Boston Bruins 24-25 Roster/Cap thread VII

[Dennis Bonvie]

@LouJersey The problem really seems to be that they haven't drafted the next Bergeron and Krejci. The most important position on the ice especially in the Bruins' system, and they don't have those guys or anyone looking like they will be those guys. They can "retool" all they want but they are never going to replace those players that way. They need to draft them (both second rounders, so it's not like they need to tank to do it), or acquire someone young enough with that kind of potential. Getting established guys or nearly so as their retool plan I don't think pushes them to the next level.

You can go through all the drafts since Sweeney became GM and you won't find any Bergerons after the first round. Is Barzal an equivalent to Krejci? I don't think so, but they could have had him in 2015 because they had 3 first rounders.

Guys like Bergeron and Krejci don't slip through the cracks anymore.

 

[LouJersey]

@LouJersey The problem really seems to be that they haven't drafted the next Bergeron and Krejci. The most important position on the ice especially in the Bruins' system, and they don't have those guys or anyone looking like they will be those guys. They can "retool" all they want but they are never going to replace those players that way. They need to draft them (both second rounders, so it's not like they need to tank to do it), or acquire someone young enough with that kind of potential. Getting established guys or nearly so as their retool plan I don't think pushes them to the next level.

Agreed. I don't call it "re-tooling" it's more like treading water.

 

[Thirty Seven]

The Penguins sound like they're having a fire sale. Any interest in guys like Rakell, Rust, Bunting or anyone else from their team?

 

[BruinDust]

This is a common argument and I get why. But the vast majority of teams have at least a few really good pieces. Doesn't mean most of them are going anywhere fast. It's fortunate and good management for the Bruins to have those pieces, but are they a) the right ones? and b) are they enough in themselves to build a truly competitive team around, once you factor in limitations around the draft, our prospect pool, the state of the market etc.? Might be, hopefully it is, but might not be too. In which case, then what?

But I do agree, I would change management and get some fresh hands taking charge of this roster and its future direction before I would completely pull apart the current playing core. There is enough there, and enough argument as to why Sweeney and co. may simply have reached their used by dates, to warrant trying that road first, if indeed the Bs do DNQ this season.

The same reasoning applies to getting a new man behind the bench sooner rather than later too. May do nothing, but it would be useful to find out.

That's a good point. In terms of say Elias Lindholm, I think it is what it is. I do think Pasta and Swayman are the right pieces to have moving forward. But it's a great question, are those the right guys? Florida had Huberdeau looking like a long-term piece and wham, he was swapped for Tkachuk and look how that turned out.

But I thought about this the other day. If another team had an age/caliber comparable D-man to McAvoy, I would consider making a switch. Of the so-called franchise guys here, he'd be the first one I'd consider moving. It would have to be top-pair D-man out, top-pair D-man in. Very doubtful that opportunity exists but food for thought.

I'm also at the point where I'd listen on Carlo. Fact is, they've taken now 8 attempts essentially with those two as the cornerstone right-shot D-men, maybe it's time for a change. And if they decide they need scoring help like right now, Carlo (and his cap hit) might be what's needed to go off the roster to get that scoring help.

We (Bruins fans) make fun of the Leafs all the time about running it back with the Core 4 (Core 5 if you include Reilly). The Bruins have taken several kicks at the can now with Pasta/Marchand/McAvoy/Carlo/Coyle as the long-term members of this team. At what point do they try something else?

 

[JAD]

That's a good point. In terms of say Elias Lindholm, I think it is what it is. I do think Pasta and Swayman are the right pieces to have moving forward. But it's a great question, are those the right guys? Florida had Huberdeau looking like a long-term piece and wham, he was swapped for Tkachuk and look how that turned out.

But I thought about this the other day. If another team had an age/caliber comparable D-man to McAvoy, I would consider making a switch. Of the so-called franchise guys here, he'd be the first one I'd consider moving. It would have to be top-pair D-man out, top-pair D-man in. Very doubtful that opportunity exists but food for thought.

I'm also at the point where I'd listen on Carlo. Fact is, they've taken now 8 attempts essentially with those two as the cornerstone right-shot D-men, maybe it's time for a change. And if they decide they need scoring help like right now, Carlo (and his cap hit) might be what's needed to go off the roster to get that scoring help.

