Boston Bruins 24-25 Roster/Cap thread XIX

[JCRO]

I just don't believe in Lindholm as a viable 2c. He's got two consecutive 40 points seasons now. Until he proves otherwise, he's an expensive 3c.

https://puckpedia.com/player/elias-lindholm/buyout?s=2025-2026

That is absolutely intriguing to say the least.

According to this puckpedia buyout calculator, if they buyout Elias Lindholm this offseason, they only have a cap hit of 1.65 over 12 years.

Call me crazy but I also think it’s a form of crazy to just to accept that they’re paying this guy top 6 money to play on the third line. Where they could cut ties now and go get someone else this offseason (and hopefully not have the same discussion about that player a year from now lol).

I don’t usually like to bring up unrealistic scenarios. But I honestly don’t see this as THAT unrealistic given where they’re at.

 

[sarge88]

So looks like at least in some corners Beecher has inherited the available hate now that some key whipping boys have been dealt.

I will be stunned if Beecher is not on the roster come opening night

If Sacco is here, definitely.

However, in fairness to the whipping boys who have left, at least the offered something in the way of effective play.

Beecher may be in the midst of the worst season of any Bruin who has played over 90% of their games.

 

[PlayMakers]

https://puckpedia.com/player/elias-lindholm/buyout?s=2025-2026

That is absolutely intriguing to say the least.

According to this puckpedia buyout calculator, if they buyout Elias Lindholm this offseason, they only have a cap hit of 1.65 over 12 years.

Call me crazy but I also think it’s a form of crazy to just to accept that they’re paying this guy top 6 money to play on the third line. Where they could cut ties now and go get someone else this offseason (and hopefully not have the same discussion about that player a year from now lol).

I don’t usually like to bring up unrealistic scenarios. But I honestly don’t see this as THAT unrealistic given where they’re at.

I've played around with this as well. The cap hit is actually...
$3.4
$3.9
$3.9
$4.6
$4.6
$5.4
$1.6
$1.6
$1.6
$1.6
$1.6
$1.6

If I'm the GM, it's not off the table. They'd save $4.3 against the cap next year. The savings get smaller as the years go along but the cap goes up as it goes along.

Ultimately, I think I would give him one more season to see if A) he improves or B) can be effective in a lesser role. If he can be a really, really good 3C, then as the cap goes up his contract will fall back in line with the rising pay scale. Plus, you can always buy him out in a year or two, and that lowers (x2) the number of years his dead money is on the books.

 

[Absurdity]

I wonder if the Bruins are going to dip their toes into signing a player to an offersheet this season, or at least threaten one in order to get a trade done. I believe they now have the draft capital to sign a player to an AAV between $9,161,834 - $11,452,294 prorated over 5 years.

I'm looking at Vilardi, McTavish, Rossi, and Kakko.

 

[sarge88]

Geekie-Zacha-Pastrnak
Mittlestadt-Poitras-Marner
Khusnetdinov-Minten-Lindholm
Lauko-Kastelic-Beecher
Koepke

Lindholm-McAvoy
Zadorov-Peeke
Lohrei-Wotherspoon
Mitchell

I would have said Marner was a pipe dream before reading they asked him waive his NTC for Rantanen.

Now, especially if Toronto and this core does their usual disappearing act, I think it’s at least possible.

The flexibility of Zacha and Geekie is so important.

If they were able to get a Marner, Ehlers, or Boeser, they could still use Zacha at Center. Geekie’s ability to play either wing allows them the ability to mix and match as needed.

As much as we’d like them to draft a forward who can play next season, it’s both unlikely and unnecessary.

The moves they made this week makes it possible to ice a legitimately good team, with two lines that can score 70-75 goals each.

Perfect world, Marrchand comes back for 5 and they get Ehlers or Boeser for 8.5.

