Bruins 2021 Season Thread

burstnbloom

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Hall is a legit possibility given his poor play, pending UFA and so few teams with the cap space to acquire him. I would think the cost would be reasonable and he'd be amendable to going to a cup contender to try to cash in on his (hopefully strong) playoff performance. Eichel is obviously the best possible outcome but while he's a perfect fit in Boston, they just dont have the pieces to acquire him. I wouldn't give up McAvoy, who is becoming one of the very best D in the league, or Pasta and there is noone else Buffalo would want. The Kings feel like the obvious fit. They could offer a blue chip prospect, a good young roster player, picks, whatever the Sabres want.

Eckholm is a great fit for the Bruins needs but the expansion draft creates a real challenge when acquiring a player with term. It would essentially mean the B's would have to pay the price at the deadline for the best D on the market and then also give up Gryz. It doesn't seem like it can work unless all suitors are in the same boat and it lowers the acquisition cost.
 

The B’s Knees

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David Savard is just behind Ekholm on Frank Seravalli's Trade Bait list
https://www.tsn.ca/trade-bait-david-savard-among-defencemen-dominating-first-board-of-the-season-1.1600970

I know the B's are in more need of a LD than a RD, but I love Savard's game. He plays heavy and just wears on other team's offensive players. Plus he's a UFA, so likely cheaper than Ekholm and no worries about protection in the expansion draft.
To be honest, I've watched a lot more of Savard than Ekholm, but I think either one would be a fine addition.
 

cshea

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Krejci and Grz are full goes at practice today. Kase skated earlier in the day. No Miller.

Marchand - Bergeron - Pastrnak
Ritchie - Krejci - DeBrusk
Frederic - Coyle - Smith
Kuraly - Studnicka - Wagner
Bjork, McKegg

Zboril - McAvoy
Grzelyck - Carlo
Tinordi - Clifton
Vaakanainen - Moore
Kampfer

Keeping Studnicka at center is interesting. I think he's been excellent at center in Krejci's absence. I'd like to see him play with a bit more skill, I'd take Wagner out for Bjork. We'll see if Frederic can stick on a higher line. I worry he's a black hole offensively but 2 goals in his last 3 games so maybe a bit of a breakout.

Playing Tinordi over Vaakanainen, Moore or Clifton is horrifying.
 

lexrageorge

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Zboril - McAvoy
Grzelyck - Carlo
Tinordi - Clifton
Vaakanainen - Moore
Kampfer

Playing Tinordi over Vaakanainen, Moore or Clifton is horrifying.
Well, KPD wants Tinordi playing on the #1 pairing, so the lines you have are a huge improvement over KPD's suggestions.

I'm guessing Cassidy is just trying to get Tinordi a regular practice rep while he can.
 

Salem's Lot

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Well, KPD wants Tinordi playing on the #1 pairing, so the lines you have are a huge improvement over KPD's suggestions.

I'm guessing Cassidy is just trying to get Tinordi a regular practice rep while he can.
What is his justification for that? To look a little bigger while Ovechkin & Wilson are skating around him like an orange traffic cone?
 

lexrageorge

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What is his justification for that? To look a little bigger while Ovechkin & Wilson are skating around him like an orange traffic cone?
You're talking about the one guy that thought favorably of the Rinaldo trade. And the Seguin and Thornton trades back in the day. It's all about "the grit".
 

jk333

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Please forgive me for what I am about to type.

What if the Bruins DID trade the best wing in the league for Eichel?

Correct me if I’m wrong on any of these facts:
-Bergeron, the #1 center is 36 years old this summer
-The #2 center is 35 and hurt (again)
-Charlie McAvoy is becoming a top 10 defenseman in the league
-the Bruins have no center prospects with top line potential for next season or the year after
-longer term they have 2 possible top 6 center prospects
-a team needs both a #1 center and #1 defensemen to win
-players start to age at 30 and usually fall off significantly at 35+

On the other hand:
-Bergeron is aging well so far
-for this season, they are deep at center with Bergeron/Krejci/Coyle/Kuraly and Studnicka in the wings
-while they have wings beside Pasta, they are not deep; top6: Marchand/Coyle/Debrusk/Smith are fine but not great

Forwards?
Marchand/Bergeron/Bjork
Debrusk/Eichel/Smith
Ritchie/Krejci/Coyle
X/x/x
 

TSC

SoSH's Doug Neidermeyer
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Please forgive me for what I am about to type.

