Boston Bruins 2026 OFFSEASON Roster & Salary Cap III.

[Dennis Bonvie]

I think this is simplifying it too much. Especially in those Bourque/Neely years it was always clear they were a big piece away and they were never willing to pay for it. Until Kevin Stevens, which of course blew up in their face.

The Bourque/Neely years were also the Oilers/Gretzky & Penguins/Mario years.

Bruins were never one piece from those teams.

 

[sarge88]

Why is this a thing for so many fans ? He has played on some very good Bruins rosters but we act like he’s owed something other than a solid paycheque. I’m sure they’ll keep trying improve the team but this nonsense that the worlds gonna end cause Pastas getting older and we should mortgage the future to appease him is getting out of control.

We keep him cause we drafted him and the fans love him that should be a good enough reason not to mention the Bruin records he’ll be breaking move forward and then there’s the revenue he brings to the organization from the management perspective..

Sheesh if he wants to be traded will cross that bridge then.

I don’t worry about the Pasta/McAvoy window closing because we owe them anything….

I worry about it closing because they are top 25 players in the league and they are the type of players who can lead you to a championship, with the right supporting cast.

 

[BiteThisBurrows]

I don’t worry about the Pasta/McAvoy window closing because we owe them anything….

I worry about it closing because they are top 25 players in the league and they are the type of players who can lead you to a championship, with the right supporting cast.

Problem for the Bruins is it's impossible to assemble that supporting cast in a cap era without young skilled players on bridge deals or ELCs. Well not without cap cheating and being in a no tax state anyway.

How do you get from being a middle team to the top? I can see optimistic ways the Bruins could find 1 or 2 players but that's not enough to get you there. Free agency won't get you there. There's absolutely no way I can see to move up significantly from where they are. The young teams like Montreal and Buffalo can (and likely will) get better as their young guys mature. The Bruins just are what they are. Even if Hagens and Letourneau both become solid NHL players and maybe even another prospect breaks through it's still nowhere near enough.

I think the Bruins can stay a competitive and (sometimes) entertaining team for several years but I cannot see a cup winning scenario for McAvoy or Pasternak on this roster.

 

[UncleRico]

Being an original 6 team hasn't seemed to be much of a benefit lately.

You flatter Boston way too much. When making millions of dollars it's easy to live comfortably anywhere.

Also, plenty of fan bases that care.

Completely bogus comment by you.

It’s a huge benefit to the Bruins having an owner that spends, living in a low crime great education area like Boston and being an original 6 team.

As well as being one of the top revenue generating franchises in the league.

You’re just deflecting because you know the results should be better.

 

[GHFC79]

Problem for the Bruins is it's impossible to assemble that supporting cast in a cap era without young skilled players on bridge deals or ELCs. Well not without cap cheating and being in a no tax state anyway.

How do you get from being a middle team to the top? I can see optimistic ways the Bruins could find 1 or 2 players but that's not enough to get you there. Free agency won't get you there. There's absolutely no way I can see to move up significantly from where they are. The young teams like Montreal and Buffalo can (and likely will) get better as their young guys mature. The Bruins just are what they are. Even if Hagens and Letourneau both become solid NHL players and maybe even another prospect breaks through it's still nowhere near enough.

I think the Bruins can stay a competitive and (sometimes) entertaining team for several years but I cannot see a cup winning scenario for McAvoy or Pasternak on this roster.

I think we sometimes try to make hockey more deterministic than it really is.

There are simply too many variables. Vegas was at serious risk of missing the playoffs this year. If you had gone back to March and told people they'd be in the Final, most would have laughed.

That's why I'm skeptical when people confidently say a team is "five years away."

Maybe the new defensive coach helps tighten things up, or Sturm discovers something during the offseason that clicks. Sometimes that's all it takes for a team to take a big step forward.

 

[Oates2Neely]

I don’t know why you’re quoting or piggybacking on a different conversation when I said nothing about picks getting moved other then recently I said too Bill I wouldn’t move TO pick my statement is over the blanket comments about trade Pasta BS cause people aren’t happy with how management is operating or how other present different ideas then outcomes the we’re wasting Pasta yada yada yada .. might as well trade him crap.

I actually said we would be trying to improve the team but no I don’t want to trade certain prospects to do so or that TO pick which is the future if we don’t show some patience in the rebuild/retool well there’s enough evidence around the league to show you how that can go.

