LeBrun: Lightning, Bruins, Blues, Leafs interested in Jacob Middleton

[inthe6ix]

Know he's injured, but would prefer Ferraro over Mid from Stratford.. KD bring that Toronto boy home lol

 

[Pavelski2112]

I actually believe that Middleton handles the puck better than Dillon. Dillon is somewhat sporadic while Middleton usually has some poise to make a good play

Yea that's fair. Better outlet pass for sure.

 

[ThorNton Apologist]

Worth knowing that San Jose doesn’t have a pick in the 2nd round so that is likely what they cover as a return

 

[UConn126]

Who???

A guy who would make most of us Bruins fans very happy.

 

[Pavelski2112]

A guy who would make most of us Bruins fans very happy.

I could see a Hertl/Middleton package going to Boston, would be a great fit at both positions

 

[nbwingsfan]

Im sure they are, but unless your offering lots why would the Sharks move him? Young breakout LHD that provides physicality and stability is going to be valuable

If Ben Chiarot is getting a first, Middleton should get two

I wonder if DW can get a random first round pick out of Middleton like he did with Goodrow. (I doubt it, I'd be happy with a second)

Sooo… which is it?

 

[Lays]

Must’ve mentioned his name five times on the Leafs boards.

Do we ever need his type.

Lyubushkin?

 

[fasterthanlight]

Sooo… which is it?

we'll take the first

 

[Pinkfloyd]

Middleton is only worth trading if they get overpaid for him with a 1st which the Sharks have shown a willingness to do like the Goodrow trade. Don't mind selling high on Middleton if they can but it makes it more likely that Simek and Vlasic stay which isn't good for anything, not even a rebuild.

 

[TooMuchMan]

I'd very much like Middleton if the cost was 'around' a 2nd + B-prospect (Kuntar maybe?).

 

[McGarnagle]

I could see a Hertl/Middleton package going to Boston, would be a great fit at both positions

Both players would elevate the Bruins from frauds to dark horse contenders in the playoffs. But I'm afraid they don't have the assets to make deal like that without completely selling out the future. They already have a weak prospect pool from years of trading away 1st rounders (or blowing picks on guys like Senyshyn), if they give up another first and one of their few good prospects like Lysell, it's going to get ugly when Bergeron retires in a few years and they have no centers.

The gamble might be worth it if Hertl signed an extension as a condition of the deal.

 

[Groo]

I'd very much like Middleton if the cost was 'around' a 2nd + B-prospect (Kuntar maybe?).

What do you consider Beecher?

 

[Juxtaposer]

As a Sharks fan, it never even occurred to me that we’d try and trade Middleton. He’s nothing special, but he’s performed well next to two high-profile offensive defensemen, he’s dirt cheap, and he’s physical as hell. I’d like to keep him unless we’re offered something that we can refuse.

 

[hotcabbagesoup]

Almost even scored a short-handed goal last game, as a defenseman. Thought he hit his ceiling already given his age but he keeps showing Sharks fan more and more every game. He's weird.

 

[Crazy Joe Divola]

Talk about burying the lede.

“sharks hopeful of resigning Hertl” and also Jacob Middleton is getting interest

 

[TFHockey]

Could the Oilers be a dark horse on acquiring Middleton? part of those "future considerations" we got for Stalock?

 

[UConn126]

What do you consider Beecher?

As a Bruins fan, I like to think he's an A/A- prospect, a sure fire, but deep down I really know he's a C lol. Could be a decent PK, bottom line energy guy.

 

[Gecklund]

Know he's injured, but would prefer Ferraro over Mid from Stratford.. KD bring that Toronto boy home lol

I’m sure you would. You don’t have the available pieces to get him though. Unless you’re making Sandin and your first available, otherwise Sharks have no reason to trade him. Also you’d be dumb to do that trade by the way.

 

[rocketdan9]

He skates relatively well, but nothing too special. Positioning is great though.

Before he was with Karlsson/Burns, he was playing on the right with Vlasic on the third pair. Hard to say if he really could play that well on the right, considering that Vlasic is terrible and he was set up to fail either way.

Is he like Forbort? Or more physical

 

[TooMuchMan]

What do you consider Beecher?

Originally, I thought he had a half-step more offensive upside. When he was drafted I recall being quite high on him, imagining him as a 20g, 45-50p guy. Now I think he most likely lands in the range 10-15g, 30-35p... so moderately solid third-line center production... but IMO (and it might be wishful thinking on my part) the real upside comes from his defense. If he develops it, I think he could be a fringe-elite defender at C.

So, is a potentially slightly-above replacement-level offensive guy, even with his defensive potential warrant being really hard for Boston to give up. I don't know. I think Studnicka still has the upside of a solid middle-six center... but it's fading, certainly. Brett Harrison might be the 'next' center in the Bruins system. But the whole system is relatively weak.

I don't think Beecher's untouchable. If they decide to go for it, Middleton for a Beecher+ wouldn't necessarily be a terrible idea. I think he's an improvement from a pure in-zone defensive standpoint over all of Grzylcyk/Forbort/Reilly/Clifton. Middleton fits if the Bruins are really going to spend a really significant asset chunk (involving several of the few eye-grabbing pieces Boston possesses like their 1sts, Lorhei and Lysell) and to go gung-ho, they might be better off buying lesser pieces with lesser pieces and keep working toward improving the farm.

 

[PepeBostones]

Rather have #55 back. Lauzon fighting Middleton here

 

[Gaylord Q Tinkledink]

As a Sharks fan, it never even occurred to me that we’d try and trade Middleton. He’s nothing special, but he’s performed well next to two high-profile offensive defensemen, he’s dirt cheap, and he’s physical as hell. I’d like to keep him unless we’re offered something that we can refuse.

He's big, so teams want big dman for the playoffs.

Depending on where Chiarot gets traded, another team might panic and overpay for Middleton

 

[Cas]

Sharks cant keep/afford him?

He's going to cost like $1.5M. the Sharks won't have any trouble keeping him if they want to.

 

[Montecristo]

What do you consider Beecher?

An f

 

[themelkman]

He's big, so teams want big dman for the playoffs.

Depending on where Chiarot gets traded, another team might panic and overpay for Middleton

Thats the only way I can see it happening. Chiarot gets a first and some GM calls the sharks with 30 mins left and says first plus a decent prospect for Middleton