Proposal: Bruins Trade Proposals/Rumours '17 - '18 II (post 'em here)

[Number8]

There are many of us here that go back to the dark days when the Bruins were just good enough but needed that one kick to vault them into an elite team but they never pulled the trigger. This was especially true during Bourque and Neely’s primes.

Now we’re seeing something I can’t really recall in the team’s history where there are so many good prospects in the pipeline and we’re getting great contributions from first and second year players on the big club.

I think this is the opposite situation for two major reasons:

1) The season isn’t quite at the halfway point and the Bruins are in the top 10 (#9 actually) in the league. The smart move would be to see how this team (especially the rookies) hold up as the schedule grinds on.

2) There shouldn’t be any urgency to mortgage futures at this point. I believe that Don Sweeney is playing the long game and that suits as this team is a solid contender right now.

Are they a solid Stanley Cup contender? At this point I would say no, but the way the league is now, anything is possible.

This is an exciting and fun team to watch and they play hard to the end.

As a fan, I can’t honestly ask for any better.

As another long time fan I too remember those days well. I agree 100% with your post. I really don't know what I'd do in DS shoes. I worry about so many kids in PO's and the pressure but they seem such a mature and level bunch.

I do know that if you'd told me on Game 1 we'd be in this position now I'd have not believed you.

 

[BruinsFanSince94]

As another long time fan I too remember those days well. I agree 100% with your post. I really don't know what I'd do in DS shoes. I worry about so many kids in PO's and the pressure but they seem such a mature and level bunch.

I do know that if you'd told me on Game 1 we'd be in this position now I'd have not believed you.

I know the Bruins have a lot of rookies in the lineup, but they have a good amount of veterans as well. The veterans with their # of P.O games:

Krejci (96), Bergeron (101), Marchand (72), Backes (55), Chara (147), McQuaid (56),

Krug (27), Kevan Miller (17),

Nash (6).

I just think that this group meshes well with our young group, even with inexperienced rookies. At one time, all these guys were young and inexperienced in the playoffs. It'd be nice to see how our young players with limited experience elevate on the big stage; McAvoy for example seems like someone who shines in the (Chuckie) "bright lights" (love that nickname for him). Maybe DeBrusk does? Heinen? etc. etc.

 

[Alberta_OReilly_Fan]

How can I say this I agree with you, but I am not sure it can happen.

My opinion is. Right now i don't make a move, unless something special becomes available. A defenseman that will be a core top 4 piece for this team for the next 4 years, A RW that can be a core top 6 for the team for the next 3-4 years. Possibly an elite 3rd line center (and this one might be more of a rental type), Nash has been playing admirably recently, but honestly I'd rather him as a 4th liner (plus in my vision the extra center gives some injury protection for Krejci)

Honestly as of this point I don't really have interest in the usual suspects that are on the market. Pacioretty, is expensive next year (and has been HORRIBLE this year), and honestly I don't imagine I would pay what Montreal would want to trade him in the divison. Now that could change if the acquisition price drops, and one of more of the kids start to struggle Mike Hoffman, again that contract would be a very tough pill to swallow. If you are add the deadline again, and in a position where the need is more than now, maybe, but I pass. Evander Kane, he is not a player I have any interest in making a 6/7 year core player on this franchise. Again depending on the price/situation at the deadline, he would be a maybe (and at the deadline I would probably choose Kane of the 3 )

"I don't want them traded for a rental but for someone who's going to help this team be an Elite team for the next5-6yrs"

Sorry quoted this line again. The problem is finding some team who is willing to give up that type of player. If Colorado were willing to listen on Landeskog (which they probably should, but won't) he might be that guy. If Arizona wants to deal OEL? Maybe Brodin becomes willing to sell and move Brodin (not maybe a big enough core player, but a nice piece), or Nino (I doubt, but I would pay big there)

Someone mentioned a big deal around Erik Johnson on the trade board, that might be the splash, but there is risk there, and it would be a very painful deal.

Honestly I don't know who might be that potential guy, but then again I don't have a big money contract and a team of scouts Donny does, so lets see if he can find it

conventional wisdom says to get players for longterm but cap management wonders how we can afford it

guys currently on elc include
mcavoy
heinen
carlo
debrusk
bjork

i see minimum 11 and more likely 13 million dollars of raise there

currently bruins who might be gone in 3 years include

chara
spooner
belesky
mcquaid
miller

i see a maximum savings of 11 million in savings.

even with lets say a 6 million dollar increase in cap that would really put us in a bind if we had another 6 million dollar contract on our payroll

for this reason it is better to target 'rentals' now if we have a hole... and reevaluate our team needs and cap situation in 2 years time when even more kids might have graduated.

