Boston Bruins Off Season Roster/ Cap Discussion

[PB37]

Thoughts on Jokiharju?

He didn't put up big points or anything, but he was +7 in 18 games, he seemed to gel with Zadorov, and they got the majority of Dzone starts for our defense (66 of 98 starts in the DZone).

I think it would be a mistake if the opening day lineup for next season has Joker or Peeke as the 2nd pairing RHD. I like both as bottom pairing guys but not in a premium role. And when McAvoy goes down for his usual 10-15 games, one of those guys by default is going to end up being the #1 on a team that will most likely be spending money to try to get back into playoff contention. IMO they need an upgrade, even if it's a left shot guy that can play the right side.

 

[DKH]

Jokiharju-Zadorov were playing top pair with the lion share of d zone starts and racked up +9 and +11 in eight April games

I was also watching him because I need a RD in the SIM league lol so I paid way more attention then normal and saw good positioning, defending, stick & leverage, and breakouts

This no tool shit by some of these posters is ridiculous

 

[elMatador]

Geekie - Lindholm - Pastrnak
Marchand - Zacha-(Lysell to lose)

Bottom 6 candidates
Mittlestadt 2/3L C
Minten 4L C
Poitras 3L C
Lysell 2/3 RW
Khushnutkidov 3/4 LW
Kastelic 4L RW
Lauko 4L LW
Beecher 4L C/LW

Defense
Lindholm - McAvoy
Zadorov - Juriharju
Lohrei- Peeke

Lol, what a bunch of bullshit.
That team has no depth nor skill to even sniff the playoffs.

Forwards
Pasta is the only proven top 6.
Geekie, however good he was this season, can produce only with Pasta. He was a ghost at the start of the season.
Marchand back? After they shipped him away? Ain't gonna happen.
Lysell in the top 6? Maybe one day, if he can make the opening roster.
A bunch of undersized/underskilled prospects as regulars? Sure, if the plan is to get a top 5 pick in 2026 draft.
What 1st pick is ready to make jump straight on the top line and produce 60-80 points? None.
Will they sign anyone? Most likely they overpay top 6 UFA again.

Defense
2 injury prone guys
The rest is just bottom pair level

Goaltending
Can Swayman bounce back?

Head Coach
Are they gonna keep Abort Joe?

GM/President
As long as those 2 @$$es are shot callers the team is going nowhere.

 

[Helsinki city boy]

Off season moves
Sign
Marner
Granlund

Trade
McAvoy for Dobson & Barzal

Get more skilled and dynamic players and bury big bad bruins forever.
Is it time?
Is it.

 

[quietbruinfan]

Lol, what a bunch of bullshit.
That team has no depth nor skill to even sniff the playoffs.

Forwards
Pasta is the only proven top 6.
Geekie, however good he was this season, can produce only with Pasta. He was a ghost at the start of the season.
Marchand back? After they shipped him away? Ain't gonna happen.
Lysell in the top 6? Maybe one day, if he can make the opening roster.
A bunch of undersized/underskilled prospects as regulars? Sure, if the plan is to get a top 5 pick in 2026 draft.
What 1st pick is ready to make jump straight on the top line and produce 60-80 points? None.
Will they sign anyone? Most likely they overpay top 6 UFA again.

Defense
2 injury prone guys
The rest is just bottom pair level

Goaltending
Can Swayman bounce back?

Head Coach
Are they gonna keep Abort Joe?

GM/President
As long as those 2 @$$es are shot callers the team is going nowhere.

I agree with almost every word, and that should scare you. Sacco, however is gone, I am sure of that.

 

[LJReborn]

Here's my take on the whole Swayman debate...

