Boston Bruins 2026 OFFSEASON Roster & Salary Cap III.

[Sheppy]

I’m impressed that Letourneau has grown like 3-4 inches in the past two pages.

 

[Knight]

I’m impressed that Letourneau has grown like 3-4 inches in the past two pages.

So have I reading his latest scouting reports

 

[marianne99]

a) I did not say he sucks. I just said he wasn't James Hagens. The high ceiling is what they would have to value if he was in a trade.
b) I agreed with a 1st, Letourneau and Minten for Thomas. It doesn't even matter because they wouldn't trade him for that package, and I don't think he's available anymore regardless. I think something like a 1st, 2nd, Letourneau, Lohrei to get Larkin is reasonable if he's willing to waive here.
c) I want to compete, and we need a 1C, one way or another, and waiting is a good way to get Pastrnak to ask out in the next year or two. If you are fine with that, fair enough. I don't want to talk about whether the Bruins should tear everything down or not until we get to that point.
d) I didn't suggest losing all the prospects and draft capital. We would still have Hagens, and we would still have firsts in the next few years that we could draft guys at a similar draft slot to Letourneau. Not to mention guys like Zellers, Simpson, Moore, Pettersson, Blanar, guys who could pop potentially next year/not

I guess I just see a completely difference scenario in my head.

Hagens is little and is going to need at least a season to adjust to the speed and size of the NHL

Letourneau is gonna win the Hoby Baker, play 3 stupid performative games for Providence.

27/28 Letourneau is 4c and Hagens is a top 9 center who is starting to make a difference

28/29 they are looking like it's time to put the chips in the middle for a big run

----

If they trade for Robert Thomas - I just don't see them getting over the hump with just that move (and they would have dealt their top trade chips to get him). They'd be relying on 2nd tier prospects and FA as difference makers after the Thomas deal

 

[MarchysNoseKnows]

a) I did not say he sucks. I just said he wasn't James Hagens. The high ceiling is what they would have to value if he was in a trade.
b) I agreed with a 1st, Letourneau and Minten for Thomas. It doesn't even matter because they wouldn't trade him for that package, and I don't think he's available anymore regardless. I think something like a 1st, 2nd, Letourneau, Lohrei to get Larkin is reasonable if he's willing to waive here.
c) I want to compete, and we need a 1C, one way or another, and waiting is a good way to get Pastrnak to ask out in the next year or two. If you are fine with that, fair enough. I don't want to talk about whether the Bruins should tear everything down or not until we get to that point.
d) I didn't suggest losing all the prospects and draft capital. We would still have Hagens, and we would still have firsts in the next few years that we could draft guys at a similar draft slot to Letourneau. Not to mention guys like Zellers, Simpson, Moore, Pettersson, Blanar, guys who could pop potentially next year/not

Letourneau just went from high school to Hockey Easr where his performance his freshman year had 80% of Bruins fans ready to take him out back and put him down next to Sweeney, to being second in goals in the league as a sophomore.

Not sure how clear I can make it but I’ll try. Hagens ceiling is 1C for sure and let’s say he’s 30% chance to make it. Letourneau’s ceiling is 1C but at 6’8 (or 6’9) with a cannon and nimble feet. He’s let’s say 7% to hit his ceiling. You disagree that’s fine, but I want you to understand what I’m saying. And I have been defending Hagens on here for two years.

Given where the Bruins are IMO - which is not close to being a Robert Thomas away from being a contender - I hold my unicorn (and Hagens and Zellers) and find other ways to build out the roster. I don’t think Thomas is available anyway, and I don’t think he’s a true difference making 1C that carries his team to the finals. Just haven’t seen that from him as a player.

 

[MarchysNoseKnows]

I’m impressed that Letourneau has grown like 3-4 inches in the past two pages.