What if the Bruins DID trade the best wing in the league for Eichel?

Correct me if I’m wrong on any of these facts:
-Bergeron, the #1 center is 36 years old this summer
-The #2 center is 35 and hurt (again)
-Charlie McAvoy is becoming a top 10 defenseman in the league
-the Bruins have no center prospects with top line potential for next season or the year after
-longer term they have 2 possible top 6 center prospects
-a team needs both a #1 center and #1 defensemen to win
-players start to age at 30 and usually fall off significantly at 35+

On the other hand:
-Bergeron is aging well so far
-for this season, they are deep at center with Bergeron/Krejci/Coyle/Kuraly and Studnicka in the wings
-while they have wings beside Pasta, they are not deep; top6: Marchand/Coyle/Debrusk/Smith are fine but not great

Forwards?
Marchand/Bergeron/Bjork
Debrusk/Eichel/Smith
Ritchie/Krejci/Coyle
X/x/x
Honestly, I don't think I'd trade Pasta for Eichel straight up, nevermind as part of a package. They're the same age, yet Pasta has out scored Eichel the last 4 seasons, and is beating him again this season.

Now sure, that's with Eichel playing on a garbage team and Pasta playing with two of the best players in the game. But I don't know that Eichel brings enough...other stuff...to offset that Pasta could very well be the next Ovi - and may be one of the top 2-3 goal scorers in the league for the next 6-7 years.

Not to mention, Pasta is on a MUCH friendlier team contract. (6.66 annual cap hit vs. 10).
 
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jk333

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Honestly, I don't think I'd trade Pasta for Eichel straight up, nevermind as part of a package. They're the same age, yet Pasta has out scored Eichel the last 4 seasons, and is beating him again this season.

Now sure, that's with Eichel playing on a garbage team and Pasta playing with two of the best players in the game. But I don't know that Eichel brings enough...other stuff...to offset that Pasta could very well be the next Ovi - and may be one of the top 2-3 goal scorers in the league for the next 6-7 years.

Not to mention, Pasta is on a MUCH friendlier team contract. (6.66 annual cap hit vs. 10).
I mostly agree and wouldn’t add much of value. But something like an extra player or 2nd tier prospect to sweeten the pot a bit.

That’s where it’s interesting to me. Pasta IS the better player. But, to me, centers can have such a large impact. So, to get a young potential possibly elite player.... they don’t become free agents and are rarely traded
 

cshea

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Plus, if you trade Pasta for Eichel you then begin the search to find a Pasta to play with Eichel.

The value isn't far off, Eichel's a center, Pasta's a wing, Pasta has the cheaper contract, etc. but I don't think it really makes sense. The only way the Bruins pull it off would be if Eichel demands Boston (can't do that right now) or the Sabres decide they prefer two dimes and a nickel for their quarter and accept somethign like DeBrusk, Grz, Studnicka and other assets.

If/when this happens, I think it'll be LA. Other conference, #1 farm system in the league. Rangers can compete package wise but same state/conference may scare the Sabres away.
 

joe dokes

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Its a nice thought experiment, and playing center carries a lot of weight, but I think it undervalues Pastr's ability to score goals without necessarily making a great play. I dont know enough to know what goes into that skill, but it seems to be a discrete skill. Just sticking to Boston, guys like Glenn Murray or Frank Vatrano -- neither of whom had the additional skills that Pastr possesses -- could score.
 

Ferm Sheller

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I agree that Pasta shouldn't be swapped for Eichel, but one thing that gives me pause that hasn't been mentioned here is that (in my mind at least, but I could be wrong) Eichel's the more durable (less prone to injury) player. But I'm not saying that Eichel doesn't get injured...
 

Salem's Lot

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Pastrnak may be best non Entry Level Contract in the league. You build around that, you don’t trade him.
 
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LogansDad

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Yeah, I'll be honest, that isn't one that I ever consider as the Bruins. And I'd love to see Eichel on the team, but not for Pasta. An additional factor for me is that Pasta seems like a truly awesome teammate, and, while I don't get the feeling that Eichel is a POS or anything, I just get the feeling from Pasta that he is going to develop into a true "leader" and not just a letter wearer, someday.
 

