Boston Bruins 2026 OFFSEASON Roster and Salary Cap IV

[MarchysNoseKnows]

Not disagreeing, but suggestions? They have a lot of 1sts, so you either have to use those or use the prospects in the cupboard, unless you want to wait and hope you can snag some top tier UFAs.

Maybe a buy low like EP is the way to go

I just don’t think this is the time to hunting for big fish based on who is available. You get a surprise someone then sure if he’s younger with term.

I think EP would be worth the gamble depending on cost - I’m not giving up premiums for him.

I’d hold strong and not commit to older players and hold powder for someone else who may pop up. And I’m not trading Hagens or Letourneau unless it’s a top tier elite center.

 

[RiverbottomChuck]

Drai and Seider gonna force their way to Boston

 

[Ratty]

Drai and Seider gonna force their way to Boston

Why? Because they’re German?

 

[Hookslide]

Preface- I have no interest in Trocheck. But the Rags have bad juju all over them and I feel like there's a couple guys who could make a move and improve instantly just by being away from NY.

Lafrienere

 

[bp14]

I just don’t think this is the time to hunting for big fish based on who is available. You get a surprise someone then sure if he’s younger with term.

I think EP would be worth the gamble depending on cost - I’m not giving up premiums for him.

I’d hold strong and not commit to older players and hold powder for someone else who may pop up. And I’m not trading Hagens or Letourneau unless it’s a top tier elite center.

This is precisely where I’m at.

I like Dorofyev, for example, as an RFA that ‘maybe’ VGK would be open to moving? Or Bourque in Dallas. These are guys I’d consider moving futures for. As far as the big fish, I’m definitely intrigued by Barzal, and while I’d like Larkin he’ll cost too much and won’t be traded within the division.

But otherwise, hang onto the top prospects and let’s see how they look next spring. If Hagens becomes viable immediately, and Dean/Zellers have another big year, we are all of a sudden maybe 2-3 years from a young, talented homegrown roster. That’s ideal. At that point if your need is at wing, it becomes a lot easier to fill the holes IMO.

 

[CellyHard]

So I went over to the Canucks board and accumulated some thoughts they have about EP40. Ya’ll can make your judgements from there but I think there is a lot of important context that’s needed about his play. I’m paraphrasing most and a summary is below:

“His play wasn't as bad as everyone makes it seem. This year was absolutely terrible by what his standards should be and his contract. But his underlying numbers aren't completely disastrous and they are influenced significantly by winger play.”

“No more possession killers like Kane and Debrusk on his line”

“I mean the fact that we didn’t staple Karlsson to his wing or even try Rossi with him last year is so damn frustrating”

“Petey needs to take a page out of Quinn Hughes and look to shoot. That’s what made Petey dangerous in the past.”

“Petey at his best played well with Kuzmenko and Kuzmenko was not a puck retriever. The way I see it is that the current version of Petey isn’t doing much with the puck on his stick but he’s still being relied upon to create plays and drive his line as the primary puck carrier. So the thinking here is that having a line driver on his line that takes away the need for Petey to be the primary puck carrier frees up Petey to shoot and make quick plays that he should still be capable of making.”

“It was also Mikheyev who would get in on the forecheck and get the puck for him, and of the last few seasons was best with a guy like Sherwood again getting in and getting the puck.”

“This feels like a PLD situation, the player needs a fresh start and for his new team to welcome him with open arms if there's any hope of a rebound.”

TLDR: Pettersson had awful linemates last year that killed plays and never maximized his skill set. He works best with a puck retriever and someone to assist in driving play to put him in positions to use his shot. He needs a fresh start and his underlying metrics aren’t awful.

McMann - Pettersson - Pastrnak

I’ll stand by it but I think this is the best line you can create without gutting our roster. Speed, skill and defensive.

 

[Jim]

You want to trade him not get him help

I don’t think Don is being crazy here. Sure, keep Pasta if there is a viable way to make us a SC contender tomorrow. If you look at the trade market and free agency, and you believe Sweeney is capable of making us a legit contender, ok…keep him and McAvoy.

If not, then move them and cash in. The guys in our system, whether you argue they are NHL caliber or not, will take a couple years to contribute. By that time Pasta, and especially McAvoy, will have degraded. Is it possible they are playing the same level of hockey in 3 years as they are now? It’s possible, but probably less likely.