I know some people close to the program (I am absolutely not close to anything to be clear) and supposedly Dean has grown again. Dean was listed at 6’7 last year. So a little poetic license to add an inch or two (where has he been mentioned as 6’10 or 6’11?!?) isn’t much.

 

[finaliz3d]

I guess I just see a completely difference scenario in my head.

Hagens is little and is going to need at least a season to adjust to the speed and size of the NHL

Letourneau is gonna win the Hoby Baker, play 3 stupid performative games for Providence.

27/28 Letourneau is 4c and Hagens is a top 9 center who is starting to make a difference

28/29 they are looking like it's time to put the chips in the middle for a big run

----

If they trade for Robert Thomas - I just don't see them getting over the hump with just that move (and they would have dealt their top trade chips to get him). They'd be relying on 2nd tier prospects and FA as difference makers after the Thomas deal

Letourneau just went from high school to Hockey Easr where his performance his freshman year had 80% of Bruins fans ready to take him out back and put him down next to Sweeney, to being second in goals in the league as a sophomore.

Not sure how clear I can make it but I’ll try. Hagens ceiling is 1C for sure and let’s say he’s 30% chance to make it. Letourneau’s ceiling is 1C but at 6’8 (or 6’9) with a cannon and nimble feet. He’s let’s say 7% to hit his ceiling. You disagree that’s fine, but I want you to understand what I’m saying. And I have been defending Hagens on here for two years.

Given where the Bruins are IMO - which is not close to being a Robert Thomas away from being a contender - I hold my unicorn (and Hagens and Zellers) and find other ways to build out the roster. I don’t think Thomas is available anyway, and I don’t think he’s a true difference making 1C that carries his team to the finals. Just haven’t seen that from him as a player.

If the assumption is the Bruins can't make it with a Thomas level player, then I'm assuming you both prefer rebuilding. Which is fine, I just want us to try and win something with the current core.

 

[marianne99]

If the assumption is the Bruins can't make it with a Thomas level player, then I'm assuming you both prefer rebuilding. Which is fine, I just want us to try and win something with the current core.

Only a Sith deals in absolutes.

 

[MarchysNoseKnows]

If the assumption is the Bruins can't make it with a Thomas level player, then I'm assuming you both prefer rebuilding. Which is fine, I just want us to try and win something with the current core.

I don’t think they should trade Pasta and McAvoy and Swayman. I also don’t think they should trade either of the two best forward prospects in a decade. I don’t think that means rebuild in the way you’re describing.

 

[finaliz3d]

I don’t think they should trade Pasta and McAvoy and Swayman. I also don’t think they should trade either of the two best forward prospects in a decade. I don’t think that means rebuild in the way you’re describing.

Only a Sith deals in absolutes.

Well I don't see how Pastrnak sticks around if we aren't doing anyrhing.

In the scenario outlined above you have them being not ready for a run until 28-29. Given his comments do you think he's willing to wait, especially if we miss the playoffs just one of the next two years. Or if we're a first round exit multiple years in a row?

 

[MarchysNoseKnows]

Well I don't see how Pastrnak sticks around if we aren't doing anyrhing.

In the scenario outlined above you have them being not ready for a run until 28-29. Given his comments do you think he's willing to wait, especially if we miss the playoffs just one of the next two years. Or if we're a first round exit multiple years in a row?

He sticks around because we don’t trade him.

 

[finaliz3d]

He sticks around because we don’t trade him.

I don't think a player asking out and refusing to trade him ever really works out well, but sure, you can try that.

 

[MarchysNoseKnows]

I don't think a player asking out and refusing to trade him ever really works out well, but sure.

This isn’t Larkin where his team hasn’t made the playoffs in a decade. If you think Pasta would hold out I don’t know what to tell you. It doesn’t happen in this sport.

And I love Pasta but making full out franchise defining decisions worried about his feelings is t the way to go.

 

[MarchysNoseKnows]

This is going to get real interesting.

