Give Spooner 1 more year under Cassidy or Not?

[bearcountry17]

At this point just ride Bergeron, Krejci and Backes as your three centers and build around them

Problem with that is now you're short a good 2nd line RW.

 

[TheBigBadB]

Oh I fully admit that. I just think it's much harder to find all rounded centers and the Bruins have three. Great. Just need to develop or free agent some wingers

 

[Jean_Jacket41]

Depends of:

1-What return can you get for him
2-What will be his Cap hit starting next year

If he stays, he's an asset to the PP and gives the team depth at F. I would personally trade him for something usefull if the return is there. If not, I have no problem keeping him and giving him 3rd/4th line ES+top PP icetime.

 

[Ratty]

If you are a team like Anaheim who is going to lose one of your top three because you have to protect Kevin Bieksa a deal for prospects and picks should be doable. Vatrano is a flawed player but has a rocket shot and does a pretty good job of getting open, a team may look at him and say they can fix the other parts or just be happy with a third line pure goal scorer, the Ducks have enough grit and toughness in their bottom six for a player like that.

I haven't looked at all of the teams and tried to figure out what D will be available but there should be upgrades out there over McQuaid and the Millers. It's a good time to add a solid piece on D with Carlo and McAvoy not having to be protected.

I know you are just using the Ducks as an example, but I have read that Anaheim would ask Bieksa to waive his NMC. Failing that it could buy out his 4 mil contract which, I believe, has one more year to run. And it can absorb that hit under the cap.

This way it can protect Vatenen, Lindholm and Fowler.

 

[bearcountry17]

Spooner, despite no ideal or consistent linemates, is still 75th in ES points in the league over the last 2 years. He is 21st in PP points over the same time So I agree with the above that having him as a sheltered 3rd line center and a PP specialist isn't the worst problem in the world, even if he was in the 2.5-3 million dollar range.

 

[BadBruins]

No if we can get any value from him in return it's time to move on. Do not want another year of a stale third line.

Ryan Spooner's most common 5 on 5 linemates this year were David Krejci and David Backes.... Roughly 35-40% of his 5 on 5 minutes were played during the wing experiments. The numbers suggest they were more productive together than when apart. They also indicate he was pretty good with Vatrano as well, the 3rd most common linemate. Even the short time with Stafford proved to be an effective. Things look a little different when you look at performance with Czarnik, Nash, Schaller, Beleskey, Hayes, Moore.

Spooner can't carry a line, especially not a center IMO. Slap him on the wing, reduce defensive responsibility, let him play with more skilled linemates. Take advantage of his ability to play with skill and his PP efficiency. Accept the fact that he can't win faceoffs or bang down low with other C's.

Scoring depth was a bigger issue. Riley Nash and Dominic Moore probably spent more time as the 3rd and 4th C than Spooner. Want to improve the bottom-6? Get better players. Removing Spooner from the equation doesn't do a damn thing. In fact, I think it makes the situation worse.

 

[Mainehockey33]

Ryan Spooner's most common 5 on 5 linemates this year were David Krejci and David Backes.... Roughly 35-40% of his 5 on 5 minutes were played during the wing experiments. The numbers suggest they were more productive together than when apart. They also indicate he was pretty good with Vatrano as well, the 3rd most common linemate. Even the short time with Stafford proved to be an effective. Things look a little different when you look at performance with Czarnik, Nash, Schaller, Beleskey, Hayes, Moore.

Spooner can't carry a line, especially not a center IMO. Slap him on the wing, reduce defensive responsibility, let him play with more skilled linemates. Take advantage of his ability to play with skill and his PP efficiency. Accept the fact that he can't win faceoffs or bang down low with other C's.

Scoring depth was a bigger issue. Riley Nash and Dominic Moore probably spent more time as the 3rd and 4th C than Spooner. Want to improve the bottom-6? Get better players. Removing Spooner from the equation doesn't do a damn thing. In fact, I think it makes the situation worse.