1. Fundamentally, I hate paying goalies premium money. Any goalie. I've been pretty vocal about that.
2. Swayman stunk this season. But the team stunk too, so I'm not putting 100% of that on him.
3. I do think he'll be better next year. He's already shown that he can perform with a decent team in front of him and the guy didn't suddenly forget how to stop pucks. He knows he needs to be better and he strikes me as a guy who's a professional and is dedicated to his craft.
4. I'm not a fan of the personal attacks on him that some people have posted on this board. I find that extremely distasteful. He was simply trying to extract as much money from the club as he could get. I expect EVERY player to try to do that. I ALSO expect the front office to do their job too. I blame Sweeney more for that awful contract, than I do Swayman.
5. Goaltending isn't the reason this team didn't make the playoffs. Offense and special teams were.

Bottom line is that Swayman was disappointing (fixable), we can't score (needs to be addressed this summer), had sustained injuries to key players on the blue line (will correct itself with time), and then threw in the towel at the trade deadline because this team was going nowhere.

Great post. I do find it funny though that a lot of the Sweeney clan point to no Mac and Lindholm as well they were terrible but don't afford Swayman the same luxury

 

[Ozzy Osbourne]

Aside from the obvious Marner (won’t happen) also of interest to me is Tavares, Bennett, Mangiapane, Jeannot, Boeser and Lindgren.
Aside from Fraser Minten, the deadline players we acquired are pretty much a pile of steaming poo. I really don’t want any of them back, but we will need to spend the first half of next season looking at them because Sweeney doesn’t want to look even dumber by bringing them in only to cut bait.
I’d like to think there will be a couple trades. There won’t be because Sweeney thinks the deadline is the only time it’s allowed. I feel like I could cure this team by day two of free agency.

 

[Blowfish]

Ehlers or Marner. Ehlers brings much needed speed and scoring. Will be cheaper vs Marner. Always liked Ehlers.

 

[chizzler]

This was Lohrei's first full season in the NHL and it certainly showed at times. I wouldn't close the book on him just yet. I think the inexperience and being on a bad team that didn't have much of a way to shelter him because of the injuries lead to the end result. I think one thing that would really help his defensive game would be get him to use his size more. I'm not looking for the next Zadorov and start seeing him blowing up guys into next week but he needs to do a better job of using his frame along the walls, where he was outmuscled a lot by much smaller, hungrier forwards.

He definitely needs to bulk up a little and use that size. It’s going to be a work in progress. Kid should’ve been in Providence to be honest. They need a good defensive coach to help this kid out. Lots of potential.

 

[HustleB]

Imagine if the plan was to run it back with the forward group and hope for better. Why is it okay to do that with the goaltending, but not the other significant weakness?

I don't think either one is okay.

Because there are only two roster spots available at goalie, and it makes no sense to trade the one who is at his all-time lowest value like Swayman, especially if you believe in him.

I don't hate moving Korpisalo, but anytime you are making a move just to arbitrarily impact change you are more likely to end up on the low end of the value.

If someone comes along and needs one of these guys and is willing to pay a fair price, let's go. Just don't force it because we need 'change'.

 

[Gee Wally]

 

[DKH]

Off season moves
Sign
Marner
Granlund

Trade
McAvoy for Dobson & Barzal

Get more skilled and dynamic players and bury big bad bruins forever.
Is it time?
Is it.

Barzal plays on perimeter is poor defender and has concussion history - hard pass

 

[chizzler]

Aside from the obvious Marner (won’t happen) also of interest to me is Tavares, Bennett, Mangiapane, Jeannot, Boeser and Lindgren.
Aside from Fraser Minten, the deadline players we acquired are pretty much a pile of steaming poo. I really don’t want any of them back, but we will need to spend the first half of next season looking at them because Sweeney doesn’t want to look even dumber by bringing them in only to cut bait.
I’d like to think there will be a couple trades. There won’t be because Sweeney thinks the deadline is the only time it’s allowed. I feel like I could cure this team by day two of free agency.

I run the team as is back. Take whatever comes. They aren’t in position to start buying yet. Take another year in the lottery if possible. They’re too good for the lottery but somewhere in the teens is doable.