So instead of letting that asset degrade just as our prospects are proving themselves, we move him for a big haul of picks and youth that will hopefully develop within 2 years of our current crop entering their prime.

Seems logical when you remove the emotional attachments, and accept some down years. Personally, especially with the absolute beating he took this year, but definitely with his overall physical game having to take a toll on his body, I would move McAvoy to San Jose for that pick and a package before Pasta. The Sharks need another veteran anchor, and I’d use it as a way to get out from under Lindholm’s contract, too. Sharks have PLENTY of space.

 

[Hookslide]

So I went over to the Canucks board and accumulated some thoughts they have about EP40. Ya’ll can make your judgements from there but I think there is a lot of important context that’s needed about his play. I’m paraphrasing most and a summary is below:

“His play wasn't as bad as everyone makes it seem. This year was absolutely terrible by what his standards should be and his contract. But his underlying numbers aren't completely disastrous and they are influenced significantly by winger play.”

“No more possession killers like Kane and Debrusk on his line”

“I mean the fact that we didn’t staple Karlsson to his wing or even try Rossi with him last year is so damn frustrating”

“Petey needs to take a page out of Quinn Hughes and look to shoot. That’s what made Petey dangerous in the past.”

“Petey at his best played well with Kuzmenko and Kuzmenko was not a puck retriever. The way I see it is that the current version of Petey isn’t doing much with the puck on his stick but he’s still being relied upon to create plays and drive his line as the primary puck carrier. So the thinking here is that having a line driver on his line that takes away the need for Petey to be the primary puck carrier frees up Petey to shoot and make quick plays that he should still be capable of making.”

“It was also Mikheyev who would get in on the forecheck and get the puck for him, and of the last few seasons was best with a guy like Sherwood again getting in and getting the puck.”

“This feels like a PLD situation, the player needs a fresh start and for his new team to welcome him with open arms if there's any hope of a rebound.”

TLDR: Pettersson had awful linemates last year that killed plays and never maximized his skill set. He works best with a puck retriever and someone to assist in driving play to put him in positions to use his shot. He needs a fresh start and his underlying metrics aren’t awful.

McMann - Pettersson - Pastrnak

I’ll stand by it but I think this is the best line you can create without gutting our roster. Speed, skill and defensive.

Can someone explain this infatuation with McMann, and to even consider him for the first line tell me I am missing something.

 

[Jim]

So I went over to the Canucks board and accumulated some thoughts they have about EP40. Ya’ll can make your judgements from there but I think there is a lot of important context that’s needed about his play. I’m paraphrasing most and a summary is below:

“This feels like a PLD situation, the player needs a fresh start and for his new team to welcome him with open arms if there's any hope of a rebound.”

You cherry-picked the Hell out of those statements; I just went there myself.

Regarding PLD…the guy that was drafted as a 1st line center, is on his 4th team, and continues to spend time between the 2nd and 3rd line? Yes, that’s EXACTLY what the EP situation feels like it will be.

 

[Dennis Bonvie]

Is there a deal to be made, swapping LDs, now that Nurse has thrown in the towel in Edmonton?

Nurse plus something for Hampus. Lindholm might waive to play up there with Ekholm. You know, 'cause their both Swedish.

I've grown tired watching Hampus limp. Say one thing for Nurse, he's usually available.

Don't you think we already take enough dumb penalties on the backend?

 

[Oates2Neely]

I don’t think Don is being crazy here. Sure, keep Pasta if there is a viable way to make us a SC contender tomorrow. If you look at the trade market and free agency, and you believe Sweeney is capable of making us a legit contender, ok…keep him and McAvoy.

If not, then move them and cash in. The guys in our system, whether you argue they are NHL caliber or not, will take a couple years to contribute. By that time Pasta, and especially McAvoy, will have degraded. Is it possible they are playing the same level of hockey in 3 years as they are now? It’s possible, but probably less likely.

So instead of letting that asset degrade just as our prospects are proving themselves, we move him for a big haul of picks and youth that will hopefully develop within 2 years of our current crop entering their prime.

Seems logical when you remove the emotional attachments, and accept some down years. Personally, especially with the absolute beating he took this year, but definitely with his overall physical game having to take a toll on his body, I would move McAvoy to San Jose for that pick and a package before Pasta. The Sharks need another veteran anchor, and I’d use it as a way to get out from under Lindholm’s contract, too. Sharks have PLENTY of space.

