Boston Bruins 24-25 Roster/Cap thread XIX

[Oates2Neely]

I’d stay away from the Ehlers & Boesers this summer. Add some quality youth if it’s available via trade. You aren’t solving your 1C hole in free agency this summer. Summer 2026 has some big names that would interest me. Have to draft high this summer. Maybe even next summer. Play the youth next season see what they got. With any luck maybe Eichel wants to come to Boston next summer. I hope Sweeney has the cap space if the opportunity arises.

 

[The don godfather]

Watched a lot of Frondell Donny?

I've seen bits on you tube and read all the reports hes a solid 2 way guy with a scoring pedigree and playing in the toughest swedish hockey league.

 

[Sevendust]

Doesn´t matter what they do but they better have enough cap space available if either or both Eichel and McDavid going to free agency in 2026. If they won´t, well shit happens but if they do it would be awful if we don´t have the cap space to sign one because we have contracts like Korpisalo or Lindholm on the payroll. With everything they do in the offseason Sweeney has to be remindful of that.

 

[Dr Hook]

Interesting you mention Hall. He seemed to have loved it here. He's UFA -- he obviously isn't what he as 3 years ago, but he's at about .50 ppg this season, mostly with a terrible Chicago team and coming back from knee surgery.

Maybe he signs a 1–2-year team friendly deal if Marchand doesn't come back?

I know Marner is the most productive guy out there, but I'd be happy with Ehlers to stabilize and legitimize the 2nd line and improve the PP. Hall could be a good get to round out the top 6, provided the $$$ is right.

Hall - Zacha - Pasta
Ehlers - Middlestadt - Geekie
Khusnutdinov - Lindholm - Poitras
???? - Kastelic - ????

I liked the guy a lot. My wife bought me a Taylor Hall jersey for Christmas and he was gone that June I'd bring him back in a heartbeat, shorter term, fair money like you suggest.

 

[BlackFrancis]

playing in the toughest swedish hockey league

Actually, no, he isn't. Allsvenskan is a lower tier than the SHL.

 

[bruins4thecup65]

I’d stay away from the Ehlers & Boesers this summer. Add some quality youth if it’s available via trade. You aren’t solving your 1C hole in free agency this summer. Summer 2026 has some big names that would interest me. Have to draft high this summer. Maybe even next summer. Play the youth next season see what they got. With any luck maybe Eichel wants to come to Boston next summer. I hope Sweeney has the cap space if the opportunity arises.

Agree, this year there really isn’t anyone that moves the needle,e as much as we need it moved.

Save cap space also next year and pick up more picks via retention

Boeser is another Lindholm

Ehlers also super high risk but Brock is worse

 

[sarge88]

Agree, this year there really isn’t anyone that moves the needle,e as much as we need it moved.

Save cap space also next year and pick up more picks via retention

Boeser is another Lindholm

Ehlers also super high risk but Brock is worse

Ehlers is a good option on a 5-year deal --- obviously the terms of a deal are the most important, but he just turned 29 --- has scored 25+ five times, 20+ two other times, and already has 21 this year.

For his career he has .33 goals/game average.

They could do a lot worse than put him on the 2nd line and 1st PP.

 

[Mirinho]

Hypothetical question.
Is it realistic to get Bedard as a center for Pastrnak? (offseason trade with Chicago without losing Pastrnak)

I think Bedard would be happy to finally play with a good wing I don't think he's happy in Chicago

 

[PlayMakers]

Given his free agency track record, I hope Sweeney stands pat this summer. Make your picks (in the appropriate rounds this time) and then go on vacation. Sick and tired of signing guys we have to pay other teams to take within a few years.

Let next years team compete for the top overall pick and then see where things stand.

I feel like this complaint, that he sucks at signing free agents, is like his draft record. Folks focus on the whiffs and ignore the wins.

This is Sweeney’s track record in free agency…

Lindholm, Backes, Beleskey and Moore are the misses.