 

[Patdud]

Geekie - Lindholm - Pastrnak
Marchand - Zacha-(Lysell to lose)

Bottom 6 candidates
Mittlestadt 2/3L C
Minten 4L C
Poitras 3L C
Lysell 2/3 RW
Khushnutkidov 3/4 LW
Kastelic 4L RW
Lauko 4L LW
Beecher 4L C/LW

Defense
Lindholm - McAvoy
Zadorov - Juriharju
Lohrei- Peeke

Just not sure that lineup is good enough to be a playoff team. Need an upgrade at 2RW if possible. Not sure if I keep lohrei or try and upgrade C using him in a trade. I guess it depends on whether they grab a natural C or a Winger in the draft. Also whats the plan for Mittlestadt? He'll be effective with a shooter and higher skill players. I think the confirmation of a season long nagging back injury that seemingly healed or eased by the end of the year lines up with Lindholm's season, Im expecting him to bounce back big time as a part of that top line (assuming hes healthy).

Geekie deal probably wont be long term (will he agree to a 4yr 6per deal?
Lysell goes 3RW if he takes the offseason and camp seriously, loved the way he finished the year looked like he was finally comfortable.
Would also love to see Poitras take the next step as a FT NHLer. Bruins need ELCs if they want to take a run at Marner.
On D I am wondering if a top six winger for Lohrei swap makes sense then find a shut down LD and upgrade on Jokiharju with a more offensively minded RD for the 2nd pair? or do you keep him and hope to keep coaching him up. He'd be cheaper than most other options which works in his favor, The PP is better with him running it.
I trade Korpisalo if he has positive value and either run with Dipietro or sign a quality backup, Anderson is a UFA this year.

All depends on what players come in at.

Numbers are speculative and probably low but it works capwise. If Korpisalo is a neg asset than you buy him out and it affects what you do on line 2.

Im leaning:
Geekie - Lindholm - Pastrnak 6 – 7.75 – 11.25 (25)
Marchand – Middlestadt – (Marner? Boeser?) 6.8 – 5.75 – 11/7.5 (23.55/20.05)
Zacha - Poitras - Lysell 4.75 – .87 - .863334 (6.483334)
Khushnutkidov - Minten – Kastelic .95- .816666 – 1.566667 (3.333333)

Lindholm – McAvoy 6.5 - 9.25 (15.75)
Zadorov - UFA/RFA/Jokiharju? 5 – 3 (8)
Lohrei? – Peeke 1.25 – 2.75 (4)

Swayman (8.25)
DiPietro (.85)

Carlo RS (.615)

TOTAL 94,065,001 (MARNER)
TOTAL 90,565,001 (BOESER)

 

[DKH]

Just not sure that lineup is good enough to be a playoff team. Need an upgrade at 2RW if possible. Not sure if I keep lohrei or try and upgrade C using him in a trade. I guess it depends on whether they grab a natural C or a Winger in the draft. Also whats the plan for Mittlestadt? He'll be effective with a shooter and higher skill players. I think the confirmation of a season long nagging back injury that seemingly healed or eased by the end of the year lines up with Lindholm's season, Im expecting him to bounce back big time as a part of that top line (assuming hes healthy).

Geekie deal probably wont be long term (will he agree to a 4yr 6per deal?
Lysell goes 3RW if he takes the offseason and camp seriously, loved the way he finished the year looked like he was finally comfortable.
Would also love to see Poitras take the next step as a FT NHLer. Bruins need ELCs if they want to take a run at Marner.
On D I am wondering if a top six winger for Lohrei swap makes sense then find a shut down LD and upgrade on Jokiharju with a more offensively minded RD for the 2nd pair? or do you keep him and hope to keep coaching him up. He'd be cheaper than most other options which works in his favor, The PP is better with him running it.
I trade Korpisalo if he has positive value and either run with Dipietro or sign a quality backup, Anderson is a UFA this year.

All depends on what players come in at.

Numbers are speculative and probably low but it works capwise. If Korpisalo is a neg asset than you buy him out and it affects what you do on line 2.

