Boston Bruins Off Season Roster/ Cap Discussion

Ok, Who wants a NMC ?
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The season that went nowhere came to an end for the Bruins on Tuesday night, and it took extra time and a last dollop of disappointment to get there.

After the game, interim coach Joe Sacco praised Pastrnak for the leadership he provided in what became a very challenging season.

“He’s had a lot of good people to look up to over the years,” said Sacco, who took over an 8-9-3 club from Jim Montgomery in November, “starting with Zdeno Chara, you can go down to [Patrice Bergeron, David Krejci, Brad Marchand] ... really good examples. It’s been tough, too, because we lost some people at the [trade] deadline that were leaders in our room. We didn’t have [Charlie] McAvoy or [Hampus] Lindholm. So I think David did a really nice job of balancing out his game. It’s been very impressive watching what he did this year.”

Still to be determined: where the Bruins will pick in the June amateur draft. Upon night’s end, their most likely spot would be No. 4, but that could change later this week and again when the NHL stages its draft lottery early next month. Based on how the Ping-Pong balls fall, they could move up to No. 1 for the first time since 1997, when they picked Joe Thornton.

Before the puck dropped, Geekie was presented with NESN’s Seventh Player Award, fitting recognition for the forward. Other than Pastrnak, Geekie was the club’s most consistent offensive rainmaker.

Geekie, on an expiring two-year contract, is expected back be it through salary arbitration or a standard contract extension.

Cut free by Seattle two summers ago, he signed for $2 million a year to come here, ostensibly to provide pivot support in the bottom six. He should at least double that in his next deal — be it here or elsewhere. He has become a consistent threat on left wing in the top six, riding in recent weeks on the top line with Elias Lindholm and Pastrnak.
 
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Move Mittelstadt at the draft for Whatever

I don’t know what to think about Mittelstadt. I’ve never really been a fan of the player, but he was worth a young top 4D with upside just a year ago. Do you think you can put him in a position to rehab his game before you move him? With Lindholm seemingly grabbing on to the Pasta center spot, I’m not sure they can. Depends somewhat on the PP.

So many moving pieces.
 

David Pastrnak, who finished 2024-25 as only the third Bruin ever to reach the 100-point plateau in three consecutive seasons, is uncertain if he’ll join Team Czechia for the upcoming IIHF World Championship.

“Maybe. Haven’t decided,” Pastrnak said before Tuesday night’s 5-4 overtime loss to the Devils. “Still thinking about it.”

This year’s tournament will begin May 9 in Denmark, then move to Sweden (Stockholm) for the later rounds, including the championship game (May 25).
Pastrnak, who had a goal and an assist Tuesday night to finish the season with 43 goals and 63 assists, and Bruins teammate Pavel Zacha packed up quickly after last spring’s Round 2 loss to the Panthers, joined the tournament in progress and helped the Czechs capture the gold medal.

A handful of other Bruins, including USA flag wavers Jeremy Swayman and Charlie McAvoy, would be logical fits for the Worlds. McAvoy only recently returned to full on-ice workouts with the Bruins after being sidelined with a shoulder injury and infection during February’s 4 Nations Face-Off.

Swedes Elias Lindholm and Hampus Lindholm also likely will receive invites to the Worlds, though Hampus has not been seen skating for weeks. The talented defenseman sustained what turned out to be a season-ending knee injury Nov. 12 in St. Louis.

Interim coach Joe Sacco on Tuesday morning said he did not know how many of his players would be headed overseas for the tournament.

“I don’t have a read on that just yet,” noted Sacco. “I don’t know who’s going, who’s not. I’m sure we’ll find out in the next few days.”

“I think any time you’re asked, No. 1, the opportunity to represent your country is always, I think, important,” he said. “I think it’s an opportunity for guys to extend their season. If you think about it, we finish here [Tuesday night], the puck drop for our next regular-season game is about six months away. So if guys are fortunate enough to get the invite, and they are feeling healthy and good enough to go, they should go and continue to work on their game.”

Wrapping it up​

Players will clean out their lockers and have exit interviews with coaching staff and management on Thursday morning in Brighton. It’s typically then that they will make public their plans regarding play in the Worlds.

Management’s farewell media session has been tentatively scheduled for April 23 at TD Garden. Charlie Jacobs will headline the cast, speaking for ownership, joined by team president Cam Neely and general manager Don Sweeney.