I don't think it was a coincidence he was a PPG player with Lucic and Pastrnak.

 

[b in vancouver]

Spooner, despite no ideal or consistent linemates, is still 75th in ES points in the league over the last 2 years. He is 21st in PP points over the same time So I agree with the above that having him as a sheltered 3rd line center and a PP specialist isn't the worst problem in the world, even if he was in the 2.5-3 million dollar range.

It's hard to shelter a third line centre. To do that you're stealing prime match-ups and o-zone starts from your first two lines - the ones who actually do put the puck in the net.
Over the last two years - sure. But this year he got 39 points with half of them on the power play while getting easy match-ups. That's not good enough.

I like the idea of a scoring third line. But also don't want Bergeron, Krejci, Pastrnak, Marchand, Backes, stuck out there for every defensive zone face-off.

 

[Thrive]

**** that.


Spooner has his pivot to the left of the right circle and that's all folks.

 

[JoeIsAStud]

What happens if Spooner costs them 3million in arbitration and they can't trade him? Choices are walk away or keep him at that cap hit. Too much of a risk for a player who is not worth 3 m cap hit, move him before arbitration. I feel if he hits at 3 million they will just walk away from the award so get something for him now.

Well it really depends. What is my cap situation at that point?

If I haven't spent the cap space by August, then I keep Spooner even if the contract is high. If I don't have enough cap space then I walk away.

But it all boils down to whether someone is going to be willing to give up something of value for him. If for example the best we can get at the draft would be a 2nd round pick, or some third line grinder, then I am going to keep Spooner as he brings more to the table than that

 

[Lost Horizons]

no..

 

[Salem13]

If he can be convinced to embrace being a RW keep him.

 

[ashnathan]

David Krejci at 7 million gets less than adequate wingers and is allowed excuses. Ryan Spooner at about a million gets less than that, but gets all the blame.

Get them both adequate wingers, and I think they both do alright.

I voted no co id like then to go in a different direction ie Backes at C with 2 gritty wingers (think playoffs with Kuraly even ghough i think Kuraly was C)

I dont want to give him away though. But man if i have to sit through another season of him givig up on puck battles, not finishing his checks and curling away im going to vomit. I get he isnt physical and thats okay, but when you have the chance to lay some sort of body on a player that has zero time to make a play, you do it! At the moment he just glides in and gives them the extra time they need to make the first pass. Im done with that.

 

[Hali33]

Spooner doesn't agitate me nearly as much as many others here.

I see him as cheap production, even if his overall game doesn't blow you away. He had 49 points the season before and makes nothing. If we are supposed to appreciate a highly paid player that doesn't produce enough but otherwise plays a good game then I can appreciate the opposite - a player who is cheap and doesn't play a complete game but matches the production of a 6 million dollar player.

I honestly forgot he got a concussion as well and hadn't considered that during his lackluster end of the season/playoffs.

I'm sure what's best for Spooner is to move on. But if the next contract is cheap I still have time for him on this team.

 

[Gordoff]

Can't argue with that. Vatrano was overhyped by many coming into the season and I agree he was fair all season. Glimpses are there, but his game isn't well-rounded at this point. He was absolutely worse than Spooner, although neither was good. Both deserve flak, it's just that Spooner's leash should probably be shorter since we've seen more of him.

I'm on record as completely apathetic on Spooner, but strategically it might be best to try to move him while he still has perceived value. If you packaged him in a deal for a better player, for example, I feel like a GM or two might be able to sell him as a potential steal. Hell they may even view him that way. Might be better than simply moving him for a pick, though that still might be better than keeping him.

While I agree with you on the whole and especially the idea of getting rid of him now before the world is aware of his lack of overall game. I was going back and forth on this but alas, gonna say don't pay him and try to make him into something he isn't. Trade him ASAP, get whatever saves (Don Sweeney's) face. I've been a little scared that maybe he would blossom under another team and become an overall player but in thinking about it long and hard, I kinda doubt it. I can't imagine him playing in a game like the one I witnessed Thursday night with the Pens and Sens...