You have to try to get him some help, and you don’t need to trade Hagens or Letourneau to do so. This isn’t some bottom of the barrel team. They need to add some firepower to the top 6 and find a dman to skate on 2nd pair.

 

[Oates2Neely]

So I went over to the Canucks board and accumulated some thoughts they have about EP40. Ya’ll can make your judgements from there but I think there is a lot of important context that’s needed about his play. I’m paraphrasing most and a summary is below:

“His play wasn't as bad as everyone makes it seem. This year was absolutely terrible by what his standards should be and his contract. But his underlying numbers aren't completely disastrous and they are influenced significantly by winger play.”

“No more possession killers like Kane and Debrusk on his line”

“I mean the fact that we didn’t staple Karlsson to his wing or even try Rossi with him last year is so damn frustrating”

“Petey needs to take a page out of Quinn Hughes and look to shoot. That’s what made Petey dangerous in the past.”

“Petey at his best played well with Kuzmenko and Kuzmenko was not a puck retriever. The way I see it is that the current version of Petey isn’t doing much with the puck on his stick but he’s still being relied upon to create plays and drive his line as the primary puck carrier. So the thinking here is that having a line driver on his line that takes away the need for Petey to be the primary puck carrier frees up Petey to shoot and make quick plays that he should still be capable of making.”

“It was also Mikheyev who would get in on the forecheck and get the puck for him, and of the last few seasons was best with a guy like Sherwood again getting in and getting the puck.”

“This feels like a PLD situation, the player needs a fresh start and for his new team to welcome him with open arms if there's any hope of a rebound.”

TLDR: Pettersson had awful linemates last year that killed plays and never maximized his skill set. He works best with a puck retriever and someone to assist in driving play to put him in positions to use his shot. He needs a fresh start and his underlying metrics aren’t awful.

McMann - Pettersson - Pastrnak

I’ll stand by it but I think this is the best line you can create without gutting our roster. Speed, skill and defensive.

Sounds like a long way of saying he sucks.

 

[Jim]

You have to try to get him some help, and you don’t need to trade Hagens or Letourneau to do so. This isn’t some bottom of the barrel team. They need to add some firepower to the top 6 and find a dman to skate on 2nd pair.

If we can get him a legitimate top tier center without trading the best prospects (of a still very sparse cupboard) we have, I’m for it. I don’t see how, but I’m for it.

 

[Hookslide]

Is there a deal to be made, swapping LDs, now that Nurse has thrown in the towel in Edmonton?

Nurse plus something for Hampus. Lindholm might waive to play up there with Ekholm. You know, 'cause their both Swedish.

I've grown tired watching Hampus limp. Say one thing for Nurse, he's usually available.

Why do you want to pay about 3 mil more and not be any better.

 

[RiverbottomChuck]

Why? Because they’re German?

This is the first im hearing of this

 

[Sheppy]

Why do you want to pay about 3 mil more and not be any better.

Yeah, I'm all for moving Hampus but to move him for Nurse is one step forward and two steps back.

 

[marianne99]

In what world is edm trading dri?

It's a pipedream where EDM stinks, McDavid leaves, and Draisitl doesn't want to be on a team that stinks + 4 far off assets from a McDavid trade.

 

[Drift]

I wonder if someone like Michkov could be pulled out of Philly. That relationship doesn't seem that great.

 

[dugg133]

Is there a deal to be made, swapping LDs, now that Nurse has thrown in the towel in Edmonton?

Nurse plus something for Hampus. Lindholm might waive to play up there with Ekholm. You know, 'cause their both Swedish.

I've grown tired watching Hampus limp. Say one thing for Nurse, he's usually available.

Agreed, any time you have the opportunity to make your d core both worse and more expensive you just have to do it

 

[The don godfather]

I don’t think Don is being crazy here. Sure, keep Pasta if there is a viable way to make us a SC contender tomorrow. If you look at the trade market and free agency, and you believe Sweeney is capable of making us a legit contender, ok…keep him and McAvoy.

If not, then move them and cash in. The guys in our system, whether you argue they are NHL caliber or not, will take a couple years to contribute. By that time Pasta, and especially McAvoy, will have degraded. Is it possible they are playing the same level of hockey in 3 years as they are now? It’s possible, but probably less likely.

So instead of letting that asset degrade just as our prospects are proving themselves, we move him for a big haul of picks and youth that will hopefully develop within 2 years of our current crop entering their prime.

