Bruins Offseason
- Thread starter MiracleOfO2704
- Start date
yea he would have been 3rd on the Bruins in points for forwards. He can still play, but like Hall - he wasn’t worth the deal he was on.
What the fuck is this team doing.
View: https://twitter.com/thefourthperiod/status/1675171449345040384?s=46&t=OkYc4B97cAcDPw09PEJj_w
View: https://twitter.com/thefourthperiod/status/1675171449345040384?s=46&t=OkYc4B97cAcDPw09PEJj_w
Blake Wheeler is going to the Rangers.
View: https://twitter.com/nyrangers/status/1675178750290321409?s=46&t=IVL2VrlFgLlpc3mjGGto8Q
View: https://twitter.com/nyrangers/status/1675178750290321409?s=46&t=IVL2VrlFgLlpc3mjGGto8Q
I think it was more about the term from what has been reported. And I don't blame them. In terms of long term, i think Bertuzzi was an awful bet, between the injuries and his absolutely incompetence defensively
Connor Clifton just went to Buffalo for 3/$10 million. I’m glad he got paid. Also glad it was someone else that paid him.
Lauko & Frederic are also going to be on the team. Really the only thing they need is a top six center. Which they’re not getting today.
Well yea, that's a forgone conclusion. (I didn't list them because they aren't signed yet) Personally I think they need a second line wing and a top 6 center. If by some miracle Bergy is back (which I really don't think he is unfortunately) then they just need to find that top 6 wing
That absolutely need a top six center. They just don’t have the cap space this year for one. They’re going to have to just make due this year unless Bergeron comes back unfortunately.
Looking at free agents I agree. It's either Bergy or they bump everyone up a line and make due with guys playing higher than they should. They can't afford any of the "top" centers and the others aren't better than what they currently have
I had read rumors about trades of Lindholm or Scheiffle. Both are in the last year of their contracts. Lindholm makes 5M, Scheiffle 6M.
The Canes signed Orlov.
https://www.prohockeyrumors.com/2023/07/carolina-hurricanes-sign-dmitry-orlov.html
>>The Carolina Hurricanes have signed arguably the top defenseman available on the free agent market, inking former Boston Bruins and Washington Capitals rearguard Dmitry Orlov to a two-year, $7.75MM AAV deal.<<
https://www.prohockeyrumors.com/2023/07/carolina-hurricanes-sign-dmitry-orlov.html
>>The Carolina Hurricanes have signed arguably the top defenseman available on the free agent market, inking former Boston Bruins and Washington Capitals rearguard Dmitry Orlov to a two-year, $7.75MM AAV deal.<<
It's not a terrible looking roster for a tight cap year. If Bergeron comes back, they're very much still a mid-level playoff team, if he doesn't, I think their on the bubble for making the playoffs but still competitive to do so. I dunno, there's still so much top-end talent on this team that it's not like they're going to suck, and then you've got room to add a nice piece next year depending on who hits free agency.
Does Lysell or any other prospects we haven’t seen yet have any chance of contributing this year for cheap?
Lysell looks like he needs another year in Providence. So does Beecher. One guy that has a chance to contribute that we haven’t seen yet is Georgii Merkulov. He led Providence in scoring with 55 points in 67 games in the A as a 22 year old. In the couple of games that I saw him live, he really stood out for what that’s worth.
Merkulov is an odd case though as he is much better at C than W, but he fits Boston much better as a W than C.
Prospect pool (professonal level) - my thoughts
F – Lauko, Beecher, McLaughlin, Merkulov, Pederson, Poitras, Lysell, Kuntar, Harrison, Toporoski
(Lauko could easily be on the 4th line next year, Beecher and McLaughlin could probably step in as a Nosek replacement (4th line C, penalty kill), Merkulov could be a middle-6 C or RW next year, Lysell could get slow-walked to the end of the year but eventually fits as a top-6 RW once his body fills out, Kuntar, Pederson, Poitras, Harrison and Toporoski are probably 24-25 candidates if all goes well)
D – Lohrei, Callahan, Brunet, Walsh, Regula, Mitchell
(Callahan, Regula and Mitchell are likely injury fill-ins next year, Lohrei probably could use 1/2 year at Providence but profiles as a top-4 LHD, Brunet is probably a 24-25 candidate if all goes well)
G – Bussi, Keyser
(Bussi and Keyser are likely injury fill-ins so long as both Ullmark and Swayman are on the roster)
In terms of top-6/top-4 potential among the pros, it's probably just Lysell, Merkulov, Poitras, Harrison and Lohrei
I like all the moves today...they're filling out their roster as best they can with smart hardworking veterans who should be good in the room and help the team have a solid year. All the deals are short term and short money (of course they have to be) so there's not much that can go wrong (aside from ALL of them crapping the bed at once). I know a great many Bruins fans want to rend their garments and gnash their teeth and wail to the skies about the end of days but I think this team may be tough to play against and still has enough skill to entertain. For a transition season that would be about all you could ask for.
Think they did OK given the circumstances. Once it became clear they were not moving out more money beyond Hall and the Reilly buyout, this was probably the best they were going to do.
None of the contracts are going to block a prospect if one is better. Another fringe benefit is if the they go belly up they are tradeable for a minimal asset.
None of the contracts are going to block a prospect if one is better. Another fringe benefit is if the they go belly up they are tradeable for a minimal asset.
I'm fine with this because I think both Gs are worth way more to the Bs than they are to anyone else. This team will be D and G heavy and will have to hope that they can cobble together enough offense beyond the top line to compete.
Completely agree. Keeping them both is the right call. They'll need a strong tandem and D corps to compete next year. Sway/Ully will win them a lot of games the offense struggles in.
