Boston Bruins 24-25 Roster/Cap thread XV

[NeelyDan]

With a talent like pastrnak you have a better chance at a quick retool.

This is why these conversations really can’t be “solved” - because all things are relative. You say re-tool, but I don’t know what your definition of a re-tool is. I’m not convinced my definition of re-tool is possible with what we have - both to keep and deal.

 

[Alan Ryan]

I’m assuming it will be 5 years because it sounds like we will be getting an amazing GM to replace Sweens

Not sure who it is and I’m not a big reveal guy although I do like the idea of yellow smoke and black and gold confetti as the mystery GM appears rising from the floor trap door

I do not want Evan Gold

I want someone who not only has nothing to do with the Bruins but like some NFL players doesn’t know where New England is

Please go easy on any Bruins retool or “Bruins Blip".

I turned 84 a few weeks ago and I want to watch competitive hockey for a bit longer.

 

[NeelyDan]

Yep. People are acting like this is an expansion team. They have a lot of pieces already in place, they just need a change in the front office to bld around them. Sweeney has proven he’s not that guy

YOU NAILED IT!

 

[Boston Bandit]

Is a Bruins retool coming at the ideal time with a spiking NHL salary cap?

“The Bruins would be wise not to blow a majority of that $25 million this summer alone.

But if the Bruins are looking to augment their roster and reshuffle personnel around that Pastrnak-McAvoy-Swayman core moving forward, the NHL’s bull market should give them the leeway to continually add to an already steady group of star talent.

Whether that means forking over $8 million this summer for a Boeser or Nikolaj Ehlers, trying to reel in a big fish like North Chelmsford product Jack Eichel in 2026 or bringing in established talent (and salary) via trades, the Bruins have many options available to them in the years ahead — all without putting themselves in the cap jail that roadblocked the franchise in 2014 and 2023.

At least, such is the opportunity now afforded to the Bruins given this fortuitous spike in spending.

Just how the Bruins manage to apply that spending power — or rather, who will be tasked with leading said retool — remains to be seen.”

 

[KOZ37]

If the Bruins make a trade, when does everyone think they make the first one? My guess is a few days before the trade deadline.

I would be starting it now. I've seen enough of this team to choose a direction. Neely and Sweeney may feel more pressure to make the playoffs, thus I am not convinced they sell. For me, they are not the ones I would want leading a tear down/ retool/rebuild. Either way I think the shelf life of this management team is expiring. They don't have to tear it down but they should part with some players like Frederic, Carlo, even Geekie if you can't sign him. Coyle with retention would have some real value I would think too. I would enjoy watching the kids play even if they don't make the playoffs.

 

[Boston Bandit]

State of the Bruins: Playoffs and trade market update at 4 Nations break

Trade deadline​

The Bruins don't look like a playoff team most nights, but as noted above, they remain firmly in the race with 25 games left. It's hard to imagine the Bruins being huge sellers at the March 7 trade deadline unless they just crater in the standings, and that seems unlikely. But trading away a player or two would make sense in the right circumstances.

ESPN's Emily Kaplan reported an update on the Bruins' trade deadline situation during ABC's broadcast of B's-Golden Knights on Saturday:


The B's do have a couple of players who can be free agents in the summer, and it might make sense to entertain offers for those guys, especially if an extension is unlikely.

 

[The don godfather]

Sell McAvoy high. Sell now.

 

[Bruin4]

Sell McAvoy high. Sell now.

Sell Swayman (NTP)high. Sell now

Not really unless a number one center comes back.

 

[Guelph Bruin]

Crossroads are here...make a deal with the devil? prefer to make a deal with the Devils .... we take Timo Meir off there hands with $1.8M retained....salary at $7.0M annually and is a better scoring wing replacement for Jake Debrusk (although not sure Timo can play his off wing)...in return the Devils get Marchand for the playoff run with us retaining as much as we can on Brad's salary so they can sign more help .....

