Proposal: All Bruins trade rumors/proposals: 16/17 Part VI

[Ratty]

Someone should tell Neely that we have the third highest left handed point producer from the blueline in the NHL on our second pairing.

I would think they are either looking to replace Chara and move him to the bottom pairing with his minute munching comment.

Here's some guys who aren't the sexy choices and haven't been talked about, but I can't help but think the Bruins are considering kicking the tires on


- Brian Campbell

Older, and I don't know how he's played this year. A quick glance at stats say he's getting second pairing PP minutes, next to nothing on the SH, and playing on the 2nd pairing 5v5. I only list him because Chicago was in town scouting the game and Keith is obviously not going to be dealt. Easy pass.

- Jay Bouwmeester

Again, another older guy that's an elite skater but still a minute muncher ( 22 TOI this year ) especially on the PK ( 2nd highest on the Blues ). His point producing years are long gone though. The Blues and Bruins have been giving each other longing stares from across the bar for what seems like forever now and sooner or later, someone's going to have to buy the other a drink and make the first move. Not a bad choice if we were in a stronger position, but I hope they pass.


- Keith Yandle

I have no idea if they're scouting for trades in the division ( and with another team that's trying to push for the playoffs ) but he fits with what they want. He can still produce and eat minutes and he's still in his prime years for a blueliner. I'm split on him.

I agree with you on Boumeester and Campbell. But I wouldn't be surprised, given the scouting going on with St. Louis, Chicago and Boston, that something is in the works. That would fit in perfectly with the Bruin's MO at the deadline; buy a rental to show they're doing something.

As for Yandle, didn't Florida just sign him to a long term NMC? When Huberdeau returns, they could make a playoff run.

 

[Bruins78]

Replace LV with Chicago


No.

Depending on which rankings you follow, (if you're looking at one that has him as an early first rounder) It just goes to show how weak this draft is for d-men

Obviously a bad draft but what Are your negatives on Hague? I've heard the skating questioned, some seem to say it's ok, others bad, some suggestion it will be decent once he gets his coordination as a 6'7 17 year old. He seems to check a lot of other boxes from what I've read...good defensively, a bit of a mean streak, big shot and on pace to score 18-20 goals, smart kid from what I understand. Seems like in a draft like this he is more then worthy of consideration in the 10-20 range. By all means, not questioning your seemingly negative view...don't get to see any CHL outside of clips and I know you see these OHL kids a lot and curious as to why he's not ranked higher...i have seen him in the 20-30 range in a lot of rankings and given the poor outlook of this draft I'd think his skating/coordination improving a bit would lead to a nice ceiling

 

[22Brad Park]

I agree with you on Boumeester and Campbell. But I wouldn't be surprised, given the scouting going on with St. Louis, Chicago and Boston, that something is in the works. That would fit in perfectly with the Bruin's MO at the deadline; buy a rental to show they're doing something.

As for Yandle, didn't Florida just sign him to a long term NMC? When Huberdeau returns, they could make a playoff run.

Dennis Seidenberg +22 and its 13th best in NHL.lol

 

[DominicT]

Obviously a bad draft but what Are your negatives on Hague? I've heard the skating questioned, some seem to say it's ok, others bad, some suggestion it will be decent once he gets his coordination as a 6'7 17 year old. He seems to check a lot of other boxes from what I've read...good defensively, a bit of a mean streak, big shot and on pace to score 18-20 goals, smart kid from what I understand. Seems like in a draft like this he is more then worthy of consideration in the 10-20 range. By all means, not questioning your seemingly negative view...don't get to see any CHL outside of clips and I know you see these OHL kids a lot and curious as to why he's not ranked higher...i have seen him in the 20-30 range in a lot of rankings and given the poor outlook of this draft I'd think his skating/coordination improving a bit would lead to a nice ceiling

His skating has improved. And all the other check boxes you've listed are correct.