 

[finaliz3d]

This isn’t Larkin where his team hasn’t made the playoffs in a decade. If you think Pasta would hold out I don’t know what to tell you. It doesn’t happen in this sport.

And I love Pasta but making full out franchise defining decisions worried about his feelings is t the way to go.

Well the odds are much higher of you winning a cup with a trade for a 1C than they are waiting for Hagens/Letourneau. You said yourself the percentage chance those guys reaching their ceilings versus the near guarantee those guys are the players they are.

 

[MarchysNoseKnows]

Well the odds are much higher of you winning a cup with a trade for a 1C than they are waiting for Hagens/Letourneau. You said yourself the percentage chance those guys reaching their ceilings versus the near guarantee those guys are the players they are.

I don’t know how you watch these playoffs and think we can contend if we add Thomas. We’re not close to being able to do that. I know anything can happen and all that. But yeah I don’t see it. I’ll hold my powder. I want to build a sustainable contender not try to rush and chase for something in the next year or two, mostly because I don’t think it would come close to being successful.

 

[BlackFrancis]

They ignored Jake Debrusk's trade request for three years, and still didn't wind up trading him in the end.

I seriously don't think they care.

 

[MarchysNoseKnows]

They ignored Jake Debrusk's trade request for three years, and still didn't wind up trading him in the end.

I seriously don't think they care.

And now Jake is running it back with another request. Must be some sort of therapy for him.

 

[finaliz3d]

I don’t know how you watch these playoffs and think we can contend if we add Thomas. We’re not close to being able to do that. I know anything can happen and all that. But yeah I don’t see it. I’ll hold my powder. I want to build a sustainable contender not try to rush and chase for something in the next year or two, mostly because I don’t think it would come close to being successful.

Well for starters, you would presumably be making more moves to contend in the years to come to further supplement that group. A Thomas would be the start... you also aren't trading the entire farm to get Thomas as repeatedly stated.

If you want a sustainable contender, you'd need high end young prospects at multiple positions, only acquired through picking high in the draft (or being the best drafter in the league, which Sweeney isn't), a full rebuild.

 

[sarge88]

The questions about Larkin seem similar to the questions people had about Savard.

 

[GHFC79]

You said most of their key players are 28-32. I was just making the distinction at 30, that most of their key players are 30 or younger.

I've seen you pushing for older players... and I gotta admit, older players make me nervous. So I also wanted to make the point that IMO, a handful of 31 and ups is okay if the primary drivers are 26ish, but I think it's flawed to build teams with a blind eye to the 30 year old warning flag.

Pasta, Elias, Hampus and Zadorov are all signed long-term and crossing that threshold. Jeannot is 29, Zacha is 29 and up for renewal, Arvidsson is 33 and looking for a multi-year deal, and we're talking about adding a 30+ year old UFA on D. If they re-sign Zacha and Arvidsson, and add an Andersson, Raddysh or Carlson, we'd have 8 guys on the wrong side of 30 playing meaningful minutes.... I don't know what the tipping point is but that many 30+ guys feels close.

I throw out a lot of ideas, but most of them are just thought experiments and speculation.

The reason I bring up older players like Andersson or Carlsson is simply because I don't see many realistic alternatives. The young option is Peeke, and honestly, I wouldn't want Peeke even for free. If you draft a RHD today, he's probably four years away from helping the NHL club anyway.

As for the roster being "old," I'm probably less concerned than some people because I've spent years following NFL contracts. Players get cut, traded, bought out, or end up on LTIR all the time. I don't really view contracts as permanent commitments. Rosters can be evaluated year by year.

The funny thing is that I'm actually a big supporter of our young players. Poitras, Minten, and Khusnutdinov never show up in my trade proposals. I just think it's an overreaction to assume that a core built around McAvoy, Swayman, Pastrnak, Zacha, and Geekie has already peaked simply because E. Lindholm, H. Lindholm, and Zadorov are in their early 30s.