Im leaning:
Geekie - Lindholm - Pastrnak 6 – 7.75 – 11.25 (25)
Marchand – Middlestadt – (Marner? Boeser?) 6.8 – 5.75 – 11/7.5 (23.55/20.05)
Zacha - Poitras - Lysell 4.75 – .87 - .863334 (6.483334)
Khushnutkidov - Minten – Kastelic .95- .816666 – 1.566667 (3.333333)

Lindholm – McAvoy 6.5 - 9.25 (15.75)
Zadorov - UFA/RFA/Jokiharju? 5 – 3 (8)
Lohrei? – Peeke 1.25 – 2.75 (4)

Swayman (8.25)
DiPietro (.85)

Carlo RS (.615)

TOTAL 94,065,001 (MARNER)
TOTAL 90,565,001 (BOESER)

Really Good stuff like where you are at here - logical

I’m GM I need Pastrnak to let me know what he thinks Necas is going to do

Marchand- Zacha - Necas where I’m going

 

[Absurdity]

Ehlers or Marner. Ehlers brings much needed speed and scoring. Will be cheaper vs Marner. Always liked Ehlers.

I don't really like Marner, but the Bruins need more talent. He's a tier above anyone available in free agency, and a top 10 winger in the league. Boeser may make more sense if the Bruins view Mittelstadt as the #2C next season. Both guys are from Minnesota and friends. Poitras and whoever they draft would fit there well too.

 

[Fingertools]

Unlike a lot of posters here, I don't see Sweeney making a ton of "moving the needle" moves in the off season - for one, the UFA market is pretty shallow, they aren't going after Marner and that leaves a lot of bidding for Ehlers - I don't see the Bruins getting into a bidding war over him.

Secondly, outside of the draft picks he's gotten this deadline his only real assets to trade with potential value are Zacha and Lohrei - I'd be very hesitant to move Pavel, he's tight with Pasta, he's on a good contract and at this point might be the best 2-way forward they have. It would also be tough to move Lohrei who is the only real offensive d-man they have, especially after this season whose performance he'd probably like to forget.

I don't see Sweeney as the kind of guy to make any offer sheets so we'll rule that out.

Unless someone comes forward with a great offer for Swayman (mostly because the front office still has that sour taste in their mouths) and the Bruins roll the dice and take a chance for 2 years of John Gibson (with the Ducks providing a nice incentive) I don't see the Bruins getting any additional high picks or young NHL ready players or blue chip prospects for current roster players.

Incidently, I'm on team Sway, but I found it telling that in the exit interviews, no one mentioned him as a leader - Mac, Pasta and Hampus were mentioned numerous times, but although Sway talks like one, it doesn't seem like he's considered as one amongst his peers - he's been here as long as Hampus.

So, that leaves a lot of creative maneuvering for Sweeney, lets see what he can do - the Stars are in cap hell and I can see Sweeney going after Mason Marchment and Mavril Bourque - I can see him going after Marco Rossi in Minnesota too given the rumours out there that he might be available.

If they can't swing anything for Marchment, Bourque or Rossi I'd like to see them go after Vladislav Gavrikov and Brock Boeser if they can be had at the right price. Boeser is a shooter and buddies with Mitts the playmaker, might make an interesting offensive 2nd line. I'd also take back Marchand because the Bruins desperately need some leadership, passion and a good role model for one of the youngest teams in the league.

I'd like to see the Bruins try to groom Poitras into a right wing position, mirroring a "Marner light" situation, which would allow Zacha to center the 2nd line with Marchand and maybe Lysell if they can get Marchment - wouldn't need Boeser then.

Marco Rossi and Bourque have some size issues, so there is some mixing and matching to do if they can be had.

I'm too lazy to look up salary cap issues (if any) but it should be close, especially because I'm going after Boeser and Gavrikov only if the money works, Marchment, Rossi and Bourque saves a lot. I'm also willing to send out Korpi and sign someone like Eric Comrie or another backup at $1M and save a couple of million.