Seems logical when you remove the emotional attachments, and accept some down years. Personally, especially with the absolute beating he took this year, but definitely with his overall physical game having to take a toll on his body, I would move McAvoy to San Jose for that pick and a package before Pasta. The Sharks need another veteran anchor, and I’d use it as a way to get out from under Lindholm’s contract, too. Sharks have PLENTY of space.

Bingo excellent post.

 

[CellyHard]

Can someone explain this infatuation with McMann, and to even consider him for the first line tell me I am missing something.

If you have a real 1C and a RW superstar like Pasta, lots of teams balance their scoring by putting a puck retriever/grinder type. It's how Barbashev is used on Eichel's line or how Martinook is used on the Aho line. It's not saying McMann is a 1st line player but his ability to play north-south and get in on pucks, go to the front of the net and do all the dirty work would compliment them.

You cherry-picked the Hell out of those statements; I just went there myself.

Regarding PLD…the guy that was drafted as a 1st line center, is on his 4th team, and continues to spend time between the 2nd and 3rd line? Yes, that’s EXACTLY what the EP situation feels like it will be.

Oh I 100% cherry-picked them that was the purpose of the post but it doesn't make them irrelevant. For all the positive posts there was certainly negative posts as well. I was just providing a different view. Sometimes things go beyond just the stats or the general consensus of him being awful.

Some people have quoted some of the positive things I've said about Lohrei on this thread and brought it over to their boards to show that he can play RHD and improved with Lindholm, etc. It's just about having different viewpoints and having discussion.

 

[NDiesel]

Drai and Seider gonna force their way to Boston

 

[NDiesel]

So I went over to the Canucks board and accumulated some thoughts they have about EP40. Ya’ll can make your judgements from there but I think there is a lot of important context that’s needed about his play. I’m paraphrasing most and a summary is below:

“His play wasn't as bad as everyone makes it seem. This year was absolutely terrible by what his standards should be and his contract. But his underlying numbers aren't completely disastrous and they are influenced significantly by winger play.”

“No more possession killers like Kane and Debrusk on his line”

“I mean the fact that we didn’t staple Karlsson to his wing or even try Rossi with him last year is so damn frustrating”

“Petey needs to take a page out of Quinn Hughes and look to shoot. That’s what made Petey dangerous in the past.”

“Petey at his best played well with Kuzmenko and Kuzmenko was not a puck retriever. The way I see it is that the current version of Petey isn’t doing much with the puck on his stick but he’s still being relied upon to create plays and drive his line as the primary puck carrier. So the thinking here is that having a line driver on his line that takes away the need for Petey to be the primary puck carrier frees up Petey to shoot and make quick plays that he should still be capable of making.”

“It was also Mikheyev who would get in on the forecheck and get the puck for him, and of the last few seasons was best with a guy like Sherwood again getting in and getting the puck.”

“This feels like a PLD situation, the player needs a fresh start and for his new team to welcome him with open arms if there's any hope of a rebound.”

TLDR: Pettersson had awful linemates last year that killed plays and never maximized his skill set. He works best with a puck retriever and someone to assist in driving play to put him in positions to use his shot. He needs a fresh start and his underlying metrics aren’t awful.

McMann - Pettersson - Pastrnak

I’ll stand by it but I think this is the best line you can create without gutting our roster. Speed, skill and defensive.

Two back to back sub point per game seasons, can they really blame that all on linemates? If anything i would bet he's becoming disinterested with guys like Miller and Hughes jumping ship and maybe a change of scenery will do him well.

If we aren't going to pay up for top tier guys I really don't mind him as a buy low(er) candidate....gotta think playing with Geekie or Pasta will help him out a lot

 

[Oates2Neely]

Bingo excellent post.

 

[Oates2Neely]

Two back to back sub point per game seasons, can they really blame that all on linemates? If anything i would bet he's becoming disinterested with guys like Miller and Hughes jumping ship and maybe a change of scenery will do him well.

If we aren't going to pay up for top tier guys I really don't mind him as a buy low(er) candidate....gotta think playing with Geekie or Pasta will help him out a lot

Considering how Elias Lindholm has worked (or NOT worked) out here, I think it’s safe to assume Sweeney is not about to acquire another struggling Swedish center from Vancouver. Especially one with a close to 12m cap hit.

He’s 8th in the NHL in cap hit!

2026 NHL Cap Hit Rankings

Listing the top salaries, cap hits, cash, earnings, contracts, and bonuses, for all active NHL players.

www.spotrac.com