Speculation: Trade Deadline March 1st 3 PM ET - Bruins buyers or sellers?

[Fenway]

Saturday night sucked away all my hope that the Bruins could salvage the 2016-2017 season. The B's only play 8 more games between now and March 1st and I am doubtful they can win 4 of them.

We should have a pretty good idea where the team stands after the home game with Arizona on the 28th. The games in hand situation will have been settled and unless Ottawa or Toronto completely fall apart the only realistic path to the post-season MIGHT be as the second Wild Card but that doesn't look likely either.

The schedule after the deadline isn't favorable either.

Obviously the Bruins need to be sellers at this point but what can Sweeney put out there that another team might want to buy? The big unknown is if ownership will accept that this season is a playoff miss and it might be another 2 years before they can contend again.

On a personal level my favorite time of the year is the Round One of the playoffs and it is killing me inside that Las Vegas may host a playoff game before the Bruins do. As a freelancer in TV production I have to decide shortly do I want to work hockey in March or take a nice easy gig in Fort Myers with the Red Sox. I always choose hockey but this year Florida looks inviting.

It really bugs me that my last camera assignment for a Bruins home playoff game had me shooting this in 2014.



I certainly never thought the next playoff game at TD Garden would be in 2018 (maybe)

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[CharasLazyWrister]

For ****'s sake, be sellers.

Just don't be nothing's like last year. I'd rather they be idiots and be buyers than a "sit on our ***** and make up alternative facts like 'Loui's our rental'".

 

[roflstomper]

If you can magically acquire 2 top line wingers, a bottom six that can actually skate and 2 top four defensemen then you can buy. If not, cut ties with (if anyone will take them) Nash/Hayes/Spooner/Moore/Schaller/McQuaid/K. Miller/Belesky. Call up everyone you can. See what you have in these young guys. Play Chara 15 minutes a night. Rask only plays 12 more games. Tell Bergeron to go home and heal himself. Draft Liljegren. Profit.

 

[Bad Puck Bounce]

. Draft Liljegren. Profit.

That's a funny way to spell Hischier.

 

[pemulis]

I don't think the answer to the question is binary. I bet they'll stand pat. I also think DS is open to making a deal if it improves the future of the club, i.e. not making a deal for end of year UFA.

 

[Caper Bruins fan]

I think they will do nothing . Seems to be the norm .

 

[finchster]

Sell guys who aren't part of the team going forward.

Buy guys who might be able to help you in the future.

That would be my strategy.

 

[Gordoff]

For ****'s sake, be sellers.

Just don't be nothing's like last year. I'd rather they be idiots and be buyers than a "sit on our ***** and make up alternative facts like 'Loui's our rental'".

But last year they did trade away valuable picks for Stempniak and Liles.

IMO they didn't make " up alternative facts" (whatever that is) but they were mired in confusion and got nothing for that superstar, Eriksson.
They also didn't give any of the young defensemen any quality playing time to get them some pro experience. It was their second ****** year and now we're going on 3 in a row.

 

[C77]

It's not that bad.

The Bruins should look to move Chara (if possible) at the deadline as well as Liles and Moore.

Then, in the offseason sign a veteran left-shot d-man to a 1 or 2 year deal.

Next year the focus should be on integrating another 3 rookies into the lineup: one out of O'Gara, Zboril, Grzelcyk, Lauzon on the left side defense, one of DeBrusk, Heinen or Cehlarik on the wing, and hopefully McAvoy.

 

[smithformeragent]

You know my answer.

It's been the same since two off seasons ago.

Also, that Vegas question you were asked a while back is really haunting you, eh?

We're supposed to go to Ft. Myers in March for the father in law's 65th.
I'd been broken up over the prospect of missing key Bruins games down the stretch.
I've always been hockey first and my interest in the other sports has waned even further in recent years, but this current Bruins operation has hardened me in many times ways and made me indifferent.