Geekie - Lindholm - Pasta
Marchand - Mittelstadt - Boeser
Zacha - Poitras - Lysell
Lauko - Minton - Kastelic

OR

Geekie - Lindholm - Pasta
Marchand - Zacha - Lysell
Marchment - Mittelstadt - Poitras
Lauko - Minton - Kastelic

CMac - Lindholm
Zadarov - Gavrikov
Lohrei - Peeke

Sway
Korpi

Sign Koepke, Khuds and Beecher for around $1M each

 

[BruinDust]

Thoughts on Jokiharju?

He didn't put up big points or anything, but he was +7 in 18 games, he seemed to gel with Zadorov, and they got the majority of Dzone starts for our defense (66 of 98 starts in the DZone).

They absolutely need to get another experienced RD under contract this off-season, that much is certain. Right now it's McAvoy and Peeke and that's about it. So I think it's safe to assume someone will be brought in.

And given they just traded Carlo, I really doubt their intention is to turn around and spend a pile of young assets to bring in a legitimate Top 4 RD via trade. And they shouldn't, if they are going to spend any young assets it should be for forward help.

So if we assume a RD will be acquired, it will have to be via the UFA market.

Well, the RD UFA market is awful. This is the list:

Ekblad - Expensive, injury prone with a lot of milage. Likely wants term and probably north of 8 million per.

Burns - 40 years old and on his last legs

Fabbro - Recently acquired on waivers, was pretty good for CBJ.

Perbix - Currently TB 6th-7th D.

DeAngelo - 'nuff said

Savard - 34 year old defensive D.

Jokiharju - 26 this June, 400 NHL games under his belt.

Petry - 37 year old

Hamonic - 6th/7th D on Ottawa

The rest - DeSimone, Erik Johnson, Klingberg, Bortuzzo, Juulsen, Hakanpaa.

Is Jokiharju not the clear-cut best option out of this motley crew, given his age, experience, and they have gotten a chance to know him? To me he absolutely is and I hope they can find a way to extend him before free agency opens up. After him, the only guy on this list I'd consider is Fabbro. It's A or B for me.

 

[RiverbottomChuck]

They absolutely need to get another experienced RD under contract this off-season, that much is certain. Right now it's McAvoy and Peeke and that's about it. So I think it's safe to assume someone will be brought in.

And given they just traded Carlo, I really doubt their intention is to turn around and spend a pile of young assets to bring in a legitimate Top 4 RD via trade. And they shouldn't, if they are going to spend any young assets it should be for forward help.

So if we assume a RD will be acquired, it will have to be via the UFA market.

Well, the RD UFA market is awful. This is the list:

Ekblad - Expensive, injury prone with a lot of milage. Likely wants term and probably north of 8 million per.

Burns - 40 years old and on his last legs

Fabbro - Recently acquired on waivers, was pretty good for CBJ.

Perbix - Currently TB 6th-7th D.

DeAngelo - 'nuff said

Savard - 34 year old defensive D.

Jokiharju - 26 this June, 400 NHL games under his belt.

Petry - 37 year old

Hamonic - 6th/7th D on Ottawa

The rest - DeSimone, Erik Johnson, Klingberg, Bortuzzo, Juulsen, Hakanpaa.

Is Jokiharju not the clear-cut best option out of this motley crew, given his age, experience, and they have gotten a chance to know him? To me he absolutely is and I hope they can find a way to extend him before free agency opens up. After him, the only guy on this list I'd consider is Fabbro. It's A or B for me.

Him or Ekblad imo. Ekblad is somewhat injury prone but is still great defensively and could be a good partner for Lohrei.

 

[sarge88]

BWAHAHAHAH

They broke him ? Bad take buddy

Emotionally for a bit.

He was definitely affected by the process.

 

[Fenian24]

Off season moves
Sign
Marner
Granlund

Trade
McAvoy for Dobson & Barzal

Get more skilled and dynamic players and bury big bad bruins forever.
Is it time?
Is it.

