Speculation: Pierre McGuire thinks Shattenkirk is headed to the Bruins - but was wrong

[NDiesel]

I would try to sign Sharp/Vanek for a two year deal to ride shotgun with Marchand/Bergeron

 

[DKH]

Jagr is still killer when it comes to protecting the puck and he is smart. Still has skill,good positioning and vision. If the price would work, that would indeed be a great line Jagr - Krejci - Pasta.
The evolution line !!!

only problem was ahem chatter about how neither Krejci OR Bergeron/Marchand liked playing with him

just saying

 

[KrejciMVP]

I would try to sign Sharp/Vanek for a two year deal to ride shotgun with Marchand/Bergeron

I like that idea

 

[DKH]

It might be a long shot but if it's the best play he needs to make it happen. Or something like it.

This is the issue I have. We are exploring less than attractive options because we are basically ceding that our GM can't or won't use the trade market to solve his problems? Why not? If he's not closing deals because he won't give up the extra prospect or draft pick in a deal, is that really a wise decision if he's just going to end up overpaying a UFA as his fallback? Especially if his track record suggests we would cut that UFA within 6 months if we had the choice? I think it's time he start making more aggressive trade offers rather than thinking he's got free agency figured out, because he doesn't.

why not actually let the guys like Heinen, Cehlarik, Bjork, DeBrusk, Vatrano compete for a left wing spot on second and third lines?

why do you have make all these trades

you use the word panicky but seems you may be a little yourself here

 

[DKH]

I like that idea

what do you do with DeBrusk, Bjork, Heinen, Vatrano, Cehlarik etc.....

sends a great message

are they a draft and develop organization or an old age home for players trying to get one last pay check

 

[Absurdity]

 

[BruinsPortugal]

Thank god.

 

[Alan Ryan]

I'm not sure about the trade front either but I agree with Trap Jesus that Justin Williams would be a good fit with Bergeron/Marchand. He plays that Backes/Connolly game. Has a history of scoring big goals, and like TJ said, it almost doesn't matter who plays with them so if he fades a bit over his short term deal they can absorb it. Let Backes anchor the 3c and surround him and Krejci with young energetic and creative talents on their lines. Use the young pipeline to plug and play the middle6.

Backes at third line center is the way to go. Lots of options on the wings.

 

[Bruwinz37]

what do you do with DeBrusk, Bjork, Heinen, Vatrano, Cehlarik etc.....

sends a great message

are they a draft and develop organization or an old age home for players trying to get one last pay check

Dan- agreed BUT I do think they are far too leveraged in terms of hoping prospects come up and fill a major role. With that said Sharpe or Vanek are not the answer. Vrbata might be but will cost more too.

 

[Coach Parker]

Missed on Scandella so he'll announce the Pastrnak signing and then hope one of JFK, Senyshyn, Bjork or DeBrusk makes the team.

For me:

1. Krejci's LW.
2. Chara's eventual replacement.

Nothing else really comes to mind. My guess is he tries to fill both internally with the prospects but for me flipping some of those prospects for Landeskog/Kane would give Bruins fans a reason to be excited (not to mention Krejci).

Right now, 'patience' means 'we are going to have kids try to make this roster better and continue this build for 2019. It's been the plan for years now and he is just continuing on that route. Nothing he has ever done suggests otherwise.

 

[Coach Parker]

Backes at third line center is the way to go. Lots of options on the wings.

Same:

Marchand - Bergeron - Pastrnak
XXX - Krejci - XXX
Beleskey - Backes - XXX
XXX - XXX - Acciari

At least get Krejci one of the two wingers with some NHL skill. Don't give him two rookies.

 

[KrejciMVP]

what do you do with DeBrusk, Bjork, Heinen, Vatrano, Cehlarik etc.....

sends a great message

are they a draft and develop organization or an old age home for players trying to get one last pay check

I think Vanek on a short term deal to play with Krejci would be ok. Rather Krejci play with a veteran. Vets can help a team. Recchi did, so did Satan

 

[NDiesel]

Missed on Scandella so he'll announce the Pastrnak signing and then hope one of JFK, Senyshyn, Bjork or DeBrusk makes the team.

