Boston Bruins 2026 OFFSEASON Roster & Salary Cap III.

[BMC]

I've never bought this take.

You should. With the exception of 2006-2015 that has always been the mandate- make the playoffs & see what happens. The Bruins have reverted back to form since then- 1 to 3 players short of being serious contenders. 2019 & 2023 were flukes.

I don't care that they spend up to the cap, that's just something management can point to and say " see, we're not cheap anymore! " You see teams like Florida, Tampa Bay, Colorado, Carolina & Las Vegas (an expansion team ffs) consistently icing teams with a solid chance of winning it all and you ask yourself why can't the Bruins operate like this?

Black & Gold until I'm dead and cold but I am so frustrated with ownership/management.

 

[GHFC79]

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.

 

[BergyWho37]

I wonder what the value of the Toronto pick is. Would a team like the Islanders or St.Louis view that as a potential top10 pick? Could that be a high risk/high value trade asset?

I know it’s far away and everyone looks at Pastas window but if Toronto keeps trending down I’d hate to miss out on a shot at the Maddox Schultz kid he looks like a beast in my short viewings.

 

[GHFC79]

I wonder what the value of the Toronto pick is. Would a team like the Islanders or St.Louis view that as a potential top10 pick? Could that be a high risk/high value trade asset?

We have three picks from teams in the same division. There's a high probability that at least one of them ends up being far more valuable than people expect today.

I'd much rather move Boston's picks with protection attached and keep the Toronto and Florida picks untouched.

Nobody is going to pay top-10 pick value for a 2028 first-rounder today.

We could be looking at future top-10 picks, or potentially even the 1st and 2nd overall selections, and nobody can know that today.

 

[BergyWho37]

Why keep him if you want to wait 4-5 years for all your prospects to develop.

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.

 

[marianne99]

Why keep him if you want to wait 4-5 years for all your prospects to develop.

Who are you adding where they have a real legitimate shot in the next 2 years? And then tell me what the 3-4 years look like after that? You didn't dig your way out of the hole they found themselves in last yr to put yourself in a bigger hole before 2030. Pasta will get his bites at the apple for sure. Might have to get some kids into the picture tho so it's not an all-in for one shot in the hardest division in hockey.

 

[UncleRico]

That's a fair point, but it is definitely true that deeper playoff runs make a lot more money than just your two home games and out. So if the Jacobs' are all about the money, then it seems like they would want more. I guess you could argue that they actually don't care about the team so long as it turns at least a small profit and so the 'get into the playoffs to make that happen' would make sense.

I don't know. I am just questioning it because I have always assumed this was a real thing but taking off my fan hat and putting on my training and experience hat has made me wonder if there was ever any truth to it, or if it was just fan sourness about a team that couldn't quite get over the top.

By the by, you'd also have to be convinced that Harry, MoC, Don didn't (or don't) care about winning Cups so long as they have their jobs and paychecks. Also possible I guess.

Oh agreed deeper playoff runs better, but that’s where it falls on Sweeney.

Unfortunately Sweeney pays far too much for depth so he can roll 4 deep lines. Which is great for the regular season, but talent wins in the playoffs.

Sweeney almost never goes after big names. Biggest names he’s acquired in his tenure have been Elias and Hampus lindholm.

While I give him credit for finding Geekie and what Geekie ultimately turned into, Geekie was far from a big name at the time.

He doesn’t go after big names like Vegas, he can’t draft well late in the first round and has failed to key contributors after the first round like Carolina has (Aho, Slavin, Blake, nikishin).

Then of course the organization refuses to go into full rebuild like the buffalos and canadiens of the world.

So until there’s a change of philosophy or change of GM this team is likely stuck in the perpetual loop of being a first round exit in the playoffs unless we play Toronto first round.

 

[Roll 4 Lines]

Can we please replace Andrew Peake with John Carlson please?

I doubt Carlson signs with the Bruins though.

At his age, they may as well get Steve Carlson!

 

[Dennis Bonvie]

You should. With the exception of 2006-2015 that has always been the mandate- make the playoffs & see what happens. The Bruins have reverted back to form since then- 1 to 3 players short of being serious contenders. 2019 & 2023 were flukes.

I don't care that they spend up to the cap, that's just something management can point to and say " see, we're not cheap anymore! " You see teams like Florida, Tampa Bay, Colorado, Carolina & Las Vegas (an expansion team ffs) consistently icing teams with a solid chance of winning it all and you ask yourself why can't the Bruins operate like this?

Black & Gold until I'm dead and cold but I am so frustrated with ownership/management.

Maybe you should ask yourself why none of the other 26 teams can't operate like that either.

 

[bme44]

So now Sweeney has to have to stones to make deals like Vegas did.

Maybe if the tax situation was the same in all NHL sites . Or if the salary cap took into consideration that player are taxed higher in some organizations , through no fault of the organization. Vegas would not look so appealing to many players. Some of the teams generating the highest revenues for the league are the least attractive to players because of taxes. At present it is great advantage for certain teams Vegas being one of those.

 

[Bruins4Lifer]

I know it’s far away and everyone looks at Pastas window but if Toronto keeps trending down I’d hate to miss out on a shot at the Maddox Schultz kid he looks like a beast in my short viewings.

Yeah, he's gonna be great. Looking forward to seeing more of his games next year.

 

[Hookslide]

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.