Jacobs is expected to maintain status quo in the front office, despite the franchise failing to advance beyond Round 2 of the playoffs since 2019. This is the first spring since 2016 that the Bruins logged a postseason DNQ.
 
Pro Shop all Marchand sale

His $260 jersey black or white C for $100. My kid got one she always wanted but was on a Krejci roll

without Marchand, Geekie on first PP and key ice time and Pastrnak clearly the defacto captain
 
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Offseason goals​

Casey Mittelstadt, who grew familiar with going home early during his half-dozen seasons with the Sabres, said he will make it a priority in the offseason to add strength.

“You can use this time to kind of sit around or you can use it as a bonus,” he said, noting he’d like to build overall body strength “top to bottom.” “It probably isn’t where it has been in the past, and I think that’s hurt me a lot this year, if I am being honest.”

Mittelstadt, acquired in the March 7 swap that sent Charlie Coyle to the Avalanche, finished with a 4-2-6 line in 18 games since coming to the Hub of Hockey. Despite what that line might suggest, Sacco believes Mittelstadt’s game is skewed toward passing and not shooting. He’d like to see more of the latter from the 26-year-old pivot.

“Right now, he’s way more of a playmaker, he looks to pass first,” noted Sacco. “He has to start developing a shot-first mind-set. That doesn’t mean he’s going to be a shot-first type of player, but I do think there’s opportunity for him during the course of a game for him to look to shoot more.”
 
I do wonder what the Bruins think of CM. Was he someone they targeted in the deal with Colorado, or someone they were forced to take for contract offset?
I think forced to add Zellers and Coyles contract. As i said before talent is there. Needs to understand he has to play harder He seems to get that offseason is for training. Might finally get it.
 
Also:

Offseason goals​

Casey Mittelstadt, who grew familiar with going home early during his half-dozen seasons with the Sabres, said he will make it a priority in the offseason to add strength.

“You can use this time to kind of sit around or you can use it as a bonus,” he said, noting he’d like to build overall body strength “top to bottom.” “It probably isn’t where it has been in the past, and I think that’s hurt me a lot this year, if I am being honest.”

Mittelstadt, acquired in the March 7 swap that sent Charlie Coyle to the Avalanche, finished with a 4-2-6 line in 18 games since coming to the Hub of Hockey. Despite what that line might suggest, Sacco believes Mittelstadt’s game is skewed toward passing and not shooting. He’d like to see more of the latter from the 26-year-old pivot.

“Right now, he’s way more of a playmaker, he looks to pass first,” noted Sacco. “He has to start developing a shot-first mind-set. That doesn’t mean he’s going to be a shot-first type of player, but I do think there’s opportunity for him during the course of a game for him to look to shoot more.”
Offseason goal: Complete a pull up
 
Well it's WAY easier to build a second line than a first. Suddenly, we have an NHL level first line.

I think the 6th D you spend the minimum, 1-2 years. Could be Spoon. Give yourself flexibility to be in on Eichel the year after.

I think your 1st and 4th lines are about done. I think Poitras and dare I say Lysell are in the middle six next year. Maybe with our top pick depending on who it is.

So you're maybe just building out the names beside Zacha on line 2. I expect them to be vets with very high on leadership qualities, great in the room. Probably guys under 5-6M each. Marchy actually fits the mold perfectly, but maybe that ship has sailed? We'll see. Guys like that anyway.

I think Sweeney doens't give much term this offseason, moves the youth movement along. And we compete in that 8-11 spot in the East. And if you told me the team clicked and we made WC1 or something, I wouldn't be so surprised. If you told me we were in the lotto again, I wouldn't be so surprised either.
 
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I do wonder what the Bruins think of CM. Was he someone they targeted in the deal with Colorado, or someone they were forced to take for contract offset?
I think they wanted him. He played well for us. Can’t wait to see what he does next year. He’s a solid C who can win face offs and back checks in both zones.
 
Also:

Offseason goals​

Casey Mittelstadt, who grew familiar with going home early during his half-dozen seasons with the Sabres, said he will make it a priority in the offseason to add strength.

“You can use this time to kind of sit around or you can use it as a bonus,” he said, noting he’d like to build overall body strength “top to bottom.” “It probably isn’t where it has been in the past, and I think that’s hurt me a lot this year, if I am being honest.”

