NHL Draft lottery race - Bruins currently have 4th Pick

[MarchysNoseKnows]

Would Boston have sucked since the deadline if they didn’t jettison some of our players because instead we were trying to compete to the end? Boston wouldn’t be in that position, would they?

Would Chicago & San Jose have tried harder in last years free agency period if they new another year of utter turd was not going to yield them a guaranteed top 5 pick?

Would a team that started off absolutely horrible, and then toward the end of the year finally gelled…finally gained some traction…wouldn’t it be awesome to see them get rewarded despite their final standings? Say a team that was below .500 all season, suddenly clicks and goes on a tear…goes .750 in the final 20 games.

Doesn’t that put butts in the seats? Doesn’t that make every single game count for every single team? Doesn’t that make sure season ticket holders can always expect their team’s effort will be 100%?

You’re creating a situation where it’s better for franchises to finish 17-20 than it is to make the playoffs. Even more so in a year like next year with McKenna. Why be 8 in the East when, under your idea, you’ve been hot for a month and have the post-deadline lead in points so you can go for first overall.

I mean you just need to step back and think about it just a little bit. You can’t do it the way you’re describing it. The Gold Plan does this (teams start earning points towards the draft order when they’re eliminated from playoff contention), but again even that plan has huge holes.

I still maintain this is a solution in search of a problem. There isn’t anything close to a tanking issue in the NHL, except apparently in the Game threads.

 

[BruinDust]

They’re in no position to trade from 1 to 3, take one of the two centers, and add assets? Schaefer isn’t Bedard or McKenna or that kind of #1.

What do you think you are getting dropping from 1 to 3? History says not a whole lot. Especially if the gap isn't that great as you are suggesting.

Walk me through the next 3 seasons if the Bruins take Schaeffer.

I can't walk you through next season. That's why you just take the best player.

I'll just use the Habs again. They take Kotkaniemi at 3 in June of 2018, and 3 months later their actual future No.1 C in Suzuki lands in their lap via trade.

I remember Summer 2016 here. Right-shot D like Trouba were all the rage. That fall Carlo shows up, McAvoy arrives in the spring, and no one here is talking right-shot D the summer of 2017.

 

[Jim]

You’re creating a situation where it’s better for franchises to finish 17-20 than it is to make the playoffs. Even more so in a year like next year with McKenna. Why be 8 in the East when, under your idea, you’ve been hot for a month and have the post-deadline lead in points so you can go for first overall.

I mean you just need to step back and think about it just a little bit. You can’t do it the way you’re describing it. The Gold Plan does this (teams start earning points towards the draft order when they’re eliminated from playoff contention), but again even that plan has huge holes.

I still maintain this is a solution in search of a problem. There isn’t anything close to a tanking issue in the NHL, except apparently in the Game threads.

It isn’t about finishing 17-20, it’s about accruing the best record specifically in the games remaining post trade deadline. All teams trying to make the playoffs are already doing that. The only teams that are not are the ones that trend closer and closer to elimination.

The point is moot, I guess. People fall i to one of three categories: You don’t think tanking is a problem/exists, you think tanking exists and you’re comfortable with it, you think tanking exists and want to change it. Personally, I fall into the second category, and would prefer we sit guys that we don’t want to risk injury to for ‘25-‘26 and let the kids use the rest of the season as an early training camp for next year

 

[PB37]

Looks like Nashville is going to out-tank us for that 3rd spot.

 

[BiteThisBurrows]

I know you’re high on him but he’s well below Hagens and Frondell for me. I’m looking for top tier offense at that spot.

I don’t want anything to do with Bear that high.

Bear will be something between Marchand and Seth Jarvis.

 

[BiteThisBurrows]

If he's the clear-cut No.1 as he supposedly is (really I have no idea), if somehow the Bruins get the 1st overall pick via the lottery, than that is who they need to take. I don't care who else they currently have on D. The LAST thing this franchise needs to do at this point is their smartest man in the room bullshit they like to do at the draft table.

