Boston Bruins 2026 OFFSEASON Roster & Salary Cap III.

[BiteThisBurrows]

I disagree. These teams are largely driven by guys under 30. Eichel is 28, Marner is 28, Dorofyev 24, Barbashev 29, Hanifin 28, Rasmussen 28, Howden 27, Kolesar is 28... For Carolina, Stankoven is 22, Aho is 28, Ehlers 29, Svechnickov 25, Jarvis 23, Blake 22, K'Andre Miller 25, Nikishin 23...

Florida was no different. Barkov, Bennett, Tkachuk, Verhaeghe, Reinhart, Lundell, Ekblad, Rodrigues, Forsling, Luostarinen, Jones, Montour all under 30...

I think it's fine to have a handful of older players, but it's very rare to see a team win when their primary drivers are 31+, or the majority of the team is 31+.

I'm going to keep saying this over and over until everybody gets it. It's not about age, it's about speed. Skating ability.

 

[quietbruinfan]

I am not a Larkin guy. I am on the record on HF as calling him "barely a second line center. " He has grown on me since then. I now think he is a gritty, fast, high-end second liner. However, this trade demand, while understanable I guess, is a mark against him.

 

[sarge88]

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.

Here’s my issue with not going after players who I’ve seen people say similar things that you are saying about Larkin… (Thomas, Pettersson, etc.).

No, that one guy won’t make us a contender (TBH, there are probably 5 guys currently in the NHL who can elevate a mediocre team to contender by themselves)…..but, it takes a collection of good to very good players to win a cup. Building a contender isn’t linear.

If you continue to avoid going after upper level players because they aren’t a panacea, you’re left hoping that guys who haven’t done anything in the league yet become as good as the guy you’re afraid to go after now.

I agree you can’t leave the cupboard bare, but a Larkin, would go a long way toward helping this team become legitimate, provided some of the young guys develop as hoped.

 

[PB37]

I'm going to keep saying this over and over until everybody gets it. It's not about age, it's about speed. Skating ability.

Vegas seems to have been a below average skating team in the regular season

 

[Boston BROin]

Here’s my issue with not going after players who I’ve seen people say similar things that you are saying about Larkin… (Thomas, Pettersson, etc.).

No, that one guy won’t make us a contender (TBH, there are probably 5 guys currently in the NHL who can elevate a mediocre team to contender by themselves)…..but, it takes a collection of good to very good players to win a cup. Building a contender isn’t linear.

If you continue to avoid going after upper level players because they aren’t a panacea, you’re left hoping that guys who haven’t done anything in the league yet become as good as the guy you’re afraid to go after now.

I agree you can’t leave the cupboard bare, but a Larkin, would go a long way toward helping this team become legitimate, provided some of the young guys develop as hoped.

Not just that, but you signed Pasta, McAvoy and Swayman for a reason. They need help and the Lindholms, Zachary and Geekies of the world aren't enough. Important? Yes, but they need an Eichel to their Marner or a Svechnikov to their Aho.

 

[BadBruins]

Can't see the Bruins being on Larkins short list. I've never viewed him as a true/traditional #1 C anyway, despite all the things he brings to the game. If you're going to give up a massive haul, I'm not sure this is your guy.

I also have little faith in Sweeney to be aggressive in pursuit of trades. Fully expect it will be another off-season where the vast majority is done on the first day of free agency.

 

[The don godfather]

Can't see the Bruins being on Larkins short list. I've never viewed him as a true/traditional #1 C anyway, despite all the things he brings to the game. If you're going to give up a massive haul, I'm not sure this is your guy.

I also have little faith in Sweeney to be aggressive in pursuit of trades. Fully expect it will be another off-season where the vast majority is done on the first day of free agency.

He will get Rasmus it's no big secret he wants him.

 

[PlayMakers]

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.

I agree with you on the D situation. Without that top10 pick from TO I don't see help coming from the draft for a few years and I don't want Peeke back. I'm okay with signing a top4 D for two reasons 1) it improves our defense and 2) it allows us to trade a D for help up front. But if we do that I think they need to be mindful of those 30+ numbers and make some hard decisions on Arvidsson and Zacha.

 

[PlayMakers]

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

And yet, still driven by guys 30 and under. 12 of their top 16 scorers are 30 or younger. Their goalie is 27.

A lot of the guys pushing that average up aren't playing in the playoffs. Reilly Smith, Megna, Saad, Hutton...

 

[PlayMakers]

I'm going to keep saying this over and over until everybody gets it. It's not about age, it's about speed. Skating ability.

I don't agree. Vegas is not a fast team. Florida is not a fast team. The majority of FLA's forwards are under the 60th percentile for speed. They don't rank in the top10 for forwards speed or defensemen speed. They didn't win two Cups by being fast, in fact they beat the fastest team in the league twice! They beat Carolina who's significantly faster.

 

[GHFC79]

Vegas seems to have been a below average skating team in the regular season
View attachment 1249742

Toughness is so last season.

 

[UncleRico]

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.

So you don’t want the Bruins to trade their prospects for a PPG center, who is also above average defensively and has been an over 20 plus/minus on a bad St. Louis team the last two years.

But you also don’t want to move on from Pastrnak and Mcavoy.

By the time these prospects are ready to actually contribute to a contender Pastrnak and Mcavoy will be early to mid 30s and their window basically over. If they don’t already ask for a trade before that due to the bruins not making moves to get better around them.