Not sure what this gibberish means. Your words “they shouldn’t mortgage the future”……

They can keep Hagens & Leterneau and still use picks and prospects to make some trades to bring in scoring help and a 2nd pairing RD.

“I didn’t say that thing except when I did say that thing”

 

[bruinmann77]

I still feel either Pavel or Casey will be gone.

 

[wintersej]

The Bourque/Neely years were also the Oilers/Gretzky & Penguins/Mario years.

Bruins were never one piece from those teams.

I think in 1990 it's hard to argue they were not a piece away.

 

[Dennis Bonvie]

Completely bogus comment by you.

It’s a huge benefit to the Bruins having an owner that spends, living in a low crime great education area like Boston and being an original 6 team.

As well as being one of the top revenue generating franchises in the league.

You’re just deflecting because you know the results should be better.

If I thought that then why would I argue against it?

Again, original 6 team means nothing. How many Bruins players actually live in Boston? Kids of millionaires don't have to go to public schools or worry about crime where they live.

 

[Dennis Bonvie]

I think in 1990 it's hard to argue they were not a piece away.

Oilers beat the Bruins in 5 games, outscored them 20-8 (Bourque had 3 of them) in 1990. Bruins weren't close.

 

[UncleRico]

If I thought that then why would I argue against it?

Again, original 6 team means nothing. How many Bruins players actually live in Boston? Kids of millionaires don't have to go to public schools or worry about crime where they live.

Boston also has among the highest rated private schools in the country, that is absolutely a draw for players.

And actually quite a few live in Boston or the neighboring towns. As we found out a lot of them live in close proximity to each other when pastrnak labeled the hampus lindholm as the neighbors pass.

 

[BergyWho37]

Not sure what this gibberish means. Your words “they shouldn’t mortgage the future”……

They can keep Hagens & Leterneau and still use picks and prospects to make some trades to bring in scoring help and a 2nd pairing RD.

“I didn’t say that thing except when I did say that thing”

Ok if you wanta get into some of this then fine a 1st and Poitras even if it is TO’s 1st for Tippett that isn’t happening keep adding and others will match with a better prospect or a roster centre with NHL experience like hmm spitballing a McTavish swap if Ducks are after RW but don’t think they’re just giving an example.

Nemec what was your offer Lohrei and 1st again who’s first ? Do you think that’s enough heck I even like Lohrei but why would NJ sell low on a hot commodity RD that’s young

More asset added or better prospects but nope you don’t want see the prospect they’ll want which effects down the road and since your hanging on to “mortgage the future” comment well ya depending what you’re paying it can just prolong the rebuild/retool.

What happens if it ends up being a miss like Nemec loads of potential I also like him but has warts just like Lohrei and now you dumped assets on a player NJ is gonna try and maximize there return if they even decide to move. I personally think they’ll move Hamilton first and gamble on there own player they’ve tried developing.

Who else Thomas ? That’s gonna deplete some very good prospects plus picks and sure could be worth it, he’s decently young turning 27 like Tippet and we desperately need a 1C so I’d understand this thinking but St. Louis isn’t giving there only decent centre away for chump change.

Again I said they’ll try improving the team I didn’t say they wouldn’t even target the couple places like you suggested but cause I used mortgage the future to appease Pasta you went on a rant about how many 1st rnd picks we have over the next 3 years.

Sign UFA RD like Andersson for his variety of skills including help on PK or I’m even warming up to Carlson older but his puck movement and offensive ability we’re lacking on the backend then trade for scoring up front that should probably be the target.
Hmm maybe something falls in our lap like a Hronek Pettersson combo if the deal makes sense.
DS taking risk on EP ( buy low ) but knowing he got Hronek ( buy high ) to soften the blow if EP stays on his 50-60 point coarse but doubt that’ll happen playing with Pasta should hit 70-80 area minimum IMO. Vancouver by all signs are doing a complete rebuild so they’d be interested in those picks and maybe have interest in a Poitras to develop with top 6 minutes. would still need to add obviously and it probably needs to hurt somewhere to bring it across the line.

 

[Roll 4 Lines]

If Carolina wins, they would be the first team since Colorado in 2021-22 to win the Stanley Cup with under-25 players playing major roles.