He's consensus #1 but not that far ahead of Misa. It's a bit like Power/Beniers. Power was consensus #1 and went #1 but Beniers was almost the same in ranking and it's still arguable as to which was the better pick.

 

[McPasta8873]

Bear will be something between Marchand and Seth Jarvis.

That’s a high praise for a guy who lacks in the skating department and just tore his Achilles.

He’s skilled but he’s not among the top in this class. His game is purely based on his motor and how hard he hustles which is great you want guys who don’t give up but Marchand and Jarvis are also very very skilled players. Not to say he can develop that skill he’s just way more likely to become a really good 3rd liner fringe 2nd line then a top line winger.

I’d compare him more to Hyman pre oilers stint

 

[BB88]

If the bruins are aiming for a retool to be competitive during the current “cores” prime, I don’t see how Schaeffer helps more than taking a top ranked C.

Unless you plan to flip him to some team that has a young blue chip currently performing C to cut down on time it takes to get an impactful C.

They need to figure out the 1C prospect in either this years draft or next years

Right now they have zero level A prospects and you need to have 2-3 for this to make sense

So if this years best available isn’t a C you go all in for it next year and have 2 elite prospects in the prospect pool to go with McAvoy, Pasta, Swayman window. They are young enough to survive a bad next season, but if you try to push it further they might as well trade Pasta.

Next years draft should anyways have better high end talent for F

 

[shelbysdad]

Only way I trade out of 1 would be something crazy.... Stay in top 4, and I want a first next year too (Chi or SJ)…..

 

[MarchysNoseKnows]

They need to figure out the 1C prospect in either this years draft or next years

Right now they have zero level A prospects and you need to have 2-3 for this to make sense

So if this years best available isn’t a C you go all in for it next year and have 2 elite prospects in the prospect pool to go with McAvoy, Pasta, Swayman window. They are young enough to survive a bad next season, but if you try to push it further they might as well trade Pasta.

Next years draft should anyways have better high end talent for F

Yeah but this season is a gift to end up where they are. You can’t possibly count on getting a 1C next year unless you do sell Pasta/McAvoy/Swayman, which isn’t happening.

In 5 years, would you rather have a 1D and whoever you could acquire at 1C, or a 1C and whoever you could acquire playing top pair with McAvoy? A lot easier to get a defenseman than a 1C anywhere other than the draft.

Again, Schaefer isn’t a slam dunk top pick.

 

[Bradely]

They need to figure out the 1C prospect in either this years draft or next years

Right now they have zero level A prospects and you need to have 2-3 for this to make sense

So if this years best available isn’t a C you go all in for it next year and have 2 elite prospects in the prospect pool to go with McAvoy, Pasta, Swayman window. They are young enough to survive a bad next season, but if you try to push it further they might as well trade Pasta.

Next years draft should anyways have better high end talent for F

If you ask me!! 1C needs to be brought in thru trade or market. Otherwise you need to draft a top gun who can play with Pastrnak. Otherwise, imo it is a waste to keep Pasta with no real 1C

 

[Bradely]

Only way I trade out of 1 would be something crazy.... Stay in top 4, and I want a first next year too (Chi or SJ)…..

Next year will be a heck of great year in perspective!.

 

[4ORRBRUIN]

If you ask me!! 1C needs to be brought in thru trade or market. Otherwise you need to draft a top gun who can play with Pastrnak. Otherwise, imo it is a waste to keep Pasta with no real 1C

Why would they pay Geekie then? Isn't he going to get paid because he's Pasta's top gun?

 

[DiggityDog]

What do you think you are getting dropping from 1 to 3? History says not a whole lot. Especially if the gap isn't that great as you are suggesting.



I can't walk you through next season. That's why you just take the best player.

I'll just use the Habs again. They take Kotkaniemi at 3 in June of 2018, and 3 months later their actual future No.1 C in Suzuki lands in their lap via trade.

I remember Summer 2016 here. Right-shot D like Trouba were all the rage. That fall Carlo shows up, McAvoy arrives in the spring, and no one here is talking right-shot D the summer of 2017.

If the Bruins win the lottery and pick first, they should absolutely consider trading down a pick. Especially if they want a center as opposed to the defenseman. Even if the moved down for like a second or third I would take that easily.