 

[CHRDANHUTCH]

Crossroads are here...make a deal with the devil? prefer to make a deal with the Devils .... we take Timo Meir off there hands with $1.8M retained....salary at $7.0M annually and is a better scoring wing replacement for Jake Debrusk (although not sure Timo can play his off wing)...in return the Devils get Marchand for the playoff run with us retaining as much as we can on Brad's salary so they can sign more help .....

why would any potential 3 seed in either division trade with a team in the wild card battle..... in the above example why not have signed Meier directly from SJ

 

[sarge88]

It’s for this reason I’m dealing pasta - makes no sense to keep him when his greater value is restocking

We got our cup, we got two other tries - it’s time for a new era

Side note you can hold this opinion without disrespecting a hall of fame bruins with by calling him stupid, unimaginative names

I really think you can build around Pasta, Swayman, McAvoy and to a lesser extent H. Lindholm.

Those are 4 very, very solid pieces of a foundation….none perfect, of course…but I think that while neither route provides a guarantee, re-tooling/re-stocking with those guys in the fold is a better plan than a total rebuild.

 

[PatriceBergeronFan]

do you want 63 back or are you just cutting the cord? not a ton of leadership on this roster and he can still play.
i said it before, but i'd try to go the keith tkachuk from STL to ATL route - grab the assets and then sign him on july 1.

Take the free asset and sign Marchand back. No hesitation assuming Marchand does not decide the new team is a better fit than retiring a Bruin.

 

[Guelph Bruin]

why would any potential 3 seed in either division trade with a team in the wild card battle..... in the above example why not have signed Meier directly from SJ

Only a deadline trade if Boston management thinks we're out of it .... I really think the Devils want out of the Timo contract to use the cap space in the up coming years for something different.....he's been somewhat of a disappointment in NJ but the guy shoots the puck...something we need and age wise fits a retool effort .... I'm not sold on him but he has scored in the past and may help...and Brad will help any contender...and NJ are most definitely contenders...plus Brad stays close to home and family while chasing another cup

 

[CHRDANHUTCH]

Only a deadline trade if Boston management thinks we're out of it .... I really think the Devils want out of the Timo contract to use the cap space in the up coming years for something different.....he's been somewhat of a disappointment in NJ but the guy shoots the puck...something we need and age wise fits a retool effort .... I'm not sold on him but he has scored in the past and may help...and Brad will help any contender...and NJ are most definitely contenders...plus Brad stays close to home and family while chasing another cup

CAN'T SEE THE Devils adding or dealing.... this isn't the Zacha acquisition

 

[Guelph Bruin]

CAN'T SEE THE Devils adding or dealing.... this isn't the Zacha acquisition

Why not? they're a legit contender for the cup...I'm sure they'll add ...likely not what I propose but I think if they can dump Timo's contract $$ they will

Edit to add: Timo would have to waive to come here....still possible but less likely

 

[NeelyDan]

I really think you can build around Pasta, Swayman, McAvoy and to a lesser extend H. Lindholm.

Those are 4 very, very solid pieces of a foundation….none perfect, of course…but I think that while neither route provides a guarantee, re-tooling/re-stocking with those guys in the fold is a better plan than a total rebuild.

Yeah, perhaps. Just think exceedingly difficult to do.

 

[CHRDANHUTCH]

Why not? they're a legit contender for the cup...I'm sure they'll add ...likely not what I propose but I think if they can dump Timo's contract $$ they will

Devils aren't Florida for one thing......they're borderline 3-6 and they can easily collapse and be in the same mix as Columbus/Rangers/Detroit, etc....

 

[Guelph Bruin]

Devils aren't Florida for one thing......they're borderline 3-6 and they can easily collapse and be in the same mix as Columbus/Rangers/Detroit, etc....

Maybe? but not likely IMO, too much talent and much improved goaltending this year...the point is likely moot anyway...although I can see Brad in a NJ uniform ....Devil suits him ....I can't see Timo waiving

 

[sarge88]

Yeah, perhaps. Just think exceedingly difficult to do.