Ullmark
Geekie
Zadorov
Cole Koepke
Jordan Oesterle
Parker Wotherspoon
Justin Brazeau
Max Jones
Riley Tufte
Danton Heinen
Jesper Boquist
Kevin Shattenkirk
James van Riemsdyk
David Krejci (sort of)
AJ Greer
Nick Foligno
Derek Forbort
Erick Haula
Tomas Nosek
Conor Clifton
Yaroslav Halak
Chris Wagner
Noel Acciari
Anton Khudobin
Riley Nash
Tori Krug
Frank Vatrano

Those are the hits. All those guys benefitted the Bruins in some way.

 

[bp14]

A team with Pasta, McAvoy, H.Lindholm, Swayman, Zacha, Middlestadt, Geekie, Zadorov is not going to compete for a first pick, it will compete to be like this years team, mediocre. That means you sign a couple of top 6 UFA's who can make a difference. They have money, I don't want to see it go into the JJ Cryonic fund.

Maybe not but do you want to see Sweeney try to sign a “big” UFA again? Backes, Beleskey, Moore, Reilly, Foligno, Zadorov, Lindholm, etc etc.. No thanks and no thanks.

Also, I might quibble with the idea that this team can compete for a high lottery pick. McAvoy is a fine 1D, Hampus is a fine 2D, everybody behind them is probably playing a slot too high on D.

Up front Moddlestadt is a third line forward and not worth including on that list IMO. Yes Pasta is a stud, but the rest? Way below league average as a group.

And Swayman has been terrible this year . He may rebound, or he may find a middle ground. Who knows?

This team is likely to stink next year. No way I let Sweeney roll the dice on another signing that may hamstring a real retool/rebuild. Get a few years of top picks and let’s do it right.

 

[PlayMakers]

Hypothetical question.
Is it realistic to get Bedard as a center for Pastrnak?

No.

 

[Bruin4]

Marchand wanted 6.9 according to Biz

 

[bp14]

I feel like this complaint is like his draft record. Folks focus on the whiffs and ignore the wins. Sweeney’s track record in free agency…

Lindholm, Backes, Beleskey and Moore are the misses.

Ullmark
Geekie
Zadorov
Cole Koepke
Jordan Oesterle
Parker Wotherspoon
Justin Brazeau
Max Jones
Riley Tuffy
Danton Heinen
Jesper Boquist
Kevin Shattenkirk
James van Riemsdyk
David Krejci (sort of)
AJ Greer
Nick Foligno
Derek Forbort
Erick Haula
Tomas Nosek
Conor Clifton
Yaroslav Halak
Chris Wagner
Noel Acciari
Anton Khudobin
Riley Nash
Tori Krug
Frank Vatrano

Those are the hits. All those guys benefitted the Bruins in some way.

Sorry hits? Ullmark, Krug, Geekie and probably Vatrank are “hits” and the only guys I’d go back and resign.

The rest of those guys are either net neutral or scratch level (Koepke, Tufte, Jones, Brazeau, JVR etc).

Sure, he paid very little and got back little on most of those guys, so as signing, they’re “wins”, or fair value. There isn’t a hit among them aside from the few I listed up top.

And notably, the whiffs were prominent signings for bigger dollars, and they all sucked. Including Zadorov whom you somehow counted as a hit??? Why?

IMO DS gets more heat for his drafting than he deserves. His trades have been very good. But his UFA work on top half of the roster players is terrible, and that’s what we are lacking. I only hope he takes a summer off.

 

[SPV]

And why wouldn't the Rags and VGK's sign them?
I mean, I like the players, especially Cuylle but I also have doubts that DS will sign anyone to an offer sheet.

They would, well maybe not Vegas, but definitely NY. Holtz is a gamble as he didn’t do much this season, might be Wahlstrom 2.0.

And Toronto would match on Knies too. But maybe not if we went high on Nic Robertson. They have to spend on Marner, Tavares, and Knies. They might take our second round pick instead if we overpaid, like 2.7 or so.

Just looking for ways to get young talent.