 

[Alberta_OReilly_Fan]

I won't go through point by point and will focus on one thing only and that is your assumption that more cap has to go for a trade to materialize.

I think you are (wrongly) assuming that the player's full cap hit would have to fit as of today. That is far from the truth.

Two examples I will use (and I will ASSUME no one from the Bruins roster would be going the other way) with everyone healthy.

Mark Stone: His cap hit for the remainder of the season is about $1.8 million. The Bruins currently have about $220,000 in cap space. But if acquired (no roster player going back), three players would have to be sent to Providence in order to get to the 23 man roster limit. Postma, Cehlarik and Kuraly would save about $1.2 million the rest of the year. So you are up to about $1.4 million. And you are still carrying 14 forwards and could send down one more and bingo, you are compliant while still carrying an extra forward and extra d-man

Hoffman: A little more complicated because his cap hit the rest of the year is $2,600,000. The numbers change with each passing day. But still doable.

Cap issues is not a problem the Bruins have or one they can't work out of easily enough.

dom wouldnt you agree that some teams through bad luck find themselves forced to go with a 22 man roster... but no teams actually box themselves into this corner intentionally?

we spent the past 2 months with 24 and 25 men on our cap most days. not all injuries qualify for ltir and you cant move a guy to minors when hes injured. things like a flu virus allow emergency recall but only if a team has cap room

your examples are mathamatically possible but i dont believe we would find any examples of a team ever making a trade mid season that required them to play the rest of the year with a maximum 22 man roster

free cap space is too valuable at the deadline when a team will historically fill its holes as close to the playoffs as possible.

a trade with ottawa might be in the works but it would have to require us moving a salary either in same trade or a second deal.

personally i dont see it happening but i always am a fan of this sort of rumor. its interesting

 

[Alberta_OReilly_Fan]

The idea of professional sports is the win the championship. Not build your prospect pool year afetr year while not making the playoffs or winning a playoff series. This team is a top 6 team. It needs to be treated as such and not an expansion team on a five year plan....

i might agree with you, but weve both been around the block long to know many owners dont feel the same

our very own jacobs ownership went 3 decades with a management that favored perennial competitiveness over gambling for a cup

in this era of parity i think there is huge risk to destroy your prospect system in an all out effort to win a championship. even the yankees in baseball have adopted a philosophy of grooming home grown talent

in our situation we have more valuable kids than we have future job openings. so trading some will be the prudent thing to do. but even after trading some we will still be needing to add more. keeping a well stocked farm system is important for remaining competitive and honestly i believe more teams value competitive than they will value an all or nothing approach for winning a championship

 

[whatsbruin]

I think a vet forward, who knows about the playoffs, and can score, and will be around for 2 more years (not too old)
would be ideal. Don't know who that player is. The problem is what young talent do you trade for them ?

 

[Alberta_OReilly_Fan]

I think a vet forward, who knows about the playoffs, and can score, and will be around for 2 more years (not too old)
would be ideal. Don't know who that player is. The problem is what young talent do you trade for them ?

Theres so few guys out there that fit the bill.

Wayne simmons
Max pacioretty

Are the 2 best examples i can think of for guys that we get this year and next.

Trading with montreal is full of all sorts of problems and im not sure im the biggest fan of bringing a diver to the team

Simmonds is a proven performer in past but there are warning signs he has passed his best before date

Cost to get either of these guys will be very high i think.

The question is do we need either guy? If even 2 kids are playing well enough to help our top 9 when healthy is strong

None of bergeron, marchand, krejci, pastrnak, backes are going to lose their spot. Add 2 kids and that fills 7 of the spots.

Now we get to spooner and nash. We have conerns with both guys but we have to admit both have been strong recently

The thing is even if nash or spooner falter we have bjork, cehlerik, jfk waiting in the wings. Bringing in an outsider means one of these kids wont get a chance.

Im not sure the guys available are good enough to block out the kids in our pipeline.

If spooner or nash start struggling, i might change my mind. I do think we are a cup contender so i dont want to leave any holes in the lineup. Right now i would give bjork some time to find his scoring touch... cehlerik some time to get healthy... spooner and nash some time...

If we are making a trade today id be looking at a left shot dman first. But its very hard to find one of them that makes sense too

 

[sarge88]

Postma isn't getting traded. He's waiver fodder. No one is going to give up anything for him. He's a #7-8 defenseman. Teams have players just like him on their rosters or on their AHL teams. Vatrano, I think you could get a late round pick for him. Bruins don't need to waive him, but don't expect a big return. Hey....For a free asset, turning him into any pick would be a success. Czarnik is an odd one to throw in there. He's in the AHL, why trade him? He's good depth.



I agree here. I think Spooner is more of an option to go over McQuaid.