We (Bruins fans) make fun of the Leafs all the time about running it back with the Core 4 (Core 5 if you include Reilly). The Bruins have taken several kicks at the can now with Pasta/Marchand/McAvoy/Carlo/Coyle as the long-term members of this team. At what point do they try something else?

I'm just spitting into the wind here, but ...

If the Bruins are not in the playoffs and not fighting for a wild card spot come the deadline then they should trade Coyle.

If they are in the playoffs or in the hunt, Coyle should be traded in the off season .

Coyle can be a good 3rd line center, but recently he has been misused by not using him to his strengths and trying to make him into something he is not.
Yes, that is an opinion, but if they insist on him being something he is not then trade for someone who is, or another need.

He will have a year left on his contract and hopefully will bring more in return than if he were a rental.
The reason being that what he brings to the team the Bruins have other players that could do the same, and maybe more, if given a consistent chance.

I could easily name 5 or 6 other players, not named Lindholm or Zacha, currently on the roster that could step in and play third line center right now. Keeping Coyle will in the long run block the development of some of these other players.

Coyle is a luxury, above average, 3rd line center on a true contender.
If the Bruins are not a true contender he becomes expendable.
Coyle is a good player and could bring a decent return especially from a contender.
Sure, he has had a good run here in Boston, but adding in age, tradeable cap hit, it may be time to move on.
Either at the deadline or the off season.

 

[Aussie Bruin]

That's a good point. In terms of say Elias Lindholm, I think it is what it is. I do think Pasta and Swayman are the right pieces to have moving forward. But it's a great question, are those the right guys? Florida had Huberdeau looking like a long-term piece and wham, he was swapped for Tkachuk and look how that turned out.

But I thought about this the other day. If another team had an age/caliber comparable D-man to McAvoy, I would consider making a switch. Of the so-called franchise guys here, he'd be the first one I'd consider moving. It would have to be top-pair D-man out, top-pair D-man in. Very doubtful that opportunity exists but food for thought.

I'm also at the point where I'd listen on Carlo. Fact is, they've taken now 8 attempts essentially with those two as the cornerstone right-shot D-men, maybe it's time for a change. And if they decide they need scoring help like right now, Carlo (and his cap hit) might be what's needed to go off the roster to get that scoring help.

We (Bruins fans) make fun of the Leafs all the time about running it back with the Core 4 (Core 5 if you include Reilly). The Bruins have taken several kicks at the can now with Pasta/Marchand/McAvoy/Carlo/Coyle as the long-term members of this team. At what point do they try something else?

The Tkachuk/Huberdeau case is a great example. I thought Huberdeau was a fantastic player for the Panthers. But making a bold move for Tkachuk instead won them a Cup. No doubt about it. They also didn't rest easy on a very capable player like Dadonov. Instead they ambitiously upgraded to Reinhart. I know that's not easy for just any team to do and is circumstance-dependent, but you get the point.

There's risk in changing core pieces. The Tkachuk trade could easily have blown up. But I think it's something that should at least be on the table. Just because Carlo is a good player - and whatever his recent struggles, he is - doesn't mean there aren't better options that would be more beneficial for the Bruins at any particular time.

If the little bit of early trade chatter does it fact turn into something, perhaps we will see a medium-sized move along those lines. Not a McAvoy type, certainly, but a Carlo or similar just might be on the move.

 

[BruinDust]

I'm just spitting into the wind here, but ...

If the Bruins are not in the playoffs and not fighting for a wild card spot come the deadline then they should trade Coyle.

If they are in the playoffs or in the hunt, Coyle should be traded in the off season .

I sort of wish they traded him this past summer when they signed Lindholm. I felt even before the Lindholm signing was done that both guys would have similar roles here and sort of redundant. Then they'd have Coyle's cap space to either use last summer, or have the space now in the event scoring help becomes available via trade mid-season. It certainly would of been doable coming of a 60 pt. season.

Now, he needs to bounce back from an unproductive start to be able to move him and that contract either at the deadline or next summer. I'm very much on board moving on from him (and I like him overall, but feel his cap could be better used elsewhere).