Over the last four seasons, Florida (three Finals appearances), Edmonton (two), and Vegas (two) have largely been driven by players in their prime years, not by young players. Vegas, for example, has only one 25-year-old on the roster this year. Most of their key players are in the 28-32 age range.

This isn't meant as an anti-young-player argument. It's more of a reminder that there isn't only one way to build a successful team.

I also think there's a tendency to develop a bias against players once they reach a certain age, regardless of how they're actually performing.

28 to 32 has always been prime age for hockey players in my opinion.

 

[BiteThisBurrows]

I think we sometimes try to make hockey more deterministic than it really is.

There are simply too many variables. Vegas was at serious risk of missing the playoffs this year. If you had gone back to March and told people they'd be in the Final, most would have laughed.

That's why I'm skeptical when people confidently say a team is "five years away."

Maybe the new defensive coach helps tighten things up, or Sturm discovers something during the offseason that clicks. Sometimes that's all it takes for a team to take a big step forward.

Well you can say that and try to believe it but where's the high end talent? You got Pasta who is top line A level. Then a few B level guys in Geekie, Zacha, and maybe Minten if he keeps developing but that's it. The rest are role players and has beens like Lindholm.

Buffalo brought in a guy like Helenius at the end. Point a game guy in the AHL, tore it up at the Worlds. Future top 6 star. That's just one example. How do the Bruins match that? With what? Look, we couldn't win the cup with the Perfection Line, how do we even get one line like that never mind the two or three you need to go all the way.

 

[slim399]

Connor Geekie hasn’t seemed to be able to carve out a spot in Tampa. He could be a nice high end upside project like his brother. If Tampa loses Raddysh they could be looking for a puck moving d. Maybe a Geekie for Lohrei deal could work.

 

[GHFC79]

Well you can say that and try to believe it but where's the high end talent? You got Pasta who is top line A level. Then a few B level guys in Geekie, Zacha, and maybe Minten if he keeps developing but that's it. The rest are role players and has beens like Lindholm.

Buffalo brought in a guy like Helenius at the end. Point a game guy in the AHL, tore it up at the Worlds. Future top 6 star. That's just one example. How do the Bruins match that? With what? Look, we couldn't win the cup with the Perfection Line, how do we even get one line like that never mind the two or three you need to go all the way.

There are just so many variables, and the league is incredibly balanced. Buffalo is basically the same team it was a year ago, when it struggled. Does that mean they'll dominate for the next decade? I wouldn't even be surprised if they missed the playoffs again.

If we had won that first playoff game, there's a good chance the entire narrative around this team would be different today. And that's what makes hockey so unpredictable. Tiny details can swing a series, and those same results often lead to decisions that have a huge impact on the following season.

If we had been just four points better at the trade deadline last year, there's a good chance Marchand, Coyle, and Carlo never get traded. We probably would have been buyers instead of sellers.

And those four points could have come from something incredibly small. Swayman signing ten days earlier, H. Lindholm avoiding his injury by making a slightly different decision in a split second, or even something as simple as travel schedules allowing the team to be a little more rested.

That's how thin the margins can be.

 

[Bruin4]

Connor Geekie hasn’t seemed to be able to carve out a spot in Tampa. He could be a nice high end upside project like his brother. If Tampa loses Raddysh they could be looking for a puck moving d. Maybe a Geekie for Lohrei deal could work.

I endorse this

 

[SPV]

The Bourque/Neely years were also the Oilers/Gretzky & Penguins/Mario years.

Bruins were never one piece from those teams.

We’ll never know I guess, but I would have loved to see what might happen if we signed Scott Stevens as a free agent after the 1990 season.
Neely, Oates, Juneau up front.
Bourque, Stevens, Wesley in the back.

Might have been interesting

We actually missed out on Stevens twice, could have drafted him instead of Kluzak. No offense to Kluzak, if he doesn’t get hurt he might have been great too.

 

[bp14]

“Mortgage the future”? Hyperbole. Five 1st round picks in the next 3 years. Moving 2 of those picks for help now is hardly mortgaging the future.

So you’re right, it’s not.

However, draft picks being uncertain, the more you have the better. And specifically, if you have above average to the league, you have a competitive advantage.

So IMO moving picks comes down to timing. If your team is a true contender, by all means consider moving picks to win. We did it for like 10 years. If you’re not, keep the picks and make them.