Marchand 20
Zacha 15
Pasta 40

Ehlers/Boeser 25
Middlestadt 20
Geekie 25

That’s two legit scoring lines. Now, if they do the almost impossible and get Marner, that probably cuts Marchand out and a Poitras, Lindholm, or someone else needs to step into the top 6.

 

[quietbruinfan]

I've played around with this as well. The cap hit is actually...
$3.4
$3.9
$3.9
$4.6
$4.6
$5.4
$1.6
$1.6
$1.6
$1.6
$1.6
$1.6

If I'm the GM, it's not off the table. They'd save $4.3 against the cap next year. The savings get smaller as the years go along but the cap goes up as it goes along.

Ultimately, I think I would give him one more season to see if A) he improves or B) can be effective in a lesser role. If he can be a really, really good 3C, then as the cap goes up his contract will fall back in line with the rising pay scale. Plus, you can always buy him out in a year or two, and that lowers (x2) the number of years his dead money is on the books.

Good work, thanks. I am afraid he is a 40 point third line center and the next gm will NEVER be allowed to buy him out.

He can do much better with a fast, creative play-making center or winger a'la' Marner or the late Mr Gaudreau.
His legs are good and his hands are a little better than average. But he does not like the dirty areas , and he is not creative or crafty at all. He needs a quick crafty linemate. Marner or a discounted/retained Huberdeau come to mind. Yes Hubie is a huge risk and has slowed down, but you get the idea. He has to get his noose dirtier and work closer to the net.

 

[Hookslide]

I just don't believe in Lindholm as a viable 2c. He's got two consecutive 40 points seasons now. Until he proves otherwise, he's an expensive 3c.

https://puckpedia.com/player/elias-lindholm/buyout?s=2025-2026

That is absolutely intriguing to say the least.

According to this puckpedia buyout calculator, if they buyout Elias Lindholm this offseason, they only have a cap hit of 1.65 over 12 years.

Call me crazy but I also think it’s a form of crazy to just to accept that they’re paying this guy top 6 money to play on the third line. Where they could cut ties now and go get someone else this offseason (and hopefully not have the same discussion about that player a year from now lol).

I don’t usually like to bring up unrealistic scenarios. But I honestly don’t see this as THAT unrealistic given where they’re at.

Let me add to that unrealistic scenario. Buy out, Lindholm, trade Swayman, and add about 15 mil to your coffers, should be done before the draft.

 

[pucksindeep92]

I've played around with this as well. The cap hit is actually...
$3.4
$3.9
$3.9
$4.6
$4.6
$5.4
$1.6
$1.6
$1.6
$1.6
$1.6
$1.6

If I'm the GM, it's not off the table. They'd save $4.3 against the cap next year. The savings get smaller as the years go along but the cap goes up as it goes along.

Ultimately, I think I would give him one more season to see if A) he improves or B) can be effective in a lesser role. If he can be a really, really good 3C, then as the cap goes up his contract will fall back in line with the rising pay scale. Plus, you can always buy him out in a year or two, and that lowers (x2) the number of years his dead money is on the books.

I’m down to buyout after trying these 4 steps in order:

1. See how the first 40 games go next season, my bet, he improves production by 20-30%
2. Trade with money retained, in a package
3. Make Chara his worst nightmare and train him into oblivion
4. Illicit substances in his morning coffee

 

[Blitzkrug]

Lord help me if Marner signs in Boston. The amount of whataboutisms and strawmen i would have to employ while talking to my Leaf fans buddies to avoid the fact i spent most of his career shitting on him would make anchors of a certain TV news network blush.

 

[sarge88]

Lord help me if Marner signs in Boston. The amount of whataboutisms and strawmen i would have to employ while talking to my Leaf fans buddies to avoid the fact i spent most of his career shitting on him would make anchors of a certain TV news network blush.

But, if he wins a cup here, you can always point out how much Boston “fixed him” and how everyone is better off not playing in Toronto.