So much has to happen either way they choose, I just feel more comfortable filling around those pieces.

Plus, I really want to see Pasta break the Bruins goal record someday.

 

[KillerMillerTime]

A

The ACHA has filled that void. What started out as 'club hockey' has become real college hockey. Yes, something like 92% of all NCAA freshmen hockey players are 21, because they either played 2 years of junior or repeated multiple times at schools like Nobles and Shattuck.

So the kids who want to go direct from high school to college, who can't afford to pay for junior and aren't quite good enough to play in a free junior league like the NAHL or USHL, can still get recruited and/or tryout for their school's ACHA team. There are only around 150 NCAA hockey teams, but there are over 400 ACHA teams in the country now. Some schools, like UMass Amherst have two ACHA teams, in an upper and lower division. They get over 100 kids to their trouts, and most of them were stars and captains in high school. The best ACHA teams can compete with D3 NCAA teams.

The ACHA teams west and south draw big crowds too. Not so much here in New England where most schools with ACHA teams are overshadowed by their NCAA teams but it's still a great experience. You play in NCAA rinks, you play by NCAA rules, there are playoffs and a national championship.

My son and a couple of classmates started the UMass program for the 2004-05 season and won their Regional and qualified for Nationals the next year. UMass recently won the ACHA D2 title.

The top 9 forwards, including my son were all approached by D3 schools in HS and they scrimmaged D3 teams and played the Harvard JV Team at Bright Center his Senior Year and Donato dropped his 5th Line and 4th D pair to play. They were were a cut above the best forwards on UMass, including a kid who was dropped from the Hockey East Roster after his Freshman year. He wasn't much better than the top 2 or so forwards on the ACHA Team.

It was good hockey and the Michigan Schools were really good as Finlandia State was the only NCAA D3 program in Michigan. Oakland University was as good as several D3 Teams.

 

[KillerMillerTime]

Even Thompson took time in his first 145 games had 18G/17A. In his next 156 games he had 85G/77A. It wasn't until 5yrs after being drafted that he exploded into the player he is today

Thompson had a far superior year as a true Frosh than Letourneau is having and made the USA Jr Team his last year eligible D+2. It does take really big kids time to grow into their body but Letourneau doesn't posses Thompson's shooting ability at
D+1. He played with more purpose the Beanpot games, but this has been a bit of a disappointing year for him.

 

[RedSlider]

I might be asking for too much but I'd like to see the Bruins make a trade before I become a skeleton.

 

[PlayMakers]

You say re-tool, but I don’t know what your definition of a re-tool is. I’m not convinced my definition of re-tool is possible with what we have - both to keep and deal.

I've been saying this for a month. People have very different definitions of "retool."

I think the standard definition of re-tool means hockey trades. It does not mean selling, which is what I think most here, and it seems most in the local media want it to mean. Selling = rebuilding and rebuilding takes a really long time.

The Bruins aren't interested in selling because they're not interested in wasting Pasta's window. That doesn't mean the Bruins can't retool with an eye towards the future. In fact, that's what I'm expecting them to do at the deadline. Carlo out and Cozens in. Coyle out and Seamus Casey in. Probably not those exact names but those types of exchanges.

I think they're going to try to use this deadline to try to put themselves in a good position to add this summer, so they can get back in contention next year.

 

[Kegs]

This is why these conversations really can’t be “solved” - because all things are relative. You say re-tool, but I don’t know what your definition of a re-tool is. I’m not convinced my definition of re-tool is possible with what we have - both to keep and deal.

Trade away a couple pieces for picks or prospects . Keep most of the core especially zacha, the lindholms, lohrei, poitras, swayman, mcavoy, Carlo and pastrnak.

I can see them moving Carlo and coyle. I consider them both core pieces but if they can return some firsts it might be worth exploring.

 

[RiverbottomChuck]

I might be asking for too much but I'd like to see the Bruins make a trade before I become a skeleton.

We were planning to use your bones in a ritual to astral project into Sweeney's mind so this is a bit awkward.