So working off this post what about something along the lines of Jake and Gryz for Ekholm? He's the Preds oldest player and a pending UFA. They are likely not a competitive team this season. Maybe have to include a pick as well (second/third) but the Bruins need a true LD1 to have some success in the playoffs. And the Preds have cap space to work with.I don't know if I like the cap number, but signing a PKer/3rd liner at ES tells me they're possible done with DeBrusk... using him as trade bait to get a top-4 defenseman would make me a pretty happy camper all told.
Considering the source, I'd be far from surprised. Assuming the Foligno news is accurate, my best guess:Per the Globe 2 hours ago. Seriously? I hope he got his Nick's wrong.
• After looking at other bottom-six winger options, the Bruins brought back Nick Ritchie, according to the Globe’s Kevin Paul Dupont via a league source. Terms of the deal were immediately unclear. A restricted free agent, Ritchie was due a qualifying offer of $2 million. The Bruins balked at that, but Ritchie and agent Patrick Morris found common ground.
I wouldn't trade Grz for Ekholm straight up...So working off this post what about something along the lines of Jake and Gryz for Ekholm? He's the Preds oldest player and a pending UFA. They are likely not a competitive team this season. Maybe have to include a pick as well (second/third) but the Bruins need a true LD1 to have some success in the playoffs. And the Preds have cap space to work with.
Which is why I'm scared that Krejci is gone. None of the players on the roster are good enough to middle the second line.Trades pretty much have to happen. They were at $10 million in cap space before Foligno, Ullmark and Krejci. Foligno is reportedly upper $3's. so calling it $4 million leaves them with $6 million which won't fit both Krejci and Ullmark.
With Ullmark coming in at $5 million and $4 for Foligno, DeBrusk has to be traded for futures.Trades pretty much have to happen. They were at $10 million in cap space before Foligno, Ullmark and Krejci. Foligno is reportedly upper $3's. so calling it $4 million leaves them with $6 million which won't fit both Krejci and Ullmark.
Krejci was already confirmed as returning. I doubt anything has changed on that front. They will slot his salary in once all the other moves are done.Which is why I'm scared that Krejci is gone. None of the players on the roster are good enough to middle the second line.
0% chance.I want to believe this means Coyle DeBrusk a goalie and a bunch of picks going out for Eichel. I know it probably doesn’t, but I’m gonna believe.
I want to drink what you're drinking. Must be some damn good scotch.I want to believe this means Coyle DeBrusk a goalie and a bunch of picks going out for Eichel. I know it probably doesn’t, but I’m gonna believe.
They should sign Tuukka for 1 year $10 million and put him on LTIR until the playoffs.Dizzying series of events here, but Cap Friendly has us at $4.8 million in space not counting Krejci, Foligno or a backup G.
I've seen reports that its expected. Has it actually been confirmed?Krejci was already confirmed as returning. I doubt anything has changed on that front. They will slot his salary in once all the other moves are done.
They don’t have the cap space to trade DeBrusk for a top 4 defenseman unless they want Coyle to be the #2 center.I think the B's could arguably have won day 1 of free agency. They got a a top G FA, and multiple depth pieces while there was still a good selection/market for depth pieces. Yes, they have the obvious Jake Debrusk/Top 4 D trade to make, but I think they've put themselves into a more complete position that a lot of other teams in their division.
Well they also are paying 3 defenseman around 10 million combined, so all 3 of them have to play.They don’t have the cap space to trade DeBrusk for a top 4 defenseman unless they want Coyle to be the #2 center.
I think this is right. Bergeron, Coyle, Haula, Nosek, Frederic and Lazar are "centers" an Foligno has also played center (poorly) before. They also have Studnicka, as you mentioned. Hall is such a play driver and Smith such a shooter that if Coyle is back to 40 point Coyle, he'd actually be ok. It's not a super deep deep down the middle with quality, but they could find a way to be successful.I listened to Sweeney's press conference and I couldn't really get a read on what's up with Krejci. There was way more clarity on Rask (we'll see when he's healthy), Said the doors open for a return for David, but also spent a lot of time talking about center by committee and how they wanted to add versatile guys into the lineup. Foligno and Haula can play C. Not too sure about Nosek.
I guess if Krejci does leave, then Coyle gets first dibs at 2C. Haula/Foligno at 3C. Studnicka with some sort of camp opportunity but unclear on how he would fit.
Marchand - Bergeron - Pastrnak
Hall - Coyle - Smith
Foligno - Haula - DeBrusk
Nosek - Frederic - Wagner
Lazar
Grzelyck - McAvoy
Reilly - Carlo
Forbort - Clifton
Zboril - Moore
Ullmark
Swayman
Edit: That roster of 23 with 13F, 8D and 2G would leave them with $1.69 million in cap space. It necessitates waiving Blidh and Kuhlman.
I think the general sense is "this is incomplete?" The two largest issues with the team the last couple of years has been size on D and productive forward depth. I'm skeptical they have effectively solved the former (though I'm also less worried about that then the average bruins fan) but it seems like they've really solved the latter. Nosek is better than Kuraly and upgrades the fourth line. Foligno and Haula are significantly better players than Nick Ritchie and Kuhlman. 5 of their top 6 are elite compared to their peers around the league and if Krejci comes back, they have a top 6 that is as good as any of the contenders. I think their depth compares favorably as well.So what's the general sense here? You know more about these signings than I do. Should I, as a slightly more than casual Bruins fan be pleased with these moves? Are they closer to a Cup than they were this past season?