And while he is super smart, winning the Bobby Smith award for scholastic player of the year, I've slightly dropped him a bit from my early season review of him. I wrote this in early December https://ohlwriters.me/2016/12/11/nicolas-hague-mississauga-steelheads-player-profile/

In a weak draft, 20-30 range for a d-man isn't all that much to write home about, but that's just my opinion. After watching more and more of him since I wrote that, I'm not sure the hockey sense is where it should be at. And I could be wrong, maybe he's adjusting to a bigger role since they moved Sean Day.

As of today, If you held a gun to my head and asked me to pick who among the OHL's draft eligible d-men would go onto have the better NHL career, I would pick this guy https://ohlwriters.me/2016/12/27/conor-timmins-soo-greyhounds-player-profile/

But predicting a draft, isn't the easiest thing to do. Everyone gets it wrong all the time. Everyone gets drawn towards the towering defenceman who can at least skate decently. I'm just as guilty as the next guy when it comes to that.

 

[LouJersey]

Looking at the standings only Arizona and Colorado are in a sell position. Not hard to see why there hasn't been many trades.

 

[BNHL]

Someone should tell Neely that we have the third highest left handed point producer from the blueline in the NHL on our second pairing.

I would think they are either looking to replace Chara and move him to the bottom pairing with his minute munching comment.

Here's some guys who aren't the sexy choices and haven't been talked about, but I can't help but think the Bruins are considering kicking the tires on


- Brian Campbell

Older, and I don't know how he's played this year. A quick glance at stats say he's getting second pairing PP minutes, next to nothing on the SH, and playing on the 2nd pairing 5v5. I only list him because Chicago was in town scouting the game and Keith is obviously not going to be dealt. Easy pass.

- Jay Bouwmeester

Again, another older guy that's an elite skater but still a minute muncher ( 22 TOI this year ) especially on the PK ( 2nd highest on the Blues ). His point producing years are long gone though. The Blues and Bruins have been giving each other longing stares from across the bar for what seems like forever now and sooner or later, someone's going to have to buy the other a drink and make the first move. Not a bad choice if we were in a stronger position, but I hope they pass.


- Keith Yandle

I have no idea if they're scouting for trades in the division ( and with another team that's trying to push for the playoffs ) but he fits with what they want. He can still produce and eat minutes and he's still in his prime years for a blueliner. I'm split on him.

And is also near the bottom of the league in +- for defenseman.

 

[PlayMakers]

What I am saying is none of the sub 25 LD are sure things. Even the high end guys like Zboril and Lauzon have some question marks. I think they will need to be patient with both, and a fair amount of AHL time required. Maybe they pull a Carlo, but i won't bank on it.

Agreed, but I think the numbers are there so that even the worst statistical success rate should yield at least one capable 3rd pairing guy from the group of Johansson, Lauzon, Zboril, Gryz, O'Gara, Lindgren and Sherman. Two of them are already in the AHL and had looks in the NHL this year.

You a little over a year away from the beginning of the Post-Chara era. Bring in a capable LD now, and your protected against the possibility that only one of that glut of sub 25 LD is ready for the NHL. Don't bring someone in, see Chara retire, and now you need TWO of them to pan out, and to do so in the next 18 months. All while still breaking in a young right side in Carlo, Colin, and potentially McAvoy.

I'm not against bringing one in, I'm just questioning the logic of doing it now, before the expansion draft, where it's going to cost you assets to acquire the player and then MORE assets in the form of exposing Colin Miller or, like you suggested, paying LV to NOT take Colin Miller. Seems unnecessary. Why rush it? Chara is here. Krug is here. Kevan Miller, Liles and Morrow can all fill that role down the stretch.

As this D progresses, I think your going to see the minutes between each D dictated more and more by special teams. This will be a group greater than the sum of their parts, it's the Carolina Hurricane model, having 6 very capable guys who you can throw out against anyone. Even McAvoy, as good a prospect as he is, isn't guaranteed to be a guy whose in that group of the top 12-15 D-men in the game, the legit No.1 guys.