So it appears that the Bs signed some guys today who haven't been reported here:
Patrick Brown, C
Jayson Megna, C
Anthony Richard, C
Parker Wotherspoon, D
https://www.espn.com/nhl/team/roster/_/name/bos/boston-bruins
Patrick Brown, C
Jayson Megna, C
Anthony Richard, C
Parker Wotherspoon, D
https://www.espn.com/nhl/team/roster/_/name/bos/boston-bruins
The best thing I can say about today is that they didn’t do any long term harm with bad contracts.
Morgan Geekie is only 24, so giving him a two year deal, especially at short money, isn’t likely to be an albatross.
I guess this coming year really is going to be a soft reset year.
Morgan Geekie is only 24, so giving him a two year deal, especially at short money, isn’t likely to be an albatross.
I guess this coming year really is going to be a soft reset year.
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They should be a playoff team with or without Bergy but obviously much better with. If I never see another president trophy I'll be completely fine.
Lots of competition in the east. Florida, Toronto, Tampa, Carolina, NY Rangers, New Jersey should all be playoff teams. Buffalo, Pittsburgh, and Boston should all be in the mix.
Elliotte Friedman
@FriedgeHNIC
4m
Nothing official as of yet, but hearing Tyler Bertuzzi and Toronto are working away at a one-year deal.
@FriedgeHNIC
4m
Nothing official as of yet, but hearing Tyler Bertuzzi and Toronto are working away at a one-year deal.
Sounds like a guy going to Leafs to pump his numbers and hope to get paid next year. Full no move clause included in deal. Also, have to think Ty is right here: View: https://twitter.com/_tyanderson/status/1675609854738591752?s=12
It just wasn’t feasible to bring Bertuzzi back, even for 1-year.
They have like $8 million right now for Swayman, Frederic, Lauko, Bergy and Krejci. To fit Bertuzzj in at $5.5 million means moving about that equivalent in salary. So probably Grzelyck and a goalie. Just not worth it.
They have like $8 million right now for Swayman, Frederic, Lauko, Bergy and Krejci. To fit Bertuzzj in at $5.5 million means moving about that equivalent in salary. So probably Grzelyck and a goalie. Just not worth it.
I mean, the off-season has kinda sucked but they didn’t have many options.
They chose dumping Hall and filling in with 1-year veterans while maintaining future flexibility. The defense and goaltending is the same group that they had pre-deadline last year which was a huge part of their record. They basically just swapped Clifton for Shattenkirk. The forward group has taken a huge hit, no doubt, but if Bergy and Krejci do come back it’s basically the same prepared group pre-deadline with a downgrade from Hall to JVR. They’ll have $20-$30 million to work with next offseason depending on extensions (Frederic, Swayman, DeBrusk, Grzelyck) and however much the cap goes up.
The other option was knifing the roster to try to fit in Bertuzzi or another deadline acquisition. They were forced to trade Hall for nothing. If they had to move more, it’s probably Grzelyck for nothing and Ullmark for nothing. Losing 3 good players for no value in return but cap space to send to Bertuzzi and whoever else in this weak FA class just doesn’t seem like it would’ve been the
They chose dumping Hall and filling in with 1-year veterans while maintaining future flexibility. The defense and goaltending is the same group that they had pre-deadline last year which was a huge part of their record. They basically just swapped Clifton for Shattenkirk. The forward group has taken a huge hit, no doubt, but if Bergy and Krejci do come back it’s basically the same prepared group pre-deadline with a downgrade from Hall to JVR. They’ll have $20-$30 million to work with next offseason depending on extensions (Frederic, Swayman, DeBrusk, Grzelyck) and however much the cap goes up.
The other option was knifing the roster to try to fit in Bertuzzi or another deadline acquisition. They were forced to trade Hall for nothing. If they had to move more, it’s probably Grzelyck for nothing and Ullmark for nothing. Losing 3 good players for no value in return but cap space to send to Bertuzzi and whoever else in this weak FA class just doesn’t seem like it would’ve been the
$6.2mm of room, covering 20 roster spots (leaving space for Swayman, Freddie and Lauko once their RFA status is resolved). Assuming Swayman gets $3mm, Freddie $2.2mm and Lauko $1mm to bring the Bruins right up to the cap. That includes Brown ($800k), Megna ($775k) and Wotherspoon ($775k) on the 23-man roster, for now. There is no room for anyone else without jettisoning other bodies.
And who’s to say that they could even trade Ullmark and Grzelcyk for nothing. How many teams could take on money? And those teams would probably want an asset stapled to them considering the Bruins situation. And the Bruins couldn’t even staple picks to anyone because they don’t really have any.
Lots of changes this year and lots more challenges than last year, but the goalie hugs are coming back and they'll get us through.
In hindsight, I like the fact they moved one big salary then used the money to get players, and then they'll see where they are, as opposed to moving two or three guys at the opening bell. At least Sweeney is trying not to blow it up.
A lot of teams moved a lot of players this week. When the dust settles there will be a clearer picture of potential trade partners if the Bruins have to move another guy to clear some $$.
I think they are probably done aside from the internal work they still need to complete. At this point they've got enough room to fit in the rest of the business when you factor in demoting guys that are currently couting against the cap (Megna, Brown, Wotherspoon, etc.). If they had to move someone for money reasons the options to replace said player are basically gone now. Maybe there's some sort of hockey trade out there that they'd be interested in but I think from a cap standpoint they're done.
This kind of reminds me of the Panthers offseason in 2022. The Panthers pushed the chips in at the 2022 deadline and flamed out. They basically sat out free agency just filling in with minimum vets like the Staal brothers, Nick Cousins, Colin White, etc. Of course, stars aligned and they made the Weegar/Huberdeau for Tkachuk deal. I'm not sure something like that is out there for the Bruins but otherwise they're following a similar playbook.