For Bruins fans:
Déjà Vu all over again in Vancouver:
Rutherford and Allvin sent a significant package, including Andrei Kuzmenko, two promising defense prospects (Hunter Brzustewicz and Joni Jurmo), a 2024 first-round pick, and a conditional fourth, to Calgary in exchange for RHC 29-year-old rental Elias Lindholm. He played his part during the playoff run, but walked in free agency after Vancouver declined to match what ultimately proved to be a market-rate deal: seven years at $7.75 million AAV.
Now, just a year later, the Canucks find themselves back in the same spot, searching for a top-six centre. This time, it’s Marco Rossi on their radar, and early indications suggest it could cost them yet another first-round pick.
In effect, management is poised to pay twice for the same roster need. The Lindholm trade burned premium assets without long-term retention, and now the front office may be forced to repeat the cycle just to restore what was briefly gained and quickly lost.
Take heart, your Bruins benefitted from the continued incompetence of the Rutherford regime.