And I'm cool with it instead of a group of 1-2-3-4-5-6 it's more like a group of 2-2-3-4-4-4. I think that is what they are going for. I think getting another quality LD who can play now helps accelerate that process, and covers them in the worst-case scenario, that is, none of the LD make it as quality NHL players, which is what they need to do. And it helps get more out of Chara's final season and a quarter by reducing his role a bit. Bring his minutes down by 2 or so a game.

I don't have any issue with this and agree, that's probably the model they're going to have to roll with in the post-Chara era.

The LD talk to me makes perfect sense. I don't see where they find that guy though. Fowler....OEL...ain't happening.

It makes sense to me too, but only if they enact the plan after the expansion draft, or if they're talking about adding someone who is exempt from the expansion draft. Which is probably harder than adding one of the big names you mentioned.

 

[Ryan77]

Looking at the standings only Arizona and Colorado are in a sell position. Not hard to see why there hasn't been many trades.

I'm one of the few people on here that thinks the Bruins should make a trade as long as its one that helps this year and into the future. I'm willing to part ways with any prospects
Or young players if it makes us better. I think the Bruins window is next year and 2 years above given the core and their age.

Sweeney has some prospects and picks in his arsenal and IMO Sweeney needs to show he can win a "hockey deal" and not just trade talent for picks and prospects. Tired of hearing its tough, guess what my job is tough but it needs to be done. GET SOMETHING DONE and show us you have some sense at the NHL level and not just with prospects.

 

[TheBigBadB]

Sounds like this years draft is extremely weak. Wonder if we see a lot of two for one draft picks at the draft this year. Also makes me wonder if the trade deadline we will see draft picks for the following year instead of this year

 

[s3antana5757]

Agreed, but I think the numbers are there so that even the worst statistical success rate should yield at least one capable 3rd pairing guy from the group of Johansson, Lauzon, Zboril, Gryz, O'Gara, Lindgren and Sherman. Two of them are already in the AHL and had looks in the NHL this year.



I'm not against bringing one in, I'm just questioning the logic of doing it now, before the expansion draft, where it's going to cost you assets to acquire the player and then MORE assets in the form of exposing Colin Miller or, like you suggested, paying LV to NOT take Colin Miller. Seems unnecessary. Why rush it? Chara is here. Krug is here. Kevan Miller, Liles and Morrow can all fill that role down the stretch.



I don't have any issue with this and agree, that's probably the model they're going to have to roll with in the post-Chara era.



It makes sense to me too, but only if they enact the plan after the expansion draft, or if they're talking about adding someone who is exempt from the expansion draft. Which is probably harder than adding one of the big names you mentioned.

I think these are great points and one of the things I haven't really considered too seriously when talking about adding a LHD. We definitely need a top pairing guy for the future, but can't really trade for OEL, Fowler, etc. because we'd just lose one guy at the expansion draft. Ditto for Shattenkirk.

I do wholeheartedly agree that out of Johansson, Lauzon, Zboril, Gryz, O'Gara, Lindgren and Sherman we will find a guy capable of being a top 4 defenseman that will likely play a bottom pairing role if everything goes well, and probably our 7th dman as well. This is why I'm totally fine trading any or multiple of them, along with Morrow and/or Spooner in order to solidify that top pairing. We have the quantity, now just need that quality guy.

 

[don]

How do you protect the new LD from the expansion draft without moving one out? Do you expose Colin Miller instead? Right when he's starting to show signs? Do you expose 3 forwards in order to protect 1 extra defenseman? Or do you think they're going to be able to get a LD capable of playing big minutes and putting up points and is young enough to be expansion protected?

I'm at the rink now so I'll have to read this again to give a more thoughtful response.

I have mixed feelings on the bolded. I think if we get a #1 LD, Krug gets moved to the 3rd pairing and that he is paid to much for there. Also, the new LD would probably take the #1 PP spot too. My solution is to trade Krug for the scoring forward we need,,,,,,,,,,,after we get the new LD.

