Grabner's probably going to get significantly more than Riley Nash in term and money. That's definitely not a choice I'd make.
Hearing #NHLBruins have checked in on speedster Michael Grabner, Devils UFA
They seemed to really want Kovalchuk and wouldn’t commit 3 years to him so I’m not worried about a multi year deal for Grabner. They probably made a phone call to see what his ask was, and any good agent is going to leak that that team is interested to elicit other teams into the bidding.Grabner's probably going to get significantly more than Riley Nash in term and money. That's definitely not a choice I'd make.
What if you want to do it legally?They seemed to really want Kovalchuk and wouldn’t commit 3 years to him so I’m not worried about a multi year deal for Grabner. They probably made a phone call to see what his ask was, and any good agent is going to leak that that team is interested to illicit other teams into the bidding.
Edited. Thank you. I should finish my coffee before I post in the morning.What if you want to do it legally?
Grabner is 5 years younger, he'll be looking for 4-5 years.They seemed to really want Kovalchuk and wouldn’t commit 3 years to him so I’m not worried about a multi year deal for Grabner. They probably made a phone call to see what his ask was, and any good agent is going to leak that that team is interested to elicit other teams into the bidding.
Grabner is going to get a lot more than Riley NashKicking the tires on a scoring right winger is not the worst use of this pre-FA period. Rick Nash hasn't committed to even playing next season, and Riley Nash is likely going to be seriously overpaid as it is by one of the teams with gobs of cap space.
I wish they would’ve had a guy like Bergeron in on the recruiting pitch. I know it’s tough with a short offseason but another great player like that could really speak to a lot of the quality of life stuff that players care about that I think makes Boston great for NHL players. It’s a passionate fan base, but people aren’t up in you business all the time. You can actually go to restaurants and places with your family without being hounded. It’s a big city but it’s very walkable and everything is close. Brand new practice facility. Things like that another player can bring to the table.
Hearing Don Sweeney, Cam Neely and Bruce Cassidy will be making the pitch to Tavares today in LA. #NHLBruins
Who knows...maybe they have a video presentation that includes current players. Tavares and Bergeron have played together for Team Canada for a while so I'm sure they have a good relationship.I wish they would’ve had a guy like Bergeron in on the recruiting pitch. I know it’s tough with a short offseason but another great player like that could really speak to a lot of the quality of life stuff that players care about that I think makes Boston great for NHL players. It’s a passionate fan base, but people aren’t up in you business all the time. You can actually go to restaurants and places with your family without being hounded. It’s a big city but it’s very walkable and everything is close. Brand new practice facility. Things like that another player can bring to the table.
Why would that be ideal? That seems ridiculous to me. If you have the best line in hockey, you keep it intact and figure out the other lines separately.In an ideal world, yes. Trying to lengthen the lineup and spread out the scoring. 63-37-88 will always be in their back pocket.
As much as I would love for Krejci and Pasta to have chemistry, the short answer is they don't. Krejci can't skate with him, and their timing often looks off together. I just don't see them figuring it out as they have never looked good together.In an ideal world, yes. Trying to lengthen the lineup and spread out the scoring. 63-37-88 will always be in their back pocket.
That's all well and good, but you don't break up that line to do it. You figure out the second line separately.You could put a cone with Bergeron and Marchand and they would still end up as a top 5 line.
Maybe saying “ideally” was the wrong way to put it, but they need a top 6 right wing to play either with Bergeron or Krejci. It is why they traded for and tried to re-sign Rick Nash, and lusted after Kovalchuk.
Yeah agree with cshea, the first line with someone like Heinen/Bjork is still a top 5-6 line in the league. Pasta is good enough at this point in his career that he should be able to carry a line. At least I think they need to give him a chance to do that. He should be able to improve the 2nd line much more than the dropoff from his absence on the first.That's all well and good, but you don't break up that line to do it. You figure out the second line separately.
Panarin is tricky to do. He’s a left winger, Bruins need a right winger. I guess if you acquire him DeBrusk goes back to CBJ in a trade. Not having a first round pick in back to back years can lead to trouble, so I’d prefer not to deal that away. DeBrusk and a 1st seems steep to me, unless they get assurances that Panarin will sign. I guess CBJ lost Johnson and Cole so maybe they’d be interested in a LHD as part of the package, but it just doesn’t seem like the teams match up all that well. He’s a heck of a player but my worry is you deal DeBrusk, Panarin leaves after the year, and now you are left with LW and RW holes.
Simmonds is probably the best fit out there for what the Bruins need. Right shot power winger, plays a style that would fit well with Krejci. Krejci’s best years have come with a right shot power forward type (Horton, Iginla, Ryder...less so on the power forward with him, but still). Simmonds would be excellent on Krejci’s wing, and net-front on the PP. He is about to turn 30 and has a lot of mileage on him, which is a concern. I’d only want him for the 1-year, whatever extension he gets will likely be a regrettable one for the team. But if he could be had for a reasonable price (2nd round pick and a Cehlarik type prospect?) then I’d listen.
Skinner is interesting. Lefty, but can play the right side. He was a monster 2 years ago, then had his ice time cut by a minute this year and a dip in shooting percentage led to a perceived down year. Curious to see the price for him. He could be squeezed out a bit with the arrival of Svechnikov.
I agree with this 100%. The problem with acquiring a wing is that all their prospects who can have a top 6 impact the next two years (Bjork, Donato, Heinen) are wings. They have 3 of their top 4 wing spots filled, so that’s actually okay. Center is their biggest hole, in that they have no 3rd line center and their top 2 centers are both older and to some extent injury prone.I think a deal around Krug for RNH makes even more sense now for both teams.
I think cshea took out Backes and put in Heinen. Backes seems a lock for that 3rd line RW spot. Without him, that becomes a very defensively shaky young speed line.Wither Backes? Will he be competing with Donato/Henien? Sunday's Globe just had an article about him, and it sounds like he had a productive offseason and is entering training camp healthy.