Edit: I just noticed that Dom voted on keeping him here...Dom thoughts?

 

[DominicT]

While I agree with you on the whole and especially the idea of getting rid of him now before the world is aware of his lack of overall game. I was going back and forth on this but alas, gonna say don't pay him and try to make him into something he isn't. Trade him ASAP, get whatever saves (Don Sweeney's) face. I've been a little scared that maybe he would blossom under another team and become an overall player but in thinking about it long and hard, I kinda doubt it. I can't imagine him playing in a game like the one I witnessed Thursday night with the Pens and Sens...

Edit: I just noticed that Dom voted on keeping him here...Dom thoughts?

Easy. For me, as of today and considering every possible scenario, I keep him. Ask me again on June 15, or July 1, it will probably be a different answer, but that depends on a lot of other things falling into place. But an NHL team can't operate on if's, and's, or but's.

I certainly give him his qualifying offer and I certainly don't expose him to Vegas - unless something changes.

 

[vjcsmoke]

If we can get a 2nd round pick in this year's draft for Spooner, he's as good as gone.

If we can get a 2nd round pick this year, and next year, I'll drive him to the airport myself!!

Of course any trade wouldn't happen until after the Expansion draft.

That kind of threw a monkey wrench into most offseason plans.

 

[Absurdity]

What is the chance a team offersheets Spooner?

An offsheet worth $1,962,987 - $3,925,975 AAV would fetch the Bruins a 2nd round pick if they decide not to match.

 

[JoeIsAStud]

What is the chance a team offersheets Spooner?

An offsheet worth $1,962,987 - $3,925,975 AAV would fetch the Bruins a 2nd round pick if they decide not to match.

I'm trying to remember for sure, but my understanding is if Spooner chooses arbitration then he can't take RFA offers.

 

[Alberta_OReilly_Fan]

Give Spooner one more year under Cassidy or Not?

i have no hope he will ever be willing to play nhl wing... dont want him as an expensive 3rd liner

if boston surprises us and moves krejci, im willing to give spooner a chance as an affordable top 6 guy

weve seen guys become better defensively when challanged before and shown support.

but honestly this comes down to price and role. my gut says we cant keep spooner

 

[bruinmann77]

He can"t be given away for nothing .

 

[Gordoff]

i have no hope he will ever be willing to play nhl wing... dont want him as an expensive 3rd liner

if boston surprises us and moves krejci, im willing to give spooner a chance as an affordable top 6 guy

weve seen guys become better defensively when challanged before and shown support.

but honestly this comes down to price and role. my gut says we cant keep spooner

He's said in the past (or is it my imagination) that wing isn't his natural position and that he's uncomfortable there.
I'm done with him too but not sure what the options are in finding a better option. I'd like to see Backes move back into center but for some reason the B's brass don't care for that idea.
BTW: Nobody wants to lose or give him away for nothing in the expansion draft, my wish is that they do get something or use him in a combination deal as others have said. Maybe use him to get rid of Hayes or Beleskey with some salary retained?

 

[Gordoff]

...On the other hand........maybe Butch can make a difference in Spooners style with a full training camp and season as his coach? Maybe he can instill some attitude in him? I just don't know (and I'm sure nobody else does either). Since Dom feels that he needs to stay (and I'm sure most of us have the utmost respect for his opinion) it's an important consideration.

 

[roflstomper]

I don't want him on the team. Useless 5v5 against easy matchups. Soft as butter. Contributes nothing if not scoring. Also I am shocked that no coach at any level told him to stop doing that ****ing pivot when he crosses the blueline. It makes 2 things happen, you slow down the attack and you limit your options. It's nuts that I have to keep watching him do that nonsense. Maybe there's some team somewhere that thinks he can play a second line role and put up 55 points with decent minutes. Just get what you can for him.

 

[Absurdity]

I'm trying to remember for sure, but my understanding is if Spooner chooses arbitration then he can't take RFA offers.

I didn't know that, thanks.