For me:

1. Krejci's LW.
2. Chara's eventual replacement.

Nothing else really comes to mind. My guess is he tries to fill both internally with the prospects but for me flipping some of those prospects for Landeskog/Kane would give Bruins fans a reason to be excited (not to mention Krejci).

Right now, 'patience' means 'we are going to have kids try to make this roster better and continue this build for 2019. It's been the plan for years now and he is just continuing on that route. Nothing he has ever done suggests otherwise.

If anything, Carlo is our "Chara replacement", but frankly I think we should stop looking for a replacement. We're better off trying to replace him by committee, which I think will hopefully work out in the form of a few hits on our glut of D prospects.

 

[Coach Parker]

Jagr is still killer when it comes to protecting the puck and he is smart. Still has skill,good positioning and vision. If the price would work, that would indeed be a great line Jagr - Krejci - Pasta.
The evolution line !!!

Or the Czeching Line.

 

[BruinDust]

Same:

Marchand - Bergeron - Pastrnak
XXX - Krejci - XXX
Beleskey - Backes - XXX
XXX - XXX - Acciari

At least get Krejci one of the two wingers with some NHL skill. Don't give him two rookies.

Then give him Pastrnak.

Marchand - Bergeron - XXXX

XXXX - Krejci - Pastrnak

Kuraly - Backes - Vatrano

Belesky - Nash - Acciari

Extra: Schaller

Gone: Spooner

 

[CombatOnContact]

Same:

Marchand - Bergeron - Pastrnak
XXX - Krejci - XXX
Beleskey - Backes - XXX
XXX - XXX - Acciari

At least get Krejci one of the two wingers with some NHL skill. Don't give him two rookies.

Jagr and/or Vrbata, low cap hit, 1 year deals.

Trade Spooner/McQuaid for a LHD.

Leave 3 spots for the kids.

Marchand-Bergeron-Jagr
Vrbata-Krejci-Pastrnak
Beleskey-Backes-Acciari
Kid Line

Chara-Carlo
Krug-Miller
Trade-McAvoy

 

[NDiesel]

what do you do with DeBrusk, Bjork, Heinen, Vatrano, Cehlarik etc.....

sends a great message

are they a draft and develop organization or an old age home for players trying to get one last pay check

I know you didn't quote me but I think it's a lot to expect more than one of those guys to make the top 9.

Maybe a one year deal would be better. Guys like Vanek and Sharp play both wings which is why I suggest them. Slide them up to 1st line to start the year or if those guys don't cut it and move them down to the 3rd line if they prove themselves.

Ideally:

Marchand-Bergeron-Sharp/Vanek
Bjork-Krejci-Pasta
Debrusk-Backes-Vatrano
Kuraly-Nash-Acciari

Spooner stays if we don't sign anyone, other wise he's gone.

 

[Coach Parker]

If anything, Carlo is our "Chara replacement", but frankly I think we should stop looking for a replacement. We're better off trying to replace him by committee, which I think will hopefully work out in the form of a few hits on our glut of D prospects.

I think one of Lauzon, Lindgren or Zboril will get his spot and develop into a top four LHD behind Krug and paired with McAvoy.

It brings us back to Krejci's LW. Without secondary scoring the Bruins were stifled by the Sens. The number one goal should be:

1. Keep the best line in hockey together (Marchand - Bergeron - Pastrnak)
2. Get Krejci a scoring winger (Landeskog, Kane, etc) and an ELC to develop (Senyshyn, DeBrusk, Bjork, Vatrano, etc)
3. Get Backes centering the 3rd line.

The D are figured out and plenty of prospects will try to make the team.

All he has to do is identify which prospects are worth moving for a top six winger then let the others fight for 1-2 spots on Krejci and Backes wing.

All comes back to a trade to fill that hole that has been there since Lucic was traded. It looks like Carlo and/or McAvoy have filled the Hamilton hole.

