Boston Bruins 24-25 Roster/Cap thread XVIII ( if trades occur use specific trade thread)

[Boston Bandit]

10 players the Bruins could target as Friday’s trade deadline approaches - The Boston Globe

The Bruins’ decision to deal Trent Frederic to the Oilers for draft capital on Tuesday solidified their position as trade-deadline sellers this week.

But even as Boston looks to make the most out of a disastrous season by unloading assets in a seller’s market, could Don Sweeney and the Bruins also look to accelerate their retool … by adding?

It’s all but a given that the Bruins will not be on the prowl for any presumed rentals or veteran players before Friday’s 3 p.m. deadline — not with the focus on rectifying the misery found in this poorly constructed roster. Instead, Sweeney has indicated they’re looking ahead to 2025-26.

“I think we’ll take a much more cautious approach as we approach the deadline,” Sweeney said last month. “That being said — if there are opportunities to improve our team now and certainly moving forward, whether that’s positional shifts or other teams are trying to identify that we may have a strength at, we will look at all opportunities to improve our team now, but more importantly, moving forward.”

Successfully reeling in either a young prospect or a depressed asset looking for a change in scenery (Pavel Zacha with Boston, Pierre-Luc Dubois with Washington) is a task easier said than done.

Here are a few names to keep tabs on if the Bruins are looking at finding some building blocks for the future before Friday’s trade deadline.

 

[pucksindeep92]

Good move by Sweeney if he leaked any of surrounding this. Pressures Marchand to go lower on salary, pressures teams to drive up the price.

 

[Bruin4]

Big hit for the Blues. Carlo destination? Snuggerud and their 2025 1st

 

[LouJersey]

Good move by Sweeney if he leaked any of surrounding this. Pressures Marchand to go lower on salary, pressures teams to drive up the price.
View attachment 987894

They could have extended him in the summer. Why not wait until the last minute guys?

 

[08SeaBass08]

Big hit for the Blues. Carlo destination? Snuggerud and their 2025 1st

Don’t we want STL to miss the playoffs? Helping them makes no sense.

 

[LouJersey]

10 players the Bruins could target as Friday’s trade deadline approaches - The Boston Globe

The Bruins’ decision to deal Trent Frederic to the Oilers for draft capital on Tuesday solidified their position as trade-deadline sellers this week.

But even as Boston looks to make the most out of a disastrous season by unloading assets in a seller’s market, could Don Sweeney and the Bruins also look to accelerate their retool … by adding?

It’s all but a given that the Bruins will not be on the prowl for any presumed rentals or veteran players before Friday’s 3 p.m. deadline — not with the focus on rectifying the misery found in this poorly constructed roster. Instead, Sweeney has indicated they’re looking ahead to 2025-26.

“I think we’ll take a much more cautious approach as we approach the deadline,” Sweeney said last month. “That being said — if there are opportunities to improve our team now and certainly moving forward, whether that’s positional shifts or other teams are trying to identify that we may have a strength at, we will look at all opportunities to improve our team now, but more importantly, moving forward.”

Successfully reeling in either a young prospect or a depressed asset looking for a change in scenery (Pavel Zacha with Boston, Pierre-Luc Dubois with Washington) is a task easier said than done.

Here are a few names to keep tabs on if the Bruins are looking at finding some building blocks for the future before Friday’s trade deadline.

Not saying it was available but would have liked a Geekie for Novak deal.

 

[elMatador]

Elias Lindholm obviously wasn’t a good signing from a value standpoint, but I’d defend Sweeney only in that he didn’t have much choice. He clearly has no other bona fide 1/2 center on the roster or in the pipeline and this guy was available for only money. He’d have gotten killed if he didn’t make a solid offer.

Now as for his performance here so far? He sucks. Clearly underperforming. However, I think he’s likely to get a bit better as he acclimates, and with a rising cap he won’t look terrible because as much as he’s far from a force offensively, he’s useful.

I guess the trick is not to get to the point as an organization where you need to pay above average talent top of the market prices.

Elias Lindholm is Coyle's replacement as 3C, nevertheless they both suck in the top 6.
The absolute genious has signed him because he had FOMO that he would have to pay around $10m in the summer of 2026 so he did it 2 years ahead for $7.75m.

 

[Blowfish]

Elias Lindholm is Coyle's replacement as 3C, nevertheless they both suck in the top 6.
The absolute genious has signed him because he had FOMO that he would have to pay around $10m in the summer of 2026 so he did it 2 years ahead for $7.75m.

They both sucked this year. As did the entire team. Let’s not exaggerate.

 

[Mr. Make-Believe]

I like how you omitted the Zadorov move from the list of overpayments above.....

I did.

I disagree he was.

HOWEVER, I understand the argument from those who do. I don’t begrudge those who didn’t/don’t like the player/contract. There are plenty of negatives there to outline and they are legit. I simply happen to appreciate the positives more.

 

[Over the volcano]

Don’t we want STL to miss the playoffs? Helping them makes no sense.

It's not a favor. It'd be a deal that helps us too.

 

[ON3M4N]

I don't want Sweeney to make a move for the sake of making a move. There are some guys that are likely better to move in the off-season when teams have more flexibility:

Geekie - Pending RFA and on pace for 27G/17A. Seems like a guy you may want to keep as he's gotten better each season he's been in Boston.