 

[Greek_physique]

I have mixed feelings on the bolded. I think if we get a #1 LD, Krug gets moved to the 3rd pairing and that he is paid to much for there. Also, the new LD would probably take the #1 PP spot too. My solution is to trade Krug for the scoring forward we need,,,,,,,,,,,after we get the new LD.

Why do you feel Krug is not a legit top 4 dman?

Again...if he was 6 foot, people would say we have a legit number 1.

Devils never wanted to trade Raflaski...it would be a mistake.

 

[PlayMakers]

Both Chara and Krug are both, on a good playoff team, should be on a defensive or offensive 2nd pairing respectively. Both should be on a #1 special teams unit, but see no part in the other. When I look at the Bruins top two pairings I see a high end defensive 2nd pairing (Chara/Carlo) and an average to below average 2nd pairing being dragged down by McQuaid.

Agreed.

Now, let's say that suddenly instead of Kevan/Colin as your other pair, we are looking at Fowler and a Miller. Fowler has been playing top 4 minutes with both Vatanen and Bieksa over the last few seasons, so he could mold his game to play with either one.

Suddenly, you have three pairings that can play about the same at even strength.

Come playoff time, instead of bumping Chara's minutes up to 25 a game and running him into the ground, you can keep rolling your three 2nd pairings. You take a little bit of minutes from Chara and Carlo. Not bad for either considering their age. You take a little bit of minutes away from Krug (the defensive minutes) and let him keep doing his thing in the offensive zone with less responsibility. Fowler takes those newly found minutes with Colin, who we all want to have more minutes as it is.

It's an interesting way of looking at it, but I think coaches tend to lean towards a hierarchy. Even in the Olympics and World Cup where they have legitimate 1st line talents on the 4th line, they still pick a line or a D pair and give them all the big situations. I don't see a lot of coaching staffs playing guys evenly across all 3 pairs. My guess is, if we were to get a Fowler or Lindholm, they'd ask them to play the right side with Chara and bump Carlo or McQuaid to the 3rd pair.

In the longer run, you have Fowler, Krug, Carlo and McAvoy as your top 4 base, with Zboril, Lindgren, Colin, etc give the proper time to appropriately develop. It is a move with an eye towards the future, sure, but, it's also a good move for the present. Is it the best move for the present? You could make an argument that a LW for Krejci or a true top 4 RD could be better. But, if you look at the Bruins most NHL ready youth (McAvoy + a pile of left shot wingers) grabbing a LD now very well might be the best balance of both.

I agree that it's a great move for the long-term. In the short term, I think it could make us better, regardless of how they divvy up the ice time, but I worry the cost will be prohibitive (especially when you factor in the expansion draft and what protecting 4D will cost you). In terms of the cost, I also can't see a scenario where they trade for BOTH a Landeskog AND a Fowler type.

One thing is for sure, there's been a lot of smoke around Landeskog, lots of scouts and insider reports that there's real interest there, but if not for Neely's comments we wouldn't have any indication they were looking at LHD's.

Now, in reality, I don't know how you get your hands on Fowler until right before the expansion draft (which in the "what would you do to the Bruins thread" was my #1 target), but, if they could move some expansion exempt forwards and picks for him now...

That's the other part of it. Why would any playoff bound team (and right now, everyone thinks they're a playoff bound team), be willing to part with a Fowler if they weren't getting a piece they thought could help them more right now?

It's another reason I think Chara has to be part of this equation... Then again, Veddar might be right and we're thinking too much about the sexy names. A guy like Francois Beauchemin is a "LHD who plays a lot of minutes and puts up some points." He's also signed for next year so not a strict rental. He can play the left or right so they could use him in the 3rd pair like in your model or shift him to the right side if they go top heavy... I don't know... Not an "add" that blows my skirt up or does anything for this team post-Chara, but it could be more along the lines of what Neely is talking about.