Mittelstadt, acquired in the March 7 swap that sent Charlie Coyle to the Avalanche, finished with a 4-2-6 line in 18 games since coming to the Hub of Hockey. Despite what that line might suggest, Sacco believes Mittelstadt’s game is skewed toward passing and not shooting. He’d like to see more of the latter from the 26-year-old pivot.

“Right now, he’s way more of a playmaker, he looks to pass first,” noted Sacco. “He has to start developing a shot-first mind-set. That doesn’t mean he’s going to be a shot-first type of player, but I do think there’s opportunity for him during the course of a game for him to look to shoot more.”

He's had a lot of "bonus" time in his career already. Now in "bonus" time #7 we're adding strength? Maybe he'll do some pullups? :laugh:

That said, I do agree with Sacco. When he shoots, you can see he has a good release and decent velocity. It should be a weapon. He just plays the game looking to pass.

Truthfully hope they don't keep him as I just don't see a fit. I've said it since it was rumored they were looking at him that he has plenty of tools but no toolbox. Any given night he'll wow you with his skill but you check the boxscore and it's all 0's. He's not good enough at the dot to be a center. He's not productive enough consistently for the top-6. He's not good enough defensively for a defensive role. I'm sure in the perfect circumstances, there's a spot he'll thrive in at the NHL level. He has the skill for that. I just don't see that spot on this team.
 
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I think they wanted him. He played well for us. Can’t wait to see what he does next year. He’s a solid C who can win face offs and back checks in both zones.
He's a career 45% faceoff guy who was 44% this year. 6 points in 18 games.

He's a terrible defensive player. Awful. If there's an opportunity to make any kind of soft play, Casey always chooses that route.

At 5v5, he was 42% Corsi here in 18 games, on the ice for 6 GF and 14 against, with a 40% xGF%. With him on the ice, the Bruins had 28 high danger chances for, 51 against, which is beyond brutal.

I'd buy him out if no one wants him. It's reasonable. People putting him into the top 6 are out of their minds.
 
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He's a career 45% faceoff guy who was 44% this year. 6 points in 18 games.

He's a terrible defensive player. Awful. If there's an opportunity to make any kind of soft play, Casey always chooses that route.

At 5v5, he was 42% Corsi here in 18 games, on the ice for 6 GF and 14 against, with a 40% xGF%. With him on the ice, the Bruins had 28 high danger chances for, 51 against, which is beyond brutal.

I'd buy him out if no one wants him. It's reasonable. People putting him into the top 6 are out of their minds.
Of all the players we acquired he was extremely disappointing to me.
 
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Also:

Offseason goals​

Casey Mittelstadt, who grew familiar with going home early during his half-dozen seasons with the Sabres, said he will make it a priority in the offseason to add strength.

“You can use this time to kind of sit around or you can use it as a bonus,” he said, noting he’d like to build overall body strength “top to bottom.” “It probably isn’t where it has been in the past, and I think that’s hurt me a lot this year, if I am being honest.”

Mittelstadt, acquired in the March 7 swap that sent Charlie Coyle to the Avalanche, finished with a 4-2-6 line in 18 games since coming to the Hub of Hockey. Despite what that line might suggest, Sacco believes Mittelstadt’s game is skewed toward passing and not shooting. He’d like to see more of the latter from the 26-year-old pivot.

“Right now, he’s way more of a playmaker, he looks to pass first,” noted Sacco. “He has to start developing a shot-first mind-set. That doesn’t mean he’s going to be a shot-first type of player, but I do think there’s opportunity for him during the course of a game for him to look to shoot more.”
Good that he sees a weakness and wants to correct it. Now he just has to do it.

I get why they brought him in - he's got the skill, he's had some success, he's still relatively young, and they're desperate for guys who can play center. Hope it works out.
 
Good that he sees a weakness and wants to correct it. Now he just has to do it.

I get why they brought him in - he's got the skill, he's had some success, he's still relatively young, and they're desperate for guys who can play center. Hope it works out.
I think he will and I think he’ll be solid next season as the 3rd line center.
 
I think they wanted him. He played well for us. Can’t wait to see what he does next year. He’s a solid C who can win face offs and back checks in both zones.
I'm cautious but also curious about his face offs. His stint with Boston was his only time above 50% on face-off. His deployment must of been different I'm guessing
 
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