 

[BruinDust]

They ignored Jake Debrusk's trade request for three years, and still didn't wind up trading him in the end.

I seriously don't think they care.

If I'm Yzerman, I'm telling the Larkin camp they need to work with us here if they want a move over the summer, i.e. you can't just strong-arm us into dealing with 2 or 3 teams and taking a lesser offer.

Give us a reasonable list of teams to deal with, or we'll see you in camp in September.

 

[PB37]

Defense: McNabb (35), Theodore (30), Hanifin (29), Andersson (29), Lauzon(29) and Coghlan(28)
Lines: Barbashev (30), Eichel(29), Dorofeyev(25), Howden(28), Karlsson(33), Marner(29), Hertl(32), Sissons(32), Stones(34), Smith(30), Dowd(36) and Kolesar(29)

Vegas literally have only one regular player under 28 years old: Dorofeyev at 25.

"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."

I don't really see what's wrong with what I said. I never denied that Carolina is a young team.

Vegas is the 2nd oldest team in the league, Colorado being the oldest.

 

[bruwinz73]

We are better off rebuilding than giving up a haul for Larkin. Fine player and all but it doesn’t make us a Cup contender. If it’s Zacha and a first I could get on board but zero chance I include Minten or Hagens plus picks.

 

[BiteThisBurrows]

I think we simply disagree, and that's okay.

Every team has flaws. The difference is that we watch the Bruins every night, so we know every weakness, every bad shift, every prospect who hasn't developed fast enough, and every roster hole. We don't apply that same level of scrutiny to other teams. Every contender and every rebuilding team has questions.

I also think we sometimes convince ourselves there's only one path to contention. If that were true, Vegas wouldn't be where they are.

That's not to say Boston is secretly a contender today. It's simply that hockey isn't as linear as "young core = future contender" and "older roster = doomed." If it were that simple, we'd be able to predict the standings years in advance.

Maybe you're right and the Bruins end up stuck in the middle. That's certainly possible. But I don't think it's nearly as certain as you're making it sound. Hockey has a way of humbling anyone who thinks they've figured out exactly where every team will be next season. Just look at where many of the experts who do this for a living had Buffalo and other teams in their preseason projections. Some of those same people were calling Buffalo an embarrassment not that long ago. Now they're suddenly being held up as one of the league's most talented young teams.

Who knows what people will be saying about Boston a year from now if Minten, Khusnutdinov, or Lohrei take meaningful steps forward? Development isn't linear, and perceptions can change surprisingly fast.

No no no, you're not focusing on the key component I'm trying to point out. It's not that young = future contender, it's about SPEED. Bruins just don't have it, and thus they get exposed in the playoffs. The core of the roster doesn't have it. McAvoy, Lindholm, Geekie, can look elite in the regular season but in the playoffs they are all slow (relatively speaking). Thus the board is always talking about McAvoy turnovers and such every year at that time. Geekie's numbers drop. Lindholm was absolute garbage and then we just blame a bad back again. THEY ARE JUST TOO SLOW and you can't fix that adding one or two pieces.

Khushnetdinov has speed but lacks finish. He could still be more and Minten can become a solid 2C. Lohrei has speed but how many years can you wait for him to become something? He's no longer 20 you know. I really don't think he's ever going to be the guy we wanted him to be.

It's lack of speed that differentiates this team from the other successful playoff teams. That's the crux of it and everything else wrong with them stems from that.

 

[MarchysNoseKnows]

If I'm Yzerman, I'm telling the Larkin camp they need to work with us here if they want a move over the summer, i.e. you can't just strong-arm us into dealing with 2 or 3 teams and taking a lesser offer.

Give us a reasonable list of teams to deal with, or we'll see you in camp in September.

I agree. When you have that much term and you’re that old you don’t have the Tkachuk leverage. Like I’m not going to Winnipeg or Vancouver or Calgary. And definitely don’t send me to Buffalo. But I’ll probably be good with anywhere else.