If the Bruins aren't really in the playoff hunt at the deadline, I have a list of about 12 guys I'd look at moving. Certainly wouldn't move all of them, but I'd be listening on them all.

Marchand (UFA)
Carlo
Coyle (1 year left)
Brazeau (UFA)
Frederic (UFA)
Koepke (UFA)
Geekie (RFA may not be qualified)
Jones
Johnson (UFA)
Wotherspoon (UFA)
Peeke (1 year left)
Korpisalo

 

[Guelph Bruin]

Don't trade Freddy, he's the future of the organization in terms of leading by example...which is to say show up every 3rd game...seems like the team is listening this year

 

[BigGoalBrad]

I'm just spitting into the wind here, but ...

If the Bruins are not in the playoffs and not fighting for a wild card spot come the deadline then they should trade Coyle.

If they are in the playoffs or in the hunt, Coyle should be traded in the off season .

Coyle can be a good 3rd line center, but recently he has been misused by not using him to his strengths and trying to make him into something he is not.
Yes, that is an opinion, but if they insist on him being something he is not then trade for someone who is, or another need.

He will have a year left on his contract and hopefully will bring more in return than if he were a rental.
The reason being that what he brings to the team the Bruins have other players that could do the same, and maybe more, if given a consistent chance.

I could easily name 5 or 6 other players, not named Lindholm or Zacha, currently on the roster that could step in and play third line center right now. Keeping Coyle will in the long run block the development of some of these other players.

Coyle is a luxury, above average, 3rd line center on a true contender.
If the Bruins are not a true contender he becomes expendable.
Coyle is a good player and could bring a decent return especially from a contender.
Sure, he has had a good run here in Boston, but adding in age, tradeable cap hit, it may be time to move on.
Either at the deadline or the off season.

He needs to go if only to send a message to the other country club vets.

Boring period I guess we're playing for OT and hoping to win a shootout.

 

[Mantis]

Peeke and Lindholm both injured? Come on down Alec Regula and Ian Mitchell!

 

[MarchysNoseKnows]

Peeke and Lindholm both injured? Come on down Alec Regula and Ian Mitchell!

Regula is injured

 

[neelynugs]

Peeke and Lindholm both injured? Come on down Alec Regula and Ian Mitchell!

their depth isn't very good on D. i think it's ian mitchell and maybe mike callahan

 

[Mr. Make-Believe]

their depth isn't very good on D. i think it's ian mitchell and maybe mike callahan

Yikes

 

[neelynugs]

Yikes

no doubt. i guess jordan oesterle is an option too - he has a lot of experience. no idea how he's
playing this year, but he's probably an 8 if we're being honest.

 

[quietbruinfan]

I think Coyle is carrying an injury suffered in camp. He has no other excuse for his play. I say trade him. I have never been a fan and he is probably close to cashed out either way.

 

[Oates2Neely]

I think they’ll find their game soon and finish 2nd in the Atlantic. I’d still like to see a 2nd line scoring wing added

 

[22Brad Park]

I think they’ll find their game soon and finish 2nd in the Atlantic. I’d still like to see a 2nd line scoring wing added

If they can finish 2nd it would be impressive .Need to string a few Ws.I agree with your last part

 

[Carl Hungus]

Is there an update on Peeke

 

[PlayMakers]

This term is driving me nuts. Don't champions re-tool? They have won one round in three years and that was with their worst team.

The Detroit/Pittburgh comp is them when they started their demise/lackluster play, one round and done. Bruins are trending that way, and some would say already are there.

Where are all the good players coming from to push Boston to where we all want them to be? The July 1 guys have been overrated and overpaid for a few years now, there isn't much in the pipeline either. Marchand is old. Coyle looks old. Lindholm not young. McAvoy was better before his big extension. Lindholm looks great, but wrong side of 30. Carlo is limited. Lohrei who knows. Zadorov stinks. Swayman I am hoping like hell he's just gotta get up to speed. Re-tooling is a player or two away from being a Cup contender IMO, which I don't see here right now.

I don't associate championships with re-tooling, I associate old teams. If you have an old team, you can rebuild or re-tool. The Bruins have chosen the latter.