Would you rather.

Keep you pick and draft your guy?

Or

Trade back a spot, pick your guy anyways, and get an additional asset in the process?

Pretty simple IMO

 

[KnightofBoston]

If the Bruins can somehow get Misa or Frondell, they're all set. Those two guys will immediately gel with pasta

Now throw in a better lindholm (who also looks good with Pasta and for the life of me can't understand why he wasn't stapled to Pasta all season) a healthy Hampus, Mac, determined Swayman, and a year of progress for Lorhei, Geekie, Peeke, Khus, Middlstat, Minten....that's a team that can place third in the east with good coaching.

Misa will score 60 points riding with Pasta his first year, Frondell will be around 50. That's a good add

if Hagens is the 4th pick you need to take him IMO, Martone might be the better player right away, but Hagens could be a Hughes type center. He just doesn't strike me as someone who will help the team be immediately better and will likely be around 10-15 goals and 20 assists his first season

 

[Dennis Bonvie]

They need to figure out the 1C prospect in either this years draft or next years

Right now they have zero level A prospects and you need to have 2-3 for this to make sense

So if this years best available isn’t a C you go all in for it next year and have 2 elite prospects in the prospect pool to go with McAvoy, Pasta, Swayman window. They are young enough to survive a bad next season, but if you try to push it further they might as well trade Pasta.

Next years draft should anyways have better high end talent for F

How do you propose they do that?

 

[BruinDust]

If the Bruins win the lottery and pick first, they should absolutely consider trading down a pick. Especially if they want a center as opposed to the defenseman. Even if the moved down for like a second or third I would take that easily.

Would you rather.

Keep you pick and draft your guy?

Or

Trade back a spot, pick your guy anyways, and get an additional asset in the process?

Pretty simple IMO

It's simple alright, take the best player available regardless of position.

 

[Igor25]

Why would they pay Geekie then? Isn't he going to get paid because he's Pasta's top gun?

Because they need more offense from someone other than Geekie or Pasta.

 

[DKH]

I’m rooting for Bruins to win final 4 games as long as Flyers win all 5 and Pens lose in OT to Bruins but win rest - kraken win out

Think we are safe otherwise

 

[Bruin4]

If the Bruins win the lottery and pick first, they should absolutely consider trading down a pick. Especially if they want a center as opposed to the defenseman. Even if the moved down for like a second or third I would take that easily.

Would you rather.

Keep you pick and draft your guy?

Or

Trade back a spot, pick your guy anyways, and get an additional asset in the process?

Pretty simple IMO

I would too, but I want more than a 2nd or a 3rd. If someone willing to over pay I'd do it in a minute. People seem to be all over the map with Schaefer and there's no clear-cut guy this year who their saying is going to be a game-changer. Not saying there isn't going to be one or more for that matter, but If one of the bottom 5 flop picks and throw in a 2026 first, done deal.

No one here knows whats the bruins list is or any other teams for that matter, but if the bruins come away with a Schaefer, Misa, Hagens, or a Frondell from this draft I'm very happy and if they could ever add a 2026 1st to go along with it,Win Win! of course very slim chances of this happening.

Point is This team is so offensively challenged when Pasta on the bench, that it actually looks like amateur hour, so the Bruins need to look at every possibility to add that comes their way.

Gm's in the past have been able to make a huge impact, that helped turn this team around and in the right direction either via a trade or a FA signing, Sinden was legendary with Nifty and Neely, Milty brought in Espo. Chiarelli biggest move was through FA bringing in the anchor of their defense for many years in Big Z. Sweeney your on the clock and its ticking!

 

[Oates2Neely]

I almost didn’t bother to reply and leave on read

Nowhere, nowhere& nowhere did I say trades can’t be made. I said Boston isn’t in a place to make trades like that right now..