So exactly what is your plan just let Pastrnak and Mcavoy window die?

 

[quietbruinfan]

I agree with the idea that Player X may not make us a contender but we must start trying to acquire top end talent.

Given the glut of available centers and our surplus of picks, I think it is finally time Sweeneely pulled the trigger.

 

[Mr. Make-Believe]

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.

Will never happen, but it’s an opinion I stand by anyway:

If you have a NTC and you formally request to be traded, you nullify that NTC.

I strongly believe in players' rights. But to me, it’s silly to say “Trade me AND I get to pick my destination without any thought or care for the organization who I’m under contract with.”

It’s totally different if the organization wants to move on. That NTC protects the player, giving them a voice in the negotiation to ensure they go to a place that’s amiable to them. But if you want to be a pisspot, then going into an unideal situation should be the risk you have to take.

 

[MarchysNoseKnows]

So you don’t want the Bruins to trade their prospects for a PPG center, who is also above average defensively and has been an over 20 plus/minus on a bad St. Louis team the last two years.

But you also don’t want to move on from Pastrnak and Mcavoy.

By the time these prospects are ready to actually contribute to a contender Pastrnak and Mcavoy will be early to mid 30s and their window basically over. If they don’t already ask for a trade before that due to the bruins not making moves to get better around them.

So exactly what is your plan just let Pastrnak and Mcavoy window die?

Yeah I mean Pasta and McAvoy can still contribute when they’re 33-34. I’m not driving the whole franchise direction around those two guys.

 

[BlackFrancis]

Will never happen, but it’s an opinion I stand by anyway:

If you have a NTC and you formally request to be traded, you nullify that NTC.

I strongly believe in players' rights. But to me, it’s silly to say “Trade me AND I get to pick my destination without any thought or care for the organization who I’m under contract with.”

It’s totally different if the organization wants to move on. That NTC protects the player, giving them a voice in the negotiation to ensure they go to a place that’s amiable to them. But if you want to be a pisspot, then going into an unideal situation should be the risk you have to take.

Well, it's not like management and ownership won't be complete shitbags and threaten to send a player to the AHL if they only have trade protection instead of movement protection.

All matters on the current relationship, really. If you want good will, foster it.

 

[UncleRico]

Yeah I mean Pasta and McAvoy can still contribute when they’re 33-34. I’m not driving the whole franchise direction around those two guys.

If I’m Pastrnak and Mcavoy in asking to be traded if I have to wait until 33-34 for everything to go right and these prospects reach their potential.

 

[22Brad Park]

If I’m Pastrnak and Mcavoy in asking to be traded if I have to wait until 33-34 for everything to go right and these prospects reach their potential.

If it takes Hagens 7 years to reach his potential, then it won't be as a Bruin.

 

[MarchysNoseKnows]

If I’m Pastrnak and Mcavoy in asking to be traded if I have to wait until 33-34 for everything to go right and these prospects reach their potential.

Jesus - this just doesn’t happen. Not in a situation like this. This isn’t the NFL.

They didn’t ask out when they tore down the scaffolding around them. They’re going to demand a trade because we don’t trade for one guy who most likely isn’t available?

Pasta/McAvoy: “You didn’t empty the farm for Robert Thomas. I want out”

Bruins: “No”

Pasta/McAvoy: “…”

 

[BruinDust]

Will never happen, but it’s an opinion I stand by anyway:

If you have a NTC and you formally request to be traded, you nullify that NTC.

I would have no problem with that at all. Players can't have their cake and eat it too.

Well, it's not like management and ownership won't be complete shitbags and threaten to send a player to the AHL if they only have trade protection instead of movement protection.

Except in this situation the Larkin camp know full well the Wings aren't putting him on waivers to send him down to the AHL.

 

[MarchysNoseKnows]

I would have no problem with that at all. Players can't have their cake and eat it too.



Except in this situation the Larkin camp know full well the Wings aren't putting him on waivers to send him down to the AHL.

The players get to have cake. The owners get a lot of cake. The players only have a couple of places where they can exert leverage - if the market doesn’t support you getting a NTC, then it won’t give it to you.

This is negotiated and approved by both sides. Being against this is being pro-owner over pro-player and I don’t know why anyone would do that in this situation. NHL players hit free agency later than any other league.

 

[Coach Parker]

How many more days before the Cup is awarded and the Bruins can start making some trades already? Sweeney didn't hold back when he made the Ullmark trade.

Quick, beore NHL teams look up Zacha's playoffs stats...move him!

 

[UncleRico]

Jesus - this just doesn’t happen. Not in a situation like this. This isn’t the NFL.

They didn’t ask out when they tore down the scaffolding around them. They’re going to demand a trade because we don’t trade for one guy who most likely isn’t available?

Pasta/McAvoy: “You didn’t empty the farm for Robert Thomas. I want out”

Bruins: “No”

Pasta/McAvoy: “…”

Well not exactly like that but players request trades all the time when they are getting later in their careers and haven’t won a cup

 

[MarchysNoseKnows]

Well not exactly like that but players request trades all the time when they are getting later in their careers and haven’t won a cup

All the time? Top players on their team with four years left on their contracts, for a franchise that isn’t in a full rebuild. A franchise that has missed the playoffs once in a decade. That happens all the time?

 

[marianne99]