No. So Draft Martone, add Bennett and Boeser up front, sign Geekie, Lauko. Add skill by all means but, in the words of Zdeno Chara, Play like men.

 

[Absurdity]

They absolutely need to get another experienced RD under contract this off-season, that much is certain. Right now it's McAvoy and Peeke and that's about it. So I think it's safe to assume someone will be brought in.

And given they just traded Carlo, I really doubt their intention is to turn around and spend a pile of young assets to bring in a legitimate Top 4 RD via trade. And they shouldn't, if they are going to spend any young assets it should be for forward help.

So if we assume a RD will be acquired, it will have to be via the UFA market.

Well, the RD UFA market is awful. This is the list:

Ekblad - Expensive, injury prone with a lot of milage. Likely wants term and probably north of 8 million per.

Burns - 40 years old and on his last legs

Fabbro - Recently acquired on waivers, was pretty good for CBJ.

Perbix - Currently TB 6th-7th D.

DeAngelo - 'nuff said

Savard - 34 year old defensive D.

Jokiharju - 26 this June, 400 NHL games under his belt.

Petry - 37 year old

Hamonic - 6th/7th D on Ottawa

The rest - DeSimone, Erik Johnson, Klingberg, Bortuzzo, Juulsen, Hakanpaa.

Is Jokiharju not the clear-cut best option out of this motley crew, given his age, experience, and they have gotten a chance to know him? To me he absolutely is and I hope they can find a way to extend him before free agency opens up. After him, the only guy on this list I'd consider is Fabbro. It's A or B for me.

Savard is retiring so another defenseman off the list

 

[pucksindeep92]

Zacha, Mittelstadt, Poitras, Minten… gotta move on from one before the start of the year. Zacha is your best trade chip towards a bigger fish. Mittelstadt is the most worthless considering cap hit potentially needing retention, and the likelihood that he gets stuck with average at best wingers on the 3rd line which is somewhat worrisome. Though you could pump and dump Mitts in early winter when somebody’s 2nd/3rd line center goes down. Poitras needs to take a leap in development if you’re holding into him, and likely requires more formidable wingers/vets next to him (Zacha and Marner would be interesting) because I just can’t see him and Lysell on the same line at the moment, and he is too good for Providence. Minten seems like he could be a 3rd line guy for a solid few years with upside starting now and shouldn’t be held back on the 4th line.

Just feels like a trade is in the plans for Sweeney this summer …

 

[pucksindeep92]

How does Toronto keep all 3 of Marner, Knies, Tavares? I don’t think they can without some trades and league minimum contracts… that looks like an easy 25m+ right there…

Any of those three names would be great for us.

-Tavares would be an excellent vet presence, mentor to Poitras/2025 1st, and wouldn’t need a long contract. You could trade away some of our middle 6 center logjam for winger help/prospects/picks.
- Marner? Only a fool wouldn’t want a top 12 player in the league.
- If the Leafs get too hasty in signing Tavares after a Marner deal, Knies could spell trouble for them, as he easily needs 6+. That’s an offer sheet I’d try.
- in a world where they pull off all three because Tavares takes a discount, Robertson looks more available.

 

[DKH]

Zacha, Mittelstadt, Poitras, Minten… gotta move on from one before the start of the year. Zacha is your best trade chip towards a bigger fish. Mittelstadt is the most worthless considering cap hit potentially needing retention, and the likelihood that he gets stuck with average at best wingers on the 3rd line which is somewhat worrisome. Though you could pump and dump Mitts in early winter when somebody’s 2nd/3rd line center goes down. Poitras needs to take a leap in development if you’re holding into him, and likely requires more formidable wingers/vets next to him (Zacha and Marner would be interesting) because I just can’t see him and Lysell on the same line at the moment, and he is too good for Providence. Minten seems like he could be a 3rd line guy for a solid few years with upside starting now and shouldn’t be held back on the 4th line.

I’m a big Zacha fan so the return better be ass kicking