I'm just going to look forward, because looking back on those assholes playing Ottawa with both hands wrapped around their throats makes me inch closer to a stroke every time.
As noted throughout everywhere on everything Bruins this season, their defense needs a massive rebuild. They can't afford to sink money into Loui, and will have to hope their young players step up in top 9 roles. If they sign Vesey (and who really knows on that), then maybe he can slot in somewhere there as well for depth purposes. I do not trust Sweeney to make a deal for a legitimate top 4 defenseman, so they will have to explore the free agency route. There are a few solid names out there, but nothing spectacular. I assume they will have Chara/McQuaid/Krug back, and they will probably sign Kevan Miller for a eleventy billion dollars and my head will explode. Assuming that doesn't happen, I would like to see them bring up Colin Miller and give him a permanent role on the 5/6 slot. That leaves two slots to fill. Some sample defenseman free agents out there are Goligosky, Yandle, L. Schenn who are all around the age of 30. These guys would be signed to long term deals at some pretty solid money. I could see them going after Yandle, but not sure where his priorities will be and how much that cost will run. There are a few older guys that they could try to sign to bridge the gap to their younger prospects (Gryzlyck, O'Gara, Lauzon, Zobril, etc.), like B. Campbell or D. Boyle, but the rest of the crop is pretty underwhelming. As much as they need a top tier defenseman, I just don't know who fits out there for what they need. Chara's decline, combined with their massive lack of depth, is just going to continue to kill them next season, so they have to get creative and do something. They have to address their defense. They do not have a choice here. If they do not, next season will be much of the same.
There is no universe where I trade Rask. When he has competent people in front of him, he's one of the best in the world. Trading him would be the mistake of all mistakes, and they will pay for that more than any other bad trade they have ever paid. No no no no no. Do not be fucking stupid, Don. I have lived a long time between Lemelin/Moog and then Rask, and I do not want to live through the eras SJH mentioned above again because he got sick on a bad day. Let's just not talk about this again.
At forward, I see them with Bergeron and Marchand solidifying their line. I am hopeful for Pastrnak's improvement, but he needs to play a full season and has a lot to learn. The talent is certainly there, and I am hopeful on the two way game. He was... not good with that this year, but I can see he knows how to play defense he just actually needs to do it consistently. Spooner is signed at a reasonable deal for next year, but if I can package him in a deal to get a top 4 defenseman with picks/prospects, etc. I do it in a heart beat. Otherwise, he's reasonably priced and you hope he comes back ready to play the type of two way game NHL centers need to have. Vatrano will get a spot, and I expect big things out of him. If he continues to bust his ass, I think we will all love what he is able to do. He's got learning to do, but I loved that he was wiling to throw his body around when he was up last. I would assume he slots in the top 6 somewhere. I would also be perfectly fine if they brought back Kelly for the 4th line role. They just need to sign him at a small deal. They need to fire Rinaldo into the sun, but they are probably stuck with Connolly and Hayes. If they buyout Seidenberg, I would hope they could afford a defenseman with a pulse. I enjoyed my first year of Matt Belesky, even if he didn't put up many points. He might be slightly over-payed, but I liked what he gave them.
This would likely give them a roster next year of:
Marchand-Bergeron-Pastrnak
Belesky-Krejci-Vatrano
Vesey? Griffith? Koko?-Spooner-Connolly/Hayes
Hayes- Kelly-Acciari,etc.
So, I think they are fine at FW, and I don't think there is any way they can re-sign Eriksson. They have to allocate their entire attention to repairing that dumpster fire of a defense if they have any hope of making the playoffs. I am pretty comfortable with the teams depth otherwise. Given my druthers, I would look to see if I could fix the defense problem by moving K. Miller/McQuaid with Subban/Spooner/picks, etc. for help, but I really question where that is feasible given how valuable solid NHL ready mid-20s defenseman are.
On the plus side, they have two first round draft picks, some really good prospects, and an apparent scouting program that doesn't have their heads up their asses. Long term, I am optimistic. Next year, I just hope they don't nut punch me like this again. Throwing up all over themselves like they did on Saturday is really hard to take. It's one game, but they need something to stop themselves from doing that again. In the words of Magic Johnson, I'm cis-cerned guys.