Same as above. I'd agree here. I think if any of these guys are traded it'd be a surprise. Most of these names are guys that would/should be involved in deals that are made over the Summer.

After watching them start the playoffs down, what 3 of their top 6 last year, I’m very very wary of trading any defenseman that is currently practicing with the team. That includes Postma, who is nothing special, but is better than the Cross’s of the world, IMO.

 

[wintersej]

Yes I do. But as is always the case, I'd rather not say because talks like this happen all the time and then one side or the other decides, for whatever reason, that it's best to look elsewhere.

And there is a combination of 4 potential Bruins/P-Bruins that could go. I know at least two of them (or their families) read here so best I leave that alone.

And I don't want AOF breathing down my neck.

What I will say is this: From what I was told, the Sens were hoping for a sweep of the Bruins last week and then the rematch later this month "to get back in the race" and proceed from there. But the Bruins sweep sped everything up. Instead of being 8 points back, they are 16.

Why would they ever ever do that. To laugh I hope.

 

[JoeIsAStud]

After watching them start the playoffs down, what 3 of their top 6 last year, I’m very very wary of trading any defenseman that is currently practicing with the team. That includes Postma, who is nothing special, but is better than the Cross’s of the world, IMO.

I don;t think there is any chance they deal a defenseman unless they get one in return. If they were to get a defenseman in return then I could see them throwing in a Postma (not for value) into the deal Both to open a roster spot as if they brought one in that would mean 8 with NHL contracts, but also to give Postma a chance to play somewhere to help him build up a resume for UFA this summer. Obviously if a deal happens at the deadline then the roster issues are not as big a deal

 

[CHRDANHUTCH]

Tommy Cross is likely playing his final season of pro hockey for Providence....

 

[JoeIsAStud]

Since we have a ton of prospects, what about the possibility of trading up into the top 5 in the upcoming draft? A combination of picks and a prospect or two could land us a top notch player.....

Very hard to do. Obviously you need to find a willing partner.

Would you do

Bjork, Zboril and your #1 pick to move up?

I don't think that gets you into the top 5, unless you find a GM that LOVES Bjork or Zboril.

Even though they are high risk assets, NHL teams are very hesitant to trade top picks. Even later picks (first round) get dealt far less often than in the NBA or even the NFL.

 

[bp13]

I am holding out hope the play is for EK. Would love to see it.

 

[CHRDANHUTCH]

I am holding out hope the play is for EK. Would love to see it.

Doubt really Ottawa would do that after the package deal they shipped to COL.... EVEN IF Doiron says EK's available Wouldn't Hammond have fit better in PRO.... LAST I saw Hammond's still in Belleville on loan since that deal.

 

[JoeIsAStud]

I am holding out hope the play is for EK. Would love to see it.

Well, Boston might have the most pieces available, I am not sure they could put together the biggest piece for EK, and Biggest piece usually wins. Especially where they Bruins would almost certainly have to pay a premium.

I also think you have to treat him as a 18 month rental if you go for him, and value him as such. Now if you view him as someone you are willing to extend at 7/77 then you might be willing to go higher. (at that point year or a million here or there is irrelevant in the calculus)

 

[bp13]

I’d be okay offering him a very lucrative long term deal. He’s a top 5 NHL player. He’s the kind of player you break the bank for IMO.

 

[Gee Wally]

I’d be okay offering him a very lucrative long term deal. He’s a top 5 NHL player. He’s the kind of player you break the bank for IMO.

Not me. His age, past injuries added to him looking for max deal = stay away.

 

[CombatOnContact]

Tommy Cross is likely playing his final season of pro hockey for Providence....

Why?

 

[Rumpy]

Why?

Because he can leave and have a legit shot at playing in the NHL.

Cross was an enigma that was traded up for, then hurt, then made fun of, and actually hasn’t been horrible when needed. I hope his perseverance gets him a couple years in the NHL some where he deserves it.

 

[BBB24]

Because he can leave and have a legit shot at playing in the NHL.

Cross was an enigma that was traded up for, then hurt, then made fun of, and actually hasn’t been horrible when needed. I hope his perseverance gets him a couple years in the NHL some where he deserves it.

He didn’t have to wait til next year to leave, he has passed through waivers a few years already, no interest. He is not an NHL dman, simple as that, if he was he would be a regular by now. He chose to sign in Providence again this season and wouldn’t be surprised to see him do so again next season.

 

[wintersej]

Very hard to do. Obviously you need to find a willing partner.

Would you do

Bjork, Zboril and your #1 pick to move up?

I don't think that gets you into the top 5, unless you find a GM that LOVES Bjork or Zboril.

