faith in Ullmark, I guess my reservations are based in the same type of doubt I have with Zacha. When things are hard, let's say they slide 3 games and the usual suspects are talking up how it's the end of the world, how does a guy like that react when he's been let go before and been on teams where he was already meant to be an impact player, but was in a lot of ways unable to turn the tide like people wanted/expected him to? Obviously don't know either guy as a person at all, but I'd imagine that same doubt creeps in, like, shit, is it me?

 

[Grimey]

Carrying on the culture chara and Bergeron created? You mean choking hard in the playoffs and coming up short more often than not? Thank god we got someone to preserve that losing culture of quitting on multiple coaches….

Did they at least apologize to you in person for only winning 1 Stanley Cup?

 

[JOKER 192]

Hoping JVR and Shattenkirk have strong seasons so we can flip them for picks at the deadline.

If they have strong seasons I wouldn't count on the Bruins flipping anyone.

 

[JOKER 192]

At one point I believe he was high on my list. A player with size who had done it at this level. However when I read about his injury it sounded as though he has just never recovered to something in his wrist that is impacting his shot and overall skill. However the bigger issue that I think he has is that I believe he may be implicated in some type of team Canada shenanigans. I am not 100% clear what his status is in that.

I don't think he's implicated in the team Canada stuff. What I think is happening here is that teams don't want to make the same mistake the Bruins made with Miller. As soon as the the investigation results are released he will likely have multiple offers provided he is innocent.