Asking 3 rookies to fill in for Horton/Lucic and Backes' wing is not the way to slowly develop and then provide opportunity. Now, asking a rookie to play with Backes and Beleskey/Vatrano and another one to play with Krejci and another top six really sets the rookies up well to learn and contribute to scoring without having to play with another rookie and a pissed off center who is annually training new guys and missing that scoring help.

 

[DKH]

Dan- agreed BUT I do think they are far too leveraged in terms of hoping prospects come up and fill a major role. With that said Sharpe or Vanek are not the answer. Vrbata might be but will cost more too.

If it was up to me the one guy I would target would be Vrbata

He's a right shot but can you get him on a 1 year deal

Imagine paying him 2-3 years and find out he's cooked

I'd go 1 year but that's it

 

[Coach Parker]

Then give him Pastrnak.

Marchand - Bergeron - XXXX

XXXX - Krejci - Pastrnak

Kuraly - Backes - Vatrano

Belesky - Nash - Acciari

Extra: Schaller

Gone: Spooner

Didn't help against the Sens. I don't think having 5/6 top six forwards should be a luxury. 'Spreading out the scoring' didn't work. Those three are an amazing line and if they simply found Krejci ONE winger who can score, the other winger can be an ELC rookie who makes the team out of camp.

Marchand - Bergeron - Pastrnak
XXX - Krejci - ELC
Beleskey - Backes - ELC
Kuraly - Nash - Acciari
ELC

Three spots open, one on the 2nd line, one on the 3rd and one in the pressbox waiting for his shot.

Instantly makes this team at least have two legitimate lines. We couldn't say that this year when Pastrnak was put with Krejci in the playoffs. It works in theory but not application.

 

[Broonzfanz]

Maybe Del Zotto gets a look at Left D?

 

[Coach Parker]

Maybe Del Zotto gets a look at Left D?

Sounds like he is coming to Vancouver.

 

[DKH]

I know you didn't quote me but I think it's a lot to expect more than one of those guys to make the top 9.

Maybe a one year deal would be better. Guys like Vanek and Sharp play both wings which is why I suggest them. Slide them up to 1st line to start the year or if those guys don't cut it and move them down to the 3rd line if they prove themselves.

Ideally:

Marchand-Bergeron-Sharp/Vanek
Bjork-Krejci-Pasta
Debrusk-Backes-Vatrano
Kuraly-Nash-Acciari

Spooner stays if we don't sign anyone, other wise he's gone.

This I dig because it's only 1 vet and the risk is minimal

The horror of signing Vanek or Sharpe or Vrbata to say 2/8 and they suck and next season another $4 M

If Sharpe Beleskey and Backes all are poor that's like $14 M

Not good

1 year to one of the 2-3 vets interested I would consider

Vrbata I have always liked and he's very smart player

 

[Coach Parker]

If it was up to me the one guy I would target would be Vrbata

He's a right shot but can you get him on a 1 year deal

Imagine paying him 2-3 years and find out he's cooked

I'd go 1 year but that's it

I'd go even cheaper and a bigger gamble/payoff with the prospects as the backup: Yakupov. Probably only one year deal, a third of the money and has proven he can score in the NHL. If he doesn't, another ELC rookie gets a shot with Krejci.

Bruins fans would love/hate Vrbata's streaks and 'casual' attitude and perceived indifference to the game and team.

 

[Coach Parker]

This I dig because it's only 1 vet and the risk is minimal

The horror of signing Vanek or Sharpe or Vrbata to say 2/8 and they suck and next season another $4 M

If Sharpe Beleskey and Backes all are poor that's like $14 M

Not good

1 year to one of the 2-3 vets interested I would consider

Vrbata I have always liked and he's very smart player

Same. If you told me they trade for or signed (on the cheap) a scoring winger threat for Krejci and then called it an off-season I'd be optimistic. Hayes on his way out and Beleskey rebounding or traded would be icing on the cake.