TSC

SoSH's Doug Neidermeyer
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I agree that Pasta shouldn't be swapped for Eichel, but one thing that gives me pause that hasn't been mentioned here is that (in my mind at least, but I could be wrong) Eichel's the more durable (less prone to injury) player. But I'm not saying that Eichel doesn't get injured...
What?

GP last 5 seasons:

Pasta - 75, 82, 66, 70, 12.

Eichel - 61, 67, 77, 68, 18.

Pasta has played 22 more games over the last 5 seasons. Which isn't a lot, but it's not nothing.
 

RIFan

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If you want to look down the road, which would you rather have Studnicka or Beecher at center with Pasta on the wing or Eichel at center with Debrusk or ?? on the wing as part of a top line? Studnicka may never give you 2/3's of what Eichel can, but it's a lot easier to build a team when you have a potential 60 goal scorer on Pasta's contract than a $10 million dollar center. A center of Eichel's abilities is extremely valuable, but in a trade scenario where contracts are considered Pasta >>Eichel.
 

Ferm Sheller

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What?

GP last 5 seasons:

Pasta - 75, 82, 66, 70, 12.

Eichel - 61, 67, 77, 68, 18.

Pasta has played 22 more games over the last 5 seasons. Which isn't a lot, but it's not nothing.
Yes, I know, which is why I acknowledged that Eichel does get injured, but I also note that he has two inches and about 20 pounds on Pasta. Pasta's injury history is slightly better, as you say, but Eichel has the bigger body.
 

lexrageorge

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For some reason, the talk of trading Pastrnak brings to mind the reasons why we cannot have nice things. Maybe it's PTSD from the Thornton, Kessel and Seguin trades (although at least Kessel netted us Seguin and Hamilton). The only saving grace here is that a Pasta for Eichel swap will remain strictly a hypothetical.
 

Haunted

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You don't trade for a player like Eichel to get rid of Pasta. If you trade for Eichel it's with the intention that Pasta is also on the team. That's what you build on
I agree, talk of a swap is folly.

I'd be delighted to have a guy like Eichel here, obviously, but I don't see any realistic way it happens. Even the above mentioned suggestion of Gryz, DeBrusk, Studnicka, picks + to me shouldn't get it done. That's something that Mike O'Connell might have done and get fired for.
 

Ferm Sheller

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For some reason, the talk of trading Pastrnak brings to mind the reasons why we cannot have nice things. Maybe it's PTSD from the Thornton, Kessel and Seguin trades (although at least Kessel netted us Seguin and Hamilton). The only saving grace here is that a Pasta for Eichel swap will remain strictly a hypothetical.
I mean, yeah sure, especially given that our roles are to shoot the shit on message board and not to actually make trades for the Bruins.

EDIT: And hardly anyone, and maybe even no one, is advocating for such a trade. We're only discussing it, as you say, as a hypothetical.
 
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lexrageorge

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I mean, yeah sure, especially given that our roles are to shoot the shit on message board and not to actually make trades for the Bruins.
FWIW, I have no problem with the speculation on this forum. Even if I did, the solution would be rather obvious.

As I said, I will likely have permanent PTSD from the past O'Connell/Chiarelli trades. Once KPD pushes the idea of trading Pasta (bound to happen at some point; he hates scorers), I will really and truly lose it.
 

jk333

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I agree, talk of a swap is folly.

I'd be delighted to have a guy like Eichel here, obviously, but I don't see any realistic way it happens. Even the above mentioned suggestion of Gryz, DeBrusk, Studnicka, picks + to me shouldn't get it done. That's something that Mike O'Connell might have done and get fired for.
I think you’re getting to the problem. Our prospects aren’t even close to getting it done for Eichel. But that also means that the Bruins have no one in the pipeline to help Pasta as Bergeron and Krejci regress.

I do agree with everyone, swapping Pasta for Eichel is rearranging deck chairs but wish there was some way to get him. We have so many contributor type young players, a high end center to fill in for Bergeron in coming years is exactly what we need. I guess that’s why it’s so hard to bridge without a couple down years between contending teams.
 

tonyandpals

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Will be interesting to see the demand. My son (11) really wants to go. He's been shut in aside from his own hockey, until breaking his wrist killed that. Was surprised to hear he was willing to give it a shot. Either way, targeting 4/3 so they can get the kinks out. We'll see...