Good players will need to come from free agency and later in the draft (non top10 picks). That's where they got Chara, Savard and Thomas (UFA's). It's where they got Marchand, Krejci and Lucic (non top10 drafts). Heck, it's where they got Pastrnak, Swayman and McAvoy. Hopefully Lohrei and Poitras will be other examples of impactful players from late in the draft.

I don't agree that the whole team sucks either. It's weird for me because at the start of the season I kept saying something is wrong and most folks told me I was panicking and being alarmist... and now I feel like sentiment has swung too far the other way. We've gone from something is wrong to everybody sucks. Two months ago, nobody here thought our roster sucked.

I think we're caught in a perfect storm of issues...

Marchand and Pasta, the teams two best and most important players and play drivers are off to slow starts. The guys who are supposed to lift everyone up aren't doing it. (Not so much Marchand lately, and Pasta had his first good game in 8). The team in general is 20th in the league in shooting percent and I'm sure their best players not being on top of their game is contributing to that (both from them not scoring and from them setting up others for easy goals).

McAvoy, for the first time in his career, doesn't have a partner he gels with. Chara's gone, Grzelcyk is gone. Zadorov has been a mess. NHL coaches say it takes 3 months to learn a new system so some of Z's struggles could be just that, but he's also taking penalties and there's no excuse for that.

Swayman and his giant ego missed all of camp (which was a major distraction) and Mr Top5 goalie is off to a predictably slow start and is currently ranked 39th in the league (8 spots behind the backup nobody wanted). Swayman has been particularly bad on the penalty kill. This is not all on him, again Zadorov is an important PK'er and he's frequently out of position. They let Forbort go who was an important PK'er. They're trying new forwards on the PK who are learning new systems... but for Swayman's part, he is 73rd out of 74 NHL goalies in saves above expected on the PK.

Last but not least, there are roster issues. The chemistry was not there with Zacha-Lindholm-Pasta and trying to force it for 8 games cost them. We are at least one top6 player short of six top6 players. We knew that going in, but it seemed Sweeney overestimated their ability to weather that deficiency like they had in the past when Krejci was able to carry a line with only one legit winger. Coyle can't do that. So not only was Zacha-Lindholm-Pasta not working but you had no one left to play with Marchand-Coyle which meant the second line wasn't working either, and was losing their matchup every night. They're still trying to find a solution to that problem which is why we continue to see a carousel of combinations.

 

[PlayMakers]

I’d still like to see a 2nd line scoring wing added

I think they need to shift their focus from 2RW to 1LW.

Brazeau is doing a great job on the 2nd line and that trio has chemistry. It's nice that Geekie scored tonight and it would be a great if he suddenly became the answer there, but if not that's going to be the hole they need to fill.

They can't be a great team without a dominant first line.

 

[KillerMillerTime]

their depth isn't very good on D. i think it's ian mitchell and maybe mike callahan

Oesterle also is in the mix to be recalled.

 

[KillerMillerTime]

I think they’ll find their game soon and finish 2nd in the Atlantic. I’d still like to see a 2nd line scoring wing added

No way are they finishing 2nd. They were fortunate last year they had a weak starting schedule and played their best hockey of the season going 9-0-1 riding Swayman\Ullmark, great PK, Coyle having a career year and JVR having a great start
until DeBrusk, Frederic, Heinen and Geekie contributed.

The rest of the season they played at close to #1 WC level hockey. They are now through 20% of the season and are clearly not anything close to a Cup contender. Weaker in net, defense and upfront.

 

[Dizzay]

What does Coyle get you in a trade?
I wonder if we could do a Hall for Coyle?
We got Zacha-Lindholm-Freddy-Poitras-Kastelic down the middle
Hall had great chemistry with Pasta, and a Hall-Zacha-Pasta top line would be an improvement

 

[The Andrew Peeke Fan]

They should stop trying so hard to win.

 

[Blowfish]

What does Coyle get you in a trade?
I wonder if we could do a Hall for Coyle?
We got Zacha-Lindholm-Freddy-Poitras-Kastelic down the middle
Hall had great chemistry with Pasta, and a Hall-Zacha-Pasta top line would be an improvement

Let’s trade the only guy who works hard every night, wins puck battles, good on F/Os, excellent puck possession, plays PK and PP, can play up down lineup, and comes with good contract and puts up points consistently. Yah no thanks. When should e be resigning Coyle is the question.