 

[bbfan419]

He makes 4.5 now so I would say just million-dollar increase will not cut it.

Probably not, but if some team pays him say $7M or more, that is over payment for that team, however I would consider as high as say no more that $6.5 - 7, only if we could somehow trade E.Lindholm with no retention. I would rather over pay a bit for top 6 forwards, if Marner is open to coming here , then over pay a bit maybe 12-13, he and Pasta would be insane depth at RW.

 

[BruinsJoe]

Not sure Frondell is the guy

What do we hear that Frondell is the one who would be the most mature and closest to the lhn. Bs could between the 7-10 spot at the draft does guy like Frondell, Mcqueen, Hagens could slip a this positions? Does guy like Desnoyers, O'brien could be there too? Not sure one of this guys could jump in nhl next year...

 

[bbfan419]

Hagen anybody?

For some reason , I don't think he becomes a star, more like a Zegras type. I would take Misa, Desnoyers and O'Brien over him.

Given his free agency track record, I hope Sweeney stands pat this summer. Make your picks (in the appropriate rounds this time) and then go on vacation. Sick and tired of signing guys we have to pay other teams to take within a few years.

Let next years team compete for the top overall pick and then see where things stand.

Next year's top pick will be Gavin McKenna, would LOVE that guy as the B's next star.

 

[Dennis Bonvie]

Hypothetical question.
Is it realistic to get Bedard as a center for Pastrnak? (offseason trade with Chicago without losing Pastrnak)

I think Bedard would be happy to finally play with a good wing I don't think he's happy in Chicago

No.

 

[JoeIsAStud]

Marchand wanted 6.9 according to Biz

Bruins met him on years, they moved a great distance to get a deal done, and it just wasn't meant to be.

Hypothetical question.
Is it realistic to get Bedard as a center for Pastrnak? (offseason trade with Chicago without losing Pastrnak)

I think Bedard would be happy to finally play with a good wing I don't think he's happy in Chicago

Short answer is no. Longer answer is maybe if you get the #1 pick, then you could package that with other assets, but I am not sure you want to

I'm not sure on Bedard. I think he is a very good NHL player, but in terms of #1 overall pick types, I think he is a middle of the road guy. (meaning he is not in the McDavid, etc generational talent tier)

 

[Dennis Bonvie]

Probably not, but if some team pays him say $7M or more, that is over payment for that team, however I would consider as high as say no more that $6.5 - 7, only if we could somehow trade E.Lindholm with no retention. I would rather over pay a bit for top 6 forwards, if Marner is open to coming here , then over pay a bit maybe 12-13, he and Pasta would be insane depth at RW.

If Pasta and Marner are your top two RWs, you don't really need better centers than what we already have.

 

[bbfan419]

If Pasta and Marner are your top two RWs, you don't really need better centers than what we already have.

You could get by with adequate centers when you have elite wingers I agree.

 

[Oates2Neely]

Marchand wanted 6.9 according to Biz

7.5m per for 3 years when he’ll he 37 years old to start next season is more than I’d be willing to bend. He obviously didn’t want to retire a Bruin that badly. 6.3m is fair imo.

I don’t see any team offering him 3 years at 7.5m per.

 

[KnightofBoston]

Get Bennet and Marchand and keep rolling and then grab Eichel next offseason, let Marchand retire a Bruin when he’s ready

 

[RoccoF14]

7.5m per for 3 years when he’ll he 37 years old to start next season is more than I’d be willing to bend. He obviously didn’t want to retire a Bruin that badly. 6.3m is fair imo.

I don’t see any team offering him 3 years at 7.5m per.

He'll get $7mil from somebody. Maybe not for 3yrs, but he'll definitely get the $7m.

 

[bbfan419]

7.5m per for 3 years when he’ll he 37 years old to start next season is more than I’d be willing to bend. He obviously didn’t want to retire a Bruin that badly. 6.3m is fair imo.

I don’t see any team offering him 3 years at 7.5m per.

Agree, I love Marchy as much as any Bruins fan, but the team always comes first before any one player.