39329
 
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daburgaman

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Will be interesting to see the demand. My son (11) really wants to go. He's been shut in aside from his own hockey, until breaking his wrist killed that. Was surprised to hear he was willing to give it a shot. Either way, targeting 4/3 so they can get the kinks out. We'll see...

View attachment 39329
No details on if a negative covid test will be required for entrance?
 

lexrageorge

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Truly bizarre that Wilson wasn't penalized for the hit on Carlo. It will be total BS if Wilson doesn't get suspended. I would still like to see coaches be subject to suspension as well, but I realize that ship has sailed long ago.

EDIT: If you watch the video, you can see Wilson had lined Carlo up, made several strides (basically from the faceoff circle) and made no attempt to avoid targeting the head before slamming Carlo's head into the glass. I don't see how that's not a deliberate attempt to injure a player. Good for Tanordi and then Frederic for keeping Wilson in the box after that.
 
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cshea

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Haven’t seen anything from the league yet. Not sure how to interpret that. They usually move quick with phone hearings and Washington plays tomorrow so they’d have to have the hearing today. If they do in-person they will suspend him indefinitely and then work out the logistics. That gives them more time to announce.


Wilson’s last suspension was a 20 gamer back in October 2018. That was reduced to 14 by a neutral arbitrator on appeal. I would think a suspension starts at 14, but he also may not be considered a repeat offender anymore (lol). The slate gets wiped clean after a player goes a certain length without incident. I don’t remember what that length was though.
 

Jed Zeppelin

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I’m not usually one to call for more replay but the league should be able to review hits to the head when a player is injured similar to what NCAAF has for “targeting.”

You can’t have hits like this go completely unpenalized, you just can’t. Makes the rest of the game more dangerous for everyone on the ice.

Kill the offside replay and it’s probably a net positive in terms of time wasted on reviews anyway.
 

Ferm Sheller

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Haven’t seen anything from the league yet. Not sure how to interpret that. They usually move quick with phone hearings and Washington plays tomorrow so they’d have to have the hearing today. If they do in-person they will suspend him indefinitely and then work out the logistics. That gives them more time to announce.


Wilson’s last suspension was a 20 gamer back in October 2018. That was reduced to 14 by a neutral arbitrator on appeal. I would think a suspension starts at 14, but he also may not be considered a repeat offender anymore (lol). The slate gets wiped clean after a player goes a certain length without incident. I don’t remember what that length was though.
Last I knew this only applies to monetary fines and that a player's entire history is always taken into account when calculating games suspended (i.e., can't wipe the slate there). But maybe they changed this rule recently? I'm not sure.
 

TFP

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Last I knew this only applies to monetary fines and that a player's entire history is always taken into account when calculating games suspended (i.e., can't wipe the slate there). But maybe they changed this rule recently? I'm not sure.
I believe this is correct.
 

johnmd20

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Haven’t seen anything from the league yet. Not sure how to interpret that. They usually move quick with phone hearings and Washington plays tomorrow so they’d have to have the hearing today. If they do in-person they will suspend him indefinitely and then work out the logistics. That gives them more time to announce.


Wilson’s last suspension was a 20 gamer back in October 2018. That was reduced to 14 by a neutral arbitrator on appeal. I would think a suspension starts at 14, but he also may not be considered a repeat offender anymore (lol). The slate gets wiped clean after a player goes a certain length without incident. I don’t remember what that length was though.
The length is 18 months.

Wilson has done this so many times, ESPN showed a montage this morning. It's crazy he keeps getting away with it.
 

cshea

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If they do suspend him, and I’m not convinced they will, it has to be the rest of the regular season at a minimum. 20 down to 14 was the last one so 14 has to be the starting point.
 

Ferm Sheller

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Not necessarily, cshea. Not if they deem it to be less severe/flagrant than his past infractions. (Say, for example, that they deem that particular hit to be three-game worthy for a "clean" player, he might get eight or ten or whatever as a "repeat offender".)

EDIT: And I'm not convinced he'll get suspended, either. This effin league. If he does, I'll give a wild-ass guess at five games.
 

LogansDad

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I'll drop $25 to the Jimmy Fund if he gets more than 3. The league has a blind spot for this guy for whatever reason. He's a predator, and all anyone outside of our circle talks about is how good of a player he is.
 

TheRealness

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Greg Wyshinski, trash writer and terrible podcaster, has come out in favor of the hit, so you know, that might give you an idea that the league is going to fuck this up more and not suspend him.