When Florida made those trades they had Barkov 1C, Forsling 1D, Ekblad 2D, Bob 1G in the building

When Boston did the retool on fly in 2015 they had Bergeron, Krejci, Marchand, Pasta, Chara, Rask in the building

Right now they have one of the worst prospect pools in the league, they have ZERO level A prospects, they aren’t in a place to start trading their best futures for non franchise players. You need to rebuild that prospect pool, you need to add 2-3 level A prospects. If you add a non franchise level forward into the group you set them up as a WC team, not good enough to compete, not bad enough to address the prospect pool

You realize Reinhart isn’t and has never been a C in the NHL? Florida didn’t trade for a 50 goal 1C, they traded for a good but not elite winger with room to develop and even a similar trade would take the best prospect Boston has+ a 1st round pick

So yeah you can trade assets, you can add players but Boston right now isn’t in a place to go for the win now moves. What Florida did, what Tampa had been doing. They had their major core players already in the building and then went for those trades. You want to skip that part and go straight to the win now moves, they are fighting for the last place in the East for crying out loud.. & yeah let’s skip fixing the prospect pool and go for the win now moves!!

Edit,

Again you now draft the missing top talents into the prospect pool and then you go for the win now moves, you can’t do it the other way around

In response to the bolded, do you consider the Bruins core chopped liver?
Barkov - Pastrnak
Forsling - Hampus Lindholm
Ekblad - MacAvoy
Bobrovsky - Swayman

The Panthers made those trades they were NOT a power house team. You’re being disingenuous. The Panthers recent playoff history:
2017 DNQ
2018 DNQ
2019 DNQ
2020 (Covid playoffs) DNQ lost in qualifying round to the Islanders
**** Then in 2021 the Panthers trade for Reinhart & Bennett.*****
2021 Lose in 1st round
2022 Lose in semi finals
2023 Lose Cup Final
2024 Stanley Cup Champions

Hmmm, what do you attribute their playoff success to….?

They also signed Verhaghe in 2020 as a UFA. They didn’t trade top prospects to acquire any of the above. The Bruins need to keep their own 1sts. But even those players are most likely a few years away from helping this team. They need to acquire good players now. They have the assets, they don’t have to trade their own 1sts. They can both trade for quality players, AND draft in the 1st round building up their prospect pool.

Considering the age of their core (Pastrnak McAvoy Swayman) I don’t see the team relying on just the draft to build their team. I see them drafting a good forward in the top 6 (hopefully), making trades using the assets they acquired at the TDL, and signing a UFA or two.

 

[DKH]

I just want to get in the top 3

That’s up to Gary

Right now let’s get 4OA even 5 works ….outside of 6 doesn’t mean it will end up a fail but 1-4 after lottery is exciting and will keep us busy for 2 months lol

 

[McBrom7]

If the Bruins win the lottery and pick first, they should absolutely consider trading down a pick. Especially if they want a center as opposed to the defenseman. Even if the moved down for like a second or third I would take that easily.

Would you rather.

Keep you pick and draft your guy?

Or

Trade back a spot, pick your guy anyways, and get an additional asset in the process?

Pretty simple IMO

Why is a team trading up to take the defenseman when the world knows you’d be taking Misa? Trading out of 1 to go to 3 is absolutely a no go as I think this draft’s tier 1 is 2 guys. Trading out of the lottery win basically burns your 1 of 2 for 5 years and you get a worse player. Hypothetically, what you’re proposing sounds great, but in practice idk if it would ever happen. If we win and anyone would be trading up it would be to take Misa.

Just sit and draft at 1.

With that said, there’s never any movement in the top 5 picks. Its so rare I’m not even sure it’s worth discussing as much as this thread is. If they stick at 4 they’re most likely moving back a spot from the lottery. It’d be a gift to stay at 4.

 

[KnightofBoston]

I'd be wary of trading down

You do it because you want Misa and then the sharks take Misa and stun the hockey world where does that leave you? With a really tough 2nd choice, pressure to pick Frondell or Schaefer, the consensus next best C or the consensus BPO?

If you somehow get a miracle on lottery day and get first overall, just pick the best player you think will help your organization immediately. That's likely Misa.

 

[BamBamCam]

Why the lock icon on NYR?

Because of the JT miller trade. Conditions of the first was top 13 protected.