 

[Fenway]

The Bruins as a BUSINESS have taken some major hits in the past 12 months as a couple of major corporate sponsors walked away including one that went back to the 80's at Boston Garden ( Cumberland Farms/Gulf )

Friendly's got a discounted rate to advertise on the ribbon boards inside TD Garden which are not seen on TV. The Bruins have also been selling ads to companies in CHINA on the boards because many Bruins games are being shown live on TV in China.

The STH's are a ticking time bomb. Bruins fans are fiercely loyal but the cost of seats has doubled and in some cases tripled over the past few years. The past couple of years the team has not played well at home and that hurts STH's from breaking even on the resale market.

I am convinced that the Bruins were arrogant enough to believe they had Vesey locked up last summer and were blindsided when he signed with New York. Sweeney probably knew it was a lost cause because Harvard grads tend to migrate to New York as that is where the money is and that has nothing to do with hockey.

I have to believe that Sweeney is telling the Jacobs he needs at least 2 more years to get the Bruins back into contention. Does Cam agree with that?

A Toronto writer asked me tonight a loaded question.

Would the Boston Bruins be better off today if they had allowed Peter Chiarelli to clean up the mess he had created instead of giving the keys to Sweeney?

I need to sleep on that.

 

[Fenway]

You know my answer.

It's been the same since two off seasons ago.

Also, that Vegas question you were asked a while back is really haunting you, eh?

We're supposed to go to Ft. Myers in March for the father in law's 65th.
I'd been broken up over the prospect of missing key Bruins games down the stretch.
I've always been hockey first and my interest in the other sports has waned even further in recent years, but this current Bruins operation has hardened me in many times ways and made me indifferent.

I am bothered by the simple fact that I can not dismiss the Vegas Golden Nights to be a playoff team before the Bruins are.

 

[smithformeragent]

I am bothered by the simple fact that I can not dismiss the Vegas Golden Nights to be a playoff team before the Bruins are.

That can be said of a handful of teams, really.

It just goes to show how deep the issues have become.

Miss the playoffs the first time with 96 points coming off a Presidents' Trophy and it's a no brainer to go back to the well with the same group for another kick at the can.

Miss the second time after spending assets at the deadline and it's a bit tougher to justify.

If management and ownership don't "get it" at this point that they're not knocking on the door, then they're either extremely foolish or extremely incompetent.

 

[Fenway]

That can be said of a handful of teams, really.

It just goes to show how deep the issues have become.

Miss the playoffs the first time with 96 points coming off a Presidents' Trophy and it's a no brainer to go back to the well with the same group for another kick at the can.

Miss the second time after spending assets at the deadline and it's a bit tougher to justify.

If management and ownership don't "get it" at this point that they're not knocking on the door, then they're either extremely foolish or extremely incompetent.

Let's hop into the wayback machine and look at the day 25 months ago that Charlie was given the keys.

https://www.bostonglobe.com/sports/...tate-bruins/q1d12GuVe3izxJx8zjdETJ/story.html

This is not a happy time for the Bruins. Tempers are short everywhere, whether it’s the coach’s office, the dressing room, or the TD Garden ice, where Brad Marchand and Torey Krug tussled during Tuesday’s practice until teammates broke up their wrestling match.

The fuse might be shortest in the corner office.

On Tuesday, Charlie Jacobs, son of owner Jeremy Jacobs, officially became the CEO of Delaware North’s Boston holdings, which include the Bruins, TD Garden, and NESN. Jeremy Jacobs remains Delaware North’s chairman.

But Charlie Jacobs is now the day-to-day boss atop the Bruins’ executive chart. On his first official day in his new position, Jacobs flexed his muscles, cleared his throat, and virtually shouted that every facet of the Bruins’ non-playoff standing is under evaluation, including the performance of the hockey operations department.

“For us to be a team that’s out of the playoffs is absolutely unacceptable,” Jacobs said. “Everybody in the executive offices is fully aware of how I feel.

“They feel the same way, which brings us to this evaluation process. It’s fluid right now. I can’t say that any moment we have a final decision, other than to say it’s been an utter disappointment and a failure. A complete failure.”