The wrinkle is that it’s still a business, and the Bruins as we all know like to “make the playoffs”. So I expect they will move at least 2 of those 5 picks to improve the current team, and it won’t be “mortgaging the future”. However, I do believe it’s absolutely the wrong decision UNLESS the players they acquire are young. IMO that’s the line fans should draw given where this roster is.

 

[JCRO]

Connor Geekie hasn’t seemed to be able to carve out a spot in Tampa. He could be a nice high end upside project like his brother. If Tampa loses Raddysh they could be looking for a puck moving d. Maybe a Geekie for Lohrei deal could work.

I like this. Idk if Lohrei alone gets it done but I like the idea a lot

 

[Hookslide]

Plenty of factors.

1) not all owners spend to the cap

2) undesirable locations

3) team history

Bruins have the benefit of having an owner that spends to the cap, Boston area is desirable to live and grow a family (besides taxes), an fan base that cares and they are a historic original 6 franchise.

Bruins have a massive advantage over at minimum 2/3 of the league having the combination owners that spend, being a desirable location and being an original 6 team.

Bruins have a built in head start and still have struggled to do anything in the playoffs.

Spending to the cap, is so overrated these days, Jacobs, initiated the cap, and as his ducks in row financially, he knows after architecting the cap it would be a PR nightmare not to spend to the cap, not that he cares about the fans he doesn't he is interested in bottom line spend enough to get to the playoffs, and keep the fans interested, and get his financial gains. Jacobs before the cap did not and go out and get players to add to this team that might have helped this team win a cup, ask Neely and Middleton. Harry Sinden kept his job by keeping this team in the hunt , but never taking that extra step to potentially win a cup. That original 6 crap is over blown these days, 60 years ago it carried weight not now, that is a GM sell point and a media fixation.

 

[Hookslide]

I like this. Idk if Lohrei alone gets it done but I like the idea a lot

Another center, just what we need, but if Loheri is not enough, then hang up the phone.

 

[Hookslide]

I don’t worry about the Pasta/McAvoy window closing because we owe them anything….

I worry about it closing because they are top 25 players in the league and they are the type of players who can lead you to a championship, with the right supporting cast.

You are right they could lead to a championship, but this supporting cast is not a championship cast.....not even close

 

[Kalus]

Problem for the Bruins is it's impossible to assemble that supporting cast in a cap era without young skilled players on bridge deals or ELCs. Well not without cap cheating and being in a no tax state anyway.

How do you get from being a middle team to the top? I can see optimistic ways the Bruins could find 1 or 2 players but that's not enough to get you there. Free agency won't get you there. There's absolutely no way I can see to move up significantly from where they are. The young teams like Montreal and Buffalo can (and likely will) get better as their young guys mature. The Bruins just are what they are. Even if Hagens and Letourneau both become solid NHL players and maybe even another prospect breaks through it's still nowhere near enough.

I think the Bruins can stay a competitive and (sometimes) entertaining team for several years but I cannot see a cup winning scenario for McAvoy or Pasternak on this roster.

Fully agree. They had the opportunity to try to get out of this doom loop last season by continuing the retool from the ‘25 deadline throughout last year but instead decided to go for the playoffs.

We’re now locked into the doom loop unless low probability events happen like a handful of the prospects jump a few tiers in their projections and it happens early or the Bruins win big on a few big risky trades.

However, most likely, we are looking at a few more years or just barely making or missing the playoffs and losing in the first round if they make it, never getting a top pick. This will go on for a few years until they bottom out.

 

[UncleRico]

Spending to the cap, is so overrated these days, Jacobs, initiated the cap, and as his ducks in row financially, he knows after architecting the cap it would be a PR nightmare not to spend to the cap, not that he cares about the fans he doesn't he is interested in bottom line spend enough to get to the playoffs, and keep the fans interested, and get his financial gains. Jacobs before the cap did not and go out and get players to add to this team that might have helped this team win a cup, ask Neely and Middleton. Harry Sinden kept his job by keeping this team in the hunt , but never taking that extra step to potentially win a cup. That original 6 crap is over blown these days, 60 years ago it carried weight not now, that is a GM sell point and a media fixation.

of the top 16 spending teams in the league this past year 11 made the playoffs.

Sure there was a couple misses, but some of those were due to a ton of injuries like the Florida Panthers.

There is a very strong correlation in the NHL to spending and making the playoffs.