Even though they are high risk assets, NHL teams are very hesitant to trade top picks. Even later picks (first round) get dealt far less often than in the NBA or even the NFL.

Even if you do get into the top 5... what if you get a Juolevi or Strome or Reinhart or Bennett or DalColle

 

[sarge88]

He didn’t have to wait til next year to leave, he has passed through waivers a few years already, no interest. He is not an NHL dman, simple as that, if he was he would be a regular by now. He chose to sign in Providence again this season and wouldn’t be surprised to see him do so again next season.

I’m being 100% sincere when I say that I have the utmost respect for Tommy Cross and guys like him. A very, very small percentage of people make a career out of playing the game that we all spend hours watching and talking about. It seems pretty clear that he’s highly unlikely to become an NHL Regular at this point, but he’s found a way to make a living playing a game and I’m guessing enjoys his job more than most of us.

 

[JoeIsAStud]

Because he can leave and have a legit shot at playing in the NHL.

Cross was an enigma that was traded up for, then hurt, then made fun of, and actually hasn’t been horrible when needed. I hope his perseverance gets him a couple years in the NHL some where he deserves it.

It is possible he chooses to go to another team where he might have a better chance, and yes I do think that if he went through camp with a team he might get a gig as a 6/7 defenseman. If he finds a team willing to give him an one way contract he should take that deal and run

that said, unless someone is willing to give him an NHL contract he needs to think about what his life work is going to be. It is possible he wants a job outside of hockey, and if so he may choose to walk away now, or maybe get the best deal he can for a year or two If he on the other hand is looking to pursue a life in Hockey, whether as a coach/scout/front office type, then he should absolutely be looking to stay in the Bruins org, which likely means hanging around Providence for another year as a player who functions as coach on the ice, which is basically what he is now, but it could mean an assistant coach job in Prov. Or maybe he gets a gig back at BC

 

[Root]

It is possible he chooses to go to another team where he might have a better chance, and yes I do think that if he went through camp with a team he might get a gig as a 6/7 defenseman. If he finds a team willing to give him an one way contract he should take that deal and run

that said, unless someone is willing to give him an NHL contract he needs to think about what his life work is going to be. It is possible he wants a job outside of hockey, and if so he may choose to walk away now, or maybe get the best deal he can for a year or two If he on the other hand is looking to pursue a life in Hockey, whether as a coach/scout/front office type, then he should absolutely be looking to stay in the Bruins org, which likely means hanging around Providence for another year as a player who functions as coach on the ice, which is basically what he is now, but it could mean an assistant coach job in Prov. Or maybe he gets a gig back at BC

Tommy is a smart kid and well respected throughout the organization. He is a leader and we are lucky to have him in Providence. I know that he has a great relationship with Sweeney...don't be surprised if he ends up with a front office job with the Bruins.

 

[Root]

Marchand-Bergeron-Pastrnak
DeBrusk-Krejci-XXXX
Heinen-Nash-Backes
Schaller-Kuraly-Acciari

Z-McAvoy
Krug-Carlo
Gryz-Miller
McQuaid

Rask
Anton

Unless there is a home run deal presented to the Bruins for a two way left shot top 4 defenseman I roll with our defense and goaltenders as is.

The only spot on forward I might look to upgrade is that second line right wing spot. In house we have Spooner, Cehlarik, Bjork and Vatrano as options.

I think it is obvious Vatrano isn't viewed as part of our future. I still think he can be a solid third liner for another NHL team, I hope we can trade him for a pick. Bjork might benefit with top 6 minutes down in Providence. So that leaves Spooner and Cehlarik.

Spooner is finally playing well and looks comfortable on the wing but I would prefer Cehlarik in that spot. But if you scratch Spooner does he get deflated/does it kill whatever trade value he has recently built for himself? With Krejci's health issues do we hang onto Spooner no matter what?

The poster Playmakers had an interesting post a few weeks ago. I couldn't find it but to summarize it was that we have a lot of prospects pushing for the NHL and only so many NHL spots open. On top of the right wing options listed above we also potentially have Donato, Senyshyn and JFK pushing for spots next season. It might make the most sense for Sweeney to trade a couple of these prospects for a legitimate top 6 right winger to try to win with in the next couple years while our veterans are still in their primes. We have plenty of ammo to pull of a deal and still have a loaded farm system.

The more I think about it Wayne Simmonds as a year and a half rental might be the perfect option. Almost zero chance we would sign him after his current contract is up but he would be a great veteran to have for a cup run. Besides Simmonds I would love Mark Stone or Josh Anderson (both would cost a lot to acquire).

Sweeney deserves a lot of credit for building the farm system and integrating young players while staying competitive but I think it is time to take the next step and he should be looking to make a big trade to fortify our top 6.