 

[PlayMakers]

I have mixed feelings on the bolded. I think if we get a #1 LD, Krug gets moved to the 3rd pairing and that he is paid to much for there. Also, the new LD would probably take the #1 PP spot too. My solution is to trade Krug for the scoring forward we need,,,,,,,,,,,after we get the new LD.

That may very well be something they consider. I think it would be a risky play... Like Spooner, you pull Krug off the PP and you run the risk of it unraveling, and the PP is what's driving wins right now.

I also don't believe Krug will ever play in the 3rd pair again. Not for Boston or any other team. So if you don't believe he's worth top4 money then you make that decision to cut bait.

Your solution does make some sense long-term though. Fowler steps into the #1 spot on the left side with Carlo. McAvoy anchors the second pair and Colin Miller the 3rd. They've got a dozen players coming along who could backfill the #4 and #6 slots next to them. From defensive types like Lindgren, O'Gara and Sherman to puck movers like Gryz, Lauzon, Johansson and Zboril.

 

[PlayMakers]

I think these are great points and one of the things I haven't really considered too seriously when talking about adding a LHD. We definitely need a top pairing guy for the future, but can't really trade for OEL, Fowler, etc. because we'd just lose one guy at the expansion draft. Ditto for Shattenkirk.

I do wholeheartedly agree that out of Johansson, Lauzon, Zboril, Gryz, O'Gara, Lindgren and Sherman we will find a guy capable of being a top 4 defenseman that will likely play a bottom pairing role if everything goes well, and probably our 7th dman as well. This is why I'm totally fine trading any or multiple of them, along with Morrow and/or Spooner in order to solidify that top pairing. We have the quantity, now just need that quality guy.

Agreed. I think there's some real talent in that group. I know that the odds say some of them will bust, but I feel like there's enough of them there that, even with the bust factor, several of them will get through and reach their potential.

 

[TMac21]

Krug is a keeper.

 

[JRull86]

The thing with this LD, puts up points thing is if they truly brought in a first pairing LD, you don't go and trade Krug because of that. He's on a fair market value deal IMO (maybe 250k high) to play top 4 minutes, and run the PP. You have Chara for one more year at 4 million, you bump him down if anything.

 

[Bruins1993]

We need shatty

 

[22Brad Park]

The thing with this LD, puts up points thing is if they truly brought in a first pairing LD, you don't go and trade Krug because of that. He's on a fair market value deal IMO (maybe 250k high) to play top 4 minutes, and run the PP. You have Chara for one more year at 4 million, you bump him down if anything.

I agree .Chara is finished. Kill penalties pretty well only thing he good for now.

 

[ChargersRookie]

His skating has improved. And all the other check boxes you've listed are correct.

And while he is super smart, winning the Bobby Smith award for scholastic player of the year, I've slightly dropped him a bit from my early season review of him. I wrote this in early December https://ohlwriters.me/2016/12/11/nicolas-hague-mississauga-steelheads-player-profile/

In a weak draft, 20-30 range for a d-man isn't all that much to write home about, but that's just my opinion. After watching more and more of him since I wrote that, I'm not sure the hockey sense is where it should be at. And I could be wrong, maybe he's adjusting to a bigger role since they moved Sean Day.

As of today, If you held a gun to my head and asked me to pick who among the OHL's draft eligible d-men would go onto have the better NHL career, I would pick this guy https://ohlwriters.me/2016/12/27/conor-timmins-soo-greyhounds-player-profile/

But predicting a draft, isn't the easiest thing to do. Everyone gets it wrong all the time. Everyone gets drawn towards the towering defenceman who can at least skate decently. I'm just as guilty as the next guy when it comes to that.

If the Bruins have been looking in on Senyshyn then they must have formed an opinion of his teammates.

 

[s3antana5757]

I have mixed feelings on the bolded. I think if we get a #1 LD, Krug gets moved to the 3rd pairing and that he is paid to much for there. Also, the new LD would probably take the #1 PP spot too. My solution is to trade Krug for the scoring forward we need,,,,,,,,,,,after we get the new LD.