 

[BruinDust]

Ultimately, I think I would give him one more season to see if A) he improves or B) can be effective in a lesser role. If he can be a really, really good 3C, then as the cap goes up his contract will fall back in line with the rising pay scale. Plus, you can always buy him out in a year or two, and that lowers (x2) the number of years his dead money is on the books.

Watching Mittlestadt yesterday, I wonder if the solution is shifting Lindholm to Mittlestadt's RW.

Mittlestadt looks like a center, his strength is puck distribution. But he's not great on face-offs.

Meanwhile Lindholm is strong on face-offs, but one of his strengths from what I've seen is getting in on the forecheck and playing physical. I remember one hit he laid (I think it was Ekholm on Edmonton) where Lindholm laid waste to him on a great hit down in the corner off the forecheck. Playing wing lets him use that strength more with less defensive responsibilities. I have the same theory about Kastelic on the wing. Frees him up to do what he does best, terrorize D-men on the forecheck. They can still take face-offs and not play C.

Then factor in now you have two of Boston's better young players are Poitras and Mintin, both centers at least thus far in their careers. Where do they fit short term if your 3 centers are Zacha/Mittlestadt/Lindholm? Lindholm can still be used at C on PK duty.

 

[Bruin4]

I would have said Marner was a pipe dream before reading they asked him waive his NTC for Rantanen.

Now, especially if Toronto and this core does their usual disappearing act, I think it’s at least possible.


That’s two legit scoring lines. Now, if they do the almost impossible and get Marner, that probably cuts Marchand out and a Poitras, Lindholm, or someone else needs to step into the top 6.

If I'm Sweeney Im going hard after Marner if he hits FA. Make the leafs rue the day they ever decided to deal with you, and watch their 2026 1st rnd pick fall all the way to #6 overall.

 

[JoeIsAStud]

Let me add to that unrealistic scenario. Buy out, Lindholm, trade Swayman, and add about 15 mil to your coffers, should be done before the draft.

If you make the above moves you are still competing with 7 or so other teams who will have just as much cap space.

WHo are you going to spend all this money on? Are you giving Marner 15 million a year? Beyond that what? going to overpay for some players in their mid 30s, because nothing ever goes wrong with that. I guess we can give Marchy 7-9 million of that for a few years.

If you wave Lindholm to bring in what Brock nelson, so you are basically paying him the equivalent of 11 million for the next 5-6 years? (7 mil for his salary plus 4 mil for Lindholm buyout)??

And if you trade Swayman, what is your goaltending moving forward? Korpisalo, and DiPietro? No real chance of competing in the near future with that , so what is the pont

 

[The Hockey Tonk Man]

https://puckpedia.com/player/elias-lindholm/buyout?s=2025-2026

That is absolutely intriguing to say the least.

According to this puckpedia buyout calculator, if they buyout Elias Lindholm this offseason, they only have a cap hit of 1.65 over 12 years.

Call me crazy but I also think it’s a form of crazy to just to accept that they’re paying this guy top 6 money to play on the third line. Where they could cut ties now and go get someone else this offseason (and hopefully not have the same discussion about that player a year from now lol).

I don’t usually like to bring up unrealistic scenarios. But I honestly don’t see this as THAT unrealistic given where they’re at.

I’d give him another year or two, maybe he can find some chemistry with someone. Lysell? Swedish boys!

One of the new adds? Who knows.
Maybe a new coach will help as well. Really hope Sacco is gone the day the season ends

Bruins came out of the gate in a mess (coaching, swayman, etc) & it’s continued all season

Think with the rising cap it won’t be the worst. They were paying Coyle $5 to be a third line guy, with the rising cap it seems fairly similar.

 

[Jorah Marshmont]

If I'm Sweeney Im going hard after Marner if he hits FA. Make the leafs rue the day they ever decided to deal with you, and watch their 2026 1st rnd pick fall all the way to #6 overall.