I don't think this question can be answered until we get an answer on Krrejci. If Krejci is back, they aren't done and will need to clear salary.So what's the general sense here? You know more about these signings than I do. Should I, as a slightly more than casual Bruins fan be pleased with these moves? Are they closer to a Cup than they were this past season?
This is my feeling...I expect we'll see both Krech and Rask as mid season acquisitions for another kick at the can, but I'm way less tuned in than a lot of people around here.It seems like Krejci would be a great candidate to add as a mid-season UFA (like Rask except without the surgery). Give the guy some time off to heal his body, rest, spend with his family, then ramp up for a few months and then unleash Playoff Krejci. Save the B's some cap space, give the younger guys an opportunity and chance to develop. The trust and relationship is there and been well earned between the two sides. Is that a horrible idea?
The bigger concern with Krecji is basically: is he done in the US. He's talked about wanting to go home to Czechia so his children learn the language and the culture while they're still young. I actually think that family discussion is what Sweeney was alluding to, as David and his wife and kids are probably still discussing the what/where/when of his post-NHL career.It seems like Krejci would be a great candidate to add as a mid-season UFA (like Rask except without the surgery). Give the guy some time off to heal his body, rest, spend with his family, then ramp up for a few months and then unleash Playoff Krejci. Save the B's some cap space, give the younger guys an opportunity and chance to develop. The trust and relationship is there and been well earned between the two sides. Is that a horrible idea?
Development in hockey is a bit different than other sports, in that getting more time at the AHL level can do a young player more good than a guy spending a bunch of time in AAA or a NBA guy spinning his wheels in the G-league. Vaak, Studnicka, and their other young guys who are eligible to go to Providence without waivers are better served getting lots of ice time in all situations than being forced into Bottom 6, last pairing roles that aren't necessarily what we even want out of them down the line. Given how bizarre the seasons have been the last two years, I don't really see a downside in letting those guys get back into a normal flow of things in an environment they succeed in so that they're ready to step into a bigger role in 2022-23 and beyond as some of these veterans start to trickle out. It'd be one thing if the last year+ had been normal and all those young guys had a chance to play normal seasons, but given how FUBAR it's been...it's probably not a bad thing for them.Is them signing the likes of Forbert, Nosek, etc., and not just letting guys like Zboril, Vakk, Studnicka, etc get consistent playing time, indicative of the FO's lack of faith in their ability, desperation to 'win now' and don't trust them quite enough for that, or something else? Because my non-expert opinion is I'd much rather let our homegrown guys get on the ice regularly and see what we have than sign FAs to round out the bottom six forwards or last D pair.
I don't think this is wrong necessarily. Going into the playoffs, the bruins were a legitimate cup contender. It felt unlikely they'd beat Tampa but they were better than anyone in the east. Post acquisition they were one of the top 2-3 best teams in hockey. they dominated possession, got a ton of high danger chances and limited those chances for their opponents. The narrative that the D corp is a liablity at end of the other isn't really true unless you count Carlo in the oZone (and now Forbert, I guess). The rest of the group was pretty successful on both ends and remained so in the playoffs. Some crazy shit happened against the Islanders. they gave up 4+ Goals more than expected on the power play and Carlo got hurt. Sometimes weird things happen in the playoffs.I'm not convinced this team is noticeably better than last year's squad, even assuming that Krejci returns. The biggest flaws of this team have been its lack of scoring depth and a defense corps full of specialists that are a liability at one end of the ice or the other.
Most of the acquisitions strike me as marginal upgrades. Bringing in Forbort and retaining Reilly feels like Miller and Krug redux - they still need a legit two-way top-pairing defenseman. Nosek, Haula, and Foligno should be better than Ritchie, Kuraly, and the revolving door AHL-callup winger but not demonstrably so.
Ullmark is a legit catch, though. I wholly approve of that deal, despite being a Swayman advocate. Far too many young goalies have started brilliantly and flamed out. This allows the Bs to find out what they really have with Swayman before committing to him.
This is a really good point.The bigger concern with Krecji is basically: is he done in the US. He's talked about wanting to go home to Czechia so his children learn the language and the culture while they're still young. I actually think that family discussion is what Sweeney was alluding to, as David and his wife and kids are probably still discussing the what/where/when of his post-NHL career.
Development in hockey is a bit different than other sports, in that getting more time at the AHL level can do a young player more good than a guy spending a bunch of time in AAA or a NBA guy spinning his wheels in the G-league. Vaak, Studnicka, and their other young guys who are eligible to go to Providence without waivers are better served getting lots of ice time in all situations than being forced into Bottom 6, last pairing roles that aren't necessarily what we even want out of them down the line. Given how bizarre the seasons have been the last two years, I don't really see a downside in letting those guys get back into a normal flow of things in an environment they succeed in so that they're ready to step into a bigger role in 2022-23 and beyond as some of these veterans start to trickle out. It'd be one thing if the last year+ had been normal and all those young guys had a chance to play normal seasons, but given how FUBAR it's been...it's probably not a bad thing for them.