You are so far off base.

 

[Oates2Neely]

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.

“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.

 

[wintersej]

The Bruins made the playoffs 24 years in a row during Sinden's time. But they weren't winning any Cups. So, the conclusion was the owner only demanded the playoffs (for the money), not a Cup. Basically, to blame the owner. As if winning the Cup wouldn't have made much more money for Mr. Jacobs.

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.

 

[shelbysdad]

Oh no it’s Roslovic season already? Thought we’d at least get to the draft first.

Followed closely by Dawson Mercer season....

 

[shelbysdad]

He's in his prime too 29 years old might be a el cheapo option.

29 is prime but several people here say 30 is old

 

[RhodyMike]

I wonder what the value of the Toronto pick is. Would a team like the Islanders or St.Louis view that as a potential top10 pick? Could that be a high risk/high value trade asset?

I bet Toronto would looooove to have that pick back and give it to themselves next year so they could control their own destiny. They really are between a rock and a hard place having to appease Matthews and win but not having the assets or roster to do so. I don’t think they have a good way to buy the pick back either

 

[MarchysNoseKnows]

The age debate is pretty tiring. But some stats from this year:

Only 62 players 35 or older played a game in the NHL this year.

Only 7 players scored 20 goals - Ovechkin, Crosby, Tavares, Stamkos, Eberle, Marchand, and Jordan Staal. Two generational players, two other former #1 picks, two outliers (Staal hadn’t scored 20 in 10 years). And then Marchand, the exception to a lot of rules.

27 35+ year olds had 30+ points. Take the above plus some D like Karlsson, Josi, Letang and Carlson, add in Patrick Kane and Malkin. Add some old warhorses like Benn, Giroux, Burns, Perry and Kopitar. And then a handful of mid tier guys like JVR, Anders Lee, Killorn and Backlund.

Only 18 had 40 points.

Of the top 100 points leaders only 12 were 33 are older. That’s 57 or more points.

Only 5 of the top 50 were 33 or older. Panarin, Crosby, O’Reilly, Stone, Tavares.

Only 1 of the top 38 were 33 or older - Panarin.

Of the top 50 average TOI leaders (22:23 TOI or more per game), only 4 were 33 or older. Karlsson, Carlson, Josi, Doughty.

Only 11 in the top 100 were 33 or older.

And for fun, only 6 of the top 50 on hits were 33 or older and 16 of the top 100 (and that somehow includes Ryan Reaves).

It’s not common to be an impact offensive player in your mid 30s or later -and many of those players are mutants like Kane, Stamkos, Crosby, Malkin, Ovi and the like.

So when people who are hesitant to sign up players like Zacha or Arvidsson to deals into their mid-30s are denigrated, to me it’s kind of silly.

 

[What The Puck]

“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.

What kind of help? After watching the playoffs, we might be the worst team out of the 16 to compete. There's nothing you're going to get for 2 of those picks that's going to spare us 7 goal beatdowns in the middle of December. Zacha and Arvidsson were on the team, so they are not the answer, either. One of my worries this summer is we are going to overpay, just like they did for all of the 4th liners filling out this lineup.

 

[UncleRico]

Maybe you should ask yourself why none of the other 26 teams can't operate like that either.

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.

 

[GHFC79]

The age debate is pretty tiring. But some stats from this year:

Only 62 players 35 or older played a game in the NHL this year.

Only 7 players scored 20 goals - Ovechkin, Crosby, Tavares, Stamkos, Eberle, Marchand, and Jordan Staal. Two generational players, two other former #1 picks, two outliers (Staal hadn’t scored 20 in 10 years). And then Marchand, the exception to a lot of rules.

27 35+ year olds had 30+ points. Take the above plus some D like Karlsson, Josi, Letang and Carlson, add in Patrick Kane and Malkin. Add some old warhorses like Benn, Giroux, Burns, Perry and Kopitar. And then a handful of mid tier guys like JVR, Anders Lee, Killorn and Backlund.

Only 18 had 40 points.

Of the top 100 points leaders only 12 were 33 are older. That’s 57 or more points.

Only 5 of the top 50 were 33 or older. Panarin, Crosby, O’Reilly, Stone, Tavares.

Only 1 of the top 38 were 33 or older - Panarin.

Of the top 50 average TOI leaders (22:23 TOI or more per game), only 4 were 33 or older. Karlsson, Carlson, Josi, Doughty.

Only 11 in the top 100 were 33 or older.

And for fun, only 6 of the top 50 on hits were 33 or older and 16 of the top 100 (and that somehow includes Ryan Reaves).

It’s not common to be an impact offensive player in your mid 30s or later -and many of those players are mutants like Kane, Stamkos, Crosby, Malkin, Ovi and the like.

So when people who are hesitant to sign up players like Zacha or Arvidsson to deals into their mid-30s are denigrated, to me it’s kind of silly.

If it's that tiring, you're certainly helping keep it alive.

 

[MarchysNoseKnows]

If it's that tiring, you're certainly helping keep it alive.

kind of figured that would be the general ballpark of your response to be honest.

 

[Dennis Bonvie]

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.

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.

 

[chizzler]

They can retool and when they are closer to having a decent team, then you can trade those assets. Right now, anything they do won’t move the needle and quite possibly hamper their wiggle room even further.

 

[BergyWho37]

“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.

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.