Given past history of trading with the Leafs, I’m expecting at least one of 3 things to happen:

1. Minten becomes a PPG NHL player
2. That first rounder ends up 6th overall
3. We find a franchise level player with the 4th round pick

 

[pucksindeep92]

Given past history of trading with the Leafs, I’m expecting at least one of 3 things to happen:

1. Minten becomes a PPG NHL player
2. That first rounder ends up 6th overall
3. We find a franchise level player with the 4th round pick

and be, it shall

 

[pucksindeep92]

Been saying ont his site for weeks that if we trade Marchand and Coyle we have little in the way of experienced vets, which is bad. Everyone says get younger, but in reality, look at the teams on the left vs the right.

Good thing is, age comes cheaper than youth. I want Duchene real bad.

Also, Drouin might be cheap-ish with good upside as a winger and is older than our average yet not crusty.

 

[PB37]

View attachment 990577
Been saying ont his site for weeks that if we trade Marchand and Coyle we have little in the way of experienced vets, which is bad. Everyone says get younger, but in reality, look at the teams on the left vs the right.

Good thing is, age comes cheaper than youth. I want Duchene real bad.

Also, Drouin might be cheap-ish with good upside as a winger and is older than our average yet not crusty.

I think you've got the right idea but I also think adding old guys with the assumption they'll be leaders might be wishful thinking. It's got to be the right older vets who are locker room/on ice leader types ( still hoping that's Marchand ).

 

[PlayMakers]

View attachment 990577
Been saying ont his site for weeks that if we trade Marchand and Coyle we have little in the way of experienced vets, which is bad. Everyone says get younger, but in reality, look at the teams on the left vs the right.

Good thing is, age comes cheaper than youth. I want Duchene real bad.

Also, Drouin might be cheap-ish with good upside as a winger and is older than our average yet not crusty.

That's shocking. I knew they were young, I was looking at the roster the other day and thinking, 'look at all this youth!' But I didn't realize we were that young, 2nd youngest in the NHL.

 

[wintersej]

View attachment 990577
Been saying ont his site for weeks that if we trade Marchand and Coyle we have little in the way of experienced vets, which is bad. Everyone says get younger, but in reality, look at the teams on the left vs the right.

Good thing is, age comes cheaper than youth. I want Duchene real bad.

Also, Drouin might be cheap-ish with good upside as a winger and is older than our average yet not crusty.

I don’t think Duchene is ever leaving cowboy hat country.

 

[pucksindeep92]

Neal Pionk would be an excellent, mobile 2nd pairing RD behind McAvoy. If Chychrun was cheaper and a RD, I’d be all over that. Gavrikov other great option if he can go offside. Maybe you can use Peeke to trade up at the draft, or for the rights to some interesting RFA options in order to make salary space for Joki and your next RD.

Marner, Ehlers, Boeser in that order.

Duchene or Drouin as depth scoring.

Fill with PVD and cheap contracts for the rest.

 

[PlayMakers]

Neal Pionk would be an excellent, mobile 2nd pairing RD behind McAvoy. If Chychrun was cheaper and a RD, I’d be all over that. Gavrikov other great option if he can go offside. Maybe you can use Peeke to trade up at the draft, or for the rights to some interesting RFA options in order to make salary space for Joki and your next RD.

Marner, Ehlers, Boeser in that order.

Duchene or Drouin as depth scoring.

Fill with PVD and cheap contracts for the rest.

I’m curious to see what we have in Jokiharju. He was excellent with Zadorov in game 1. Just the kind of defenseman I was hoping for to replace Carlo. A two-way guy, not a huge chance taker but a good puck mover, a good skater, good defender… again not elite in any category, but good at everything. He reminded me a bit of Johnny Oduya. And he’s only 25.

If he really gels with Zaddy and that pair is effective I’d re-sign him and call the D done. Peeke is fine as the 3RD. Spend your money on a forward (not named Duchene).