Can't speak for everyone else, but I have no problem with Krug being a 2nd pair LHD. Sure he may play one season as the de facto 3rd pairing if we get a top pairing LHD, but Chara only has 1 more year on his deal. I don't necessarily think he'd take the top spot, especially if it's a more defensive minded guy like Lindholm, Hjalmarsson, Vlasic, Suter, etc.

Agreed. I think there's some real talent in that group. I know that the odds say some of them will bust, but I feel like there's enough of them there that, even with the bust factor, several of them will get through and reach their potential.

Agreed. But I would trade 3 or the 4 out of Zboril, Lauzon, O'Gara, and Lindgren if it meant getting a top LHD guy. Bottom pairing guys are easy enough to find.

The thing with this LD, puts up points thing is if they truly brought in a first pairing LD, you don't go and trade Krug because of that. He's on a fair market value deal IMO (maybe 250k high) to play top 4 minutes, and run the PP. You have Chara for one more year at 4 million, you bump him down if anything.

Yeah Chara bumping down and being able to limit his minutes would not be a bad thing.

 

[Gee Wally]

Fluto : Shattenkirk unlikely.

The Bruins kicked the tires on Kevin Shattenkirk before the 2016 draft. But acquiring Shattenkirk would likely have cost the Bruins both of their first-round picks, used to select Charlie McAvoy and Trent Frederic, and a roster player. McAvoy’s continued development as a Boston University sophomore has lowered the likelihood of the Bruins making another go-around for Shattenkirk, who will be an unrestricted free agent after this season. McAvoy and Brandon Carlo are locks to be two of the Bruins’ three right-side defensemen in 2017-18. Colin Miller, Kevan Miller, and Adam McQuaid are in the picture, although one will probably be selected by the Golden Knights in the expansion draft. Not only would the Bruins have to cede assets to acquire Shattenkirk, they would have to sign the right-shot defenseman to an expensive extension.

http://www.bostonglobe.com/sports/b...er-accuracy/pvMZ6WVtEBuRaX5u4nRktL/story.html

 

[s3antana5757]

Fluto : Shattenkirk unlikely.

The Bruins kicked the tires on Kevin Shattenkirk before the 2016 draft. But acquiring Shattenkirk would likely have cost the Bruins both of their first-round picks, used to select Charlie McAvoy and Trent Frederic, and a roster player. McAvoy’s continued development as a Boston University sophomore has lowered the likelihood of the Bruins making another go-around for Shattenkirk, who will be an unrestricted free agent after this season. McAvoy and Brandon Carlo are locks to be two of the Bruins’ three right-side defensemen in 2017-18. Colin Miller, Kevan Miller, and Adam McQuaid are in the picture, although one will probably be selected by the Golden Knights in the expansion draft. Not only would the Bruins have to cede assets to acquire Shattenkirk, they would have to sign the right-shot defenseman to an expensive extension.

http://www.bostonglobe.com/sports/b...er-accuracy/pvMZ6WVtEBuRaX5u4nRktL/story.html

Not surprised by this and I think this is what we've been saying all along. Would be great to see Chara mentor McAvoy as he's done with Carlo. Krug-Carlo and then XX-C. Miller. Maybe both Millers as the bottom pairing.

 

[don]

Why do you feel Krug is not a legit top 4 dman?

Again...if he was 6 foot, people would say we have a legit number 1.

Devils never wanted to trade Raflaski...it would be a mistake.

He can't play defense good enough, plus, IMO, he'd not that good running the PP. On this team he is a legit 2nd pairing, but only because we have no other LD to put ahead of him. Sorry but that is my opinion.

 

[ODAAT]

Not surprised by this and I think this is what we've been saying all along. Would be great to see Chara mentor McAvoy as he's done with Carlo. Krug-Carlo and then XX-C. Miller. Maybe both Millers as the bottom pairing.

I honestly think that Krug is also a guy that those young D-men can look up to, guy just has leader written all over him with unquestioned work ethic