Jacobs acknowledged that his father will still be active in the team’s decision-making. But his new title has given Charlie Jacobs a jolt of power. With power, Jacobs can effect change.

He ultimately fires Chia, hires Sweeney and now things are far worse and we don't hear a peep out of him.

I have no clue on how they can fix this.

 

[smithformeragent]

Fens,

I think a lot of it stems from a sense of entitlement and an ignorance over the fact that this organization with all of its history "should" be in the playoffs every season.

We've beaten this horse dead, but it is true. This isn't the 21 team league where you avoid the basement in the five team Adams Division and are guaranteed a spot.

I mean look at the Blackhawks. They had their lean years.
Knowing when to cut bait is just as important as knowing when to go all in.

 

[SPLBRUIN]

We are sellers now, shouldn't even be debated.

 

[smithformeragent]

What can be debated is the extent to which they should sell.

It's difficult to make blockbuster deals under the cap, let alone mid season.
However, should they deal the spare parts like DoMo or a piece(s) from the core?

I'd go big.

 

[DKH]

Saturday night sucked away all my hope that the Bruins could salvage the 2016-2017 season. The B's only play 8 more games between now and March 1st and I am doubtful they can win 4 of them.

We should have a pretty good idea where the team stands after the home game with Arizona on the 28th. The games in hand situation will have been settled and unless Ottawa or Toronto completely fall apart the only realistic path to the post-season MIGHT be as the second Wild Card but that doesn't look likely either.

The schedule after the deadline isn't favorable either.

Obviously the Bruins need to be sellers at this point but what can Sweeney put out there that another team might want to buy? The big unknown is if ownership will accept that this season is a playoff miss and it might be another 2 years before they can contend again.

On a personal level my favorite time of the year is the Round One of the playoffs and it is killing me inside that Las Vegas may host a playoff game before the Bruins do. As a freelancer in TV production I have to decide shortly do I want to work hockey in March or take a nice easy gig in Fort Myers with the Red Sox. I always choose hockey but this year Florida looks inviting.

It really bugs me that my last camera assignment for a Bruins home playoff game had me shooting this in 2014.



I certainly never thought the next playoff game at TD Garden would be in 2018 (maybe)

Spectacular thread - you bring it

 

[Glove Malfunction]

That can be said of a handful of teams, really.

It just goes to show how deep the issues have become.

Miss the playoffs the first time with 96 points coming off a Presidents' Trophy and it's a no brainer to go back to the well with the same group for another kick at the can.

Miss the second time after spending assets at the deadline and it's a bit tougher to justify.

If management and ownership don't "get it" at this point that they're not knocking on the door, then they're either extremely foolish or extremely incompetent.

I vote for both.

 

[smithformeragent]

I'd trade Rene, Jim Martin and the zambini driver at this point.

 

[OldScool]

Sell sell sell! Management of course is trying to protect their jobs and make playoffs but if you have a brain in your head you have to realize this team is 2-3 years away and the best thing for the organization is to sell. Krejci is on the block now.

 

[Ryan77]

we are sellers for sure but my question is who do you sell and who wants out garbage.

Moore is the only guy I can see a team wanting but he'll maybe fetch you a second rounder.

Backes/Belesky/Hayes/

12 million in dead weight right there that we are stuck with.

 

[Fire Sweeney]

The smart thing would be to sell, so Sweeney will trade Jake Debrusk+ 2 2nd round picks for Shane Doan and Colin Miller+3rd for Ron Hainsey

 

[ODAAT]

even with a sound acquisition or two at the deadline, and that ain`t happening IMO, this team still isn`t a cup contender

Start selling, of course, Jacobs will come out tomorrow and proclaim he still believes this team has a chance for a deep playoff run

 

[Durnberg]

Like to keep C.Miller, Krug, Carlo, Vatrano, Bergeron, pasta, Marchand, Czarnik and Rask. Rest can go