Brazeau - Pending UFA, maybe some GM falls in love with his size, but if he's not in the plans going forward, trade him at the TDL

Carlo - If you're blown away with an offer at the TDL then take it. If not, you hold onto him and shop him over the summer. His 10 team NTC goes down to a 8 team NTC.

Peeke - Same deal as Carlo

Wotherspoon - if he's not in the plans going forward, trade him at the TDL

Koepke - if he's not in the plans going forward, trade him at the TDL

Brown, Tufte, McLaughlin, Callahan - All will be UFA's this off-season, but likely have zero value. The may have more value to the organization for an AHL playoff run with Providence

 

[BruinDust]

I think that's a bit disingenuous BD, because while they did well with what they had last year, I don't think many, you included, looked at that top 6 last year and didn't think that was the main place to improve this roster.

I said they needed another elite level forward, a guy to slot in between Pasta and Marchand in the pecking order. Elias wasn't that guy, I wasn't interested in him, term being my main reason, didn't think he warranted a 7-year investment.

Wasn't concerned with solidifying the top 6 either. What the team looks like in July doesn't matter. If they could find logical ways to improve their team, do it. Signing Elias Lindholm to a long-term contract wasn't it.

They made a bad player evaluation on a player they coveted and got burned. It wasn't "oh we need to do XYZ" it was "we desperately want this particular player".

To make matters worse, they weren't even deficient at this center positon, considering how many guys have played center here this season even with Lindholm present.

 

[pucksindeep92]

They could have extended him in the summer. Why not wait until the last minute guys?

Call me crazy, but I’m not extending 36yo players with a history of multiple recent surgeries and injuries for the next season before the current season starts. Thankfully Marchand got some of his game back in season, but early on he was not living up to his name, or the Captain title imo.

 

[Bruin4]

Don’t we want STL to miss the playoffs? Helping them makes no sense.

I dont want them to fall to far, where they end up picking above the Bruins. I want as high as a first pick as we can get.

And if we can get their first pick, it wouldn't matter.

 

[22Brad Park]

Coyle for Donato

they would hang up the phone

 

[NDiesel]

I said they needed another elite level forward, a guy to slot in between Pasta and Marchand in the pecking order. Elias wasn't that guy, I wasn't interested in him, term being my main reason, didn't think he warranted a 7-year investment.

Wasn't concerned with solidifying the top 6 either. What the team looks like in July doesn't matter. If they could find logical ways to improve their team, do it. Signing Elias Lindholm to a long-term contract wasn't it.

They made a bad player evaluation on a player they coveted and got burned. It wasn't "oh we need to do XYZ" it was "we desperately want this particular player".

To make matters worse, they weren't even deficient at this center positon, considering how many guys have played center here this season even with Lindholm present.

Fair enough, I wasn't that aware he has been a guy they wanted for a while, so I get where you're coming from there.

I personally liked the player but feared the term that would come with it, thought he filled a need here but I think the fact he couldn't find chemistry with Pasta really hurt.

At this point best we can hope is he has a bounce back season and with the rising cap the contract doesn't kill us that much.

 

[Absurdity]

 

[Aussie Bruin]

I'm increasing convinced that Sweeney won't make any significant moves. He will play it safe, see what the offseason brings, and try and run it back next year with essentially the same D and a slightly revamped forward group. I think he's still of the opinion that he built a good roster that was done in by circumstances and bad luck, and it just needs a second chance (edit: and a better coach) to prove itself.

 

[DiggityDog]

Well Dave if you believe that about Brazeau I have some oceanfront property in Nebraska I would love to sell you.

 

[Number8]

This is precisely what I’m trying to say - the decision of whether to move pasta or not is not only about his current state value, but equally a function of the overall state of the roster - one guy can’t do it all, and if the supporting cast is not there, you are essentially wasting his value.

I think this is true. From a purely strategic point of view it’s something that should be on table.

That said, i hope they don’t. I love Pasta. The fan part of me is stronger than the rational part of me.

 

[Oresy]

Big hit for the Blues. Carlo destination? Snuggerud and their 2025 1st

lol Carlo doesn’t net you either of those, let alone both.

 

[AngryMilkcrates]

Pasta puts butts in seats. They will need that next season.
Unless they sell a full teardown and get Misa(Etc) the best business decision is to keep him.

 

[Bruin4]

I'm increasing convinced that Sweeney won't make any significant moves. He will play it safe, see what the offseason brings, and try and run it back next year with essentially the same D and a slightly revamped forward group. I think he's still of the opinion that he built a good roster that was done in by circumstances and bad luck, and it just needs a second chance to prove itself.

Boy, I just don't see it, way to much smoke out there for something not to catch fire with someone.

 

[Hookslide]

Coyle for Donato

First year with 20 goals, first year with 40 points, FO %, barely over 40 %, not exactly a Selke candidate, and a FA. Seems like a Sweeney deal.

 

[Number8]

I think the idea that all this team wants to do is make the playoffs because it saves jobs or because Jacobs is cheap needs to end.

This team was 1 point out of a playoff spot when Sweeney held a press conference to say we're not going for it. Not many teams in the league that are that close to a playoff spot would waive the white flag. The Rangers, Utah, Detroit, even Montreal re-signed their top trade chip rather than sell.

I think this is true. That is assuming nothing stupid happens in the next 24 hours.

I’m a Stockholm Syndrome victim who never quite got around to admiring my captor.

Long time fan with great memories but also a lot of f*** me I hate this ownership group moments.