Bruins Offseason Roster Thread

Scoops Bolling

Member
SoSH Member
Jun 19, 2007
5,874
Interestingly one of the two sticking points with Pietrangelo was apparently that they would not give him a NTC...suprised they gave one the Krug. Years 3-5 are going to hurt if he starts to lose a step.
They wouldn't give Petro a NMC. Different beast as you can't waive a NMC and you have to protect it in any expansion draft. No movement clauses are much more restrictive.
 

jk333

Member
SoSH Member
Feb 26, 2009
4,323
Boston
AZs starting point ask for OEL was Studnicka. The click you heard was Sweeney hanging up. View: https://twitter.com/markdivver/status/1314983415972868096?s=21
Studnicka is the 2/3c in 21-22’. So that is an easy no.

I feel like Hall is coming here. In that 2015 draft, there were rumors of him wanting to be a Bruin. And the Bruins had a preference that they wouldn’t disclose but it seemed like Hall also.

As it turns out, everyone would have been better off if the Oilers had taken Seguin and the Bruins got Hall. At least 1 and maybe multiple cups for the Bruins too.
 

Salem's Lot

Andy Moog! Andy God Damn Moog!
SoSH Member
Jul 15, 2005
14,465
Gallows Hill
Not even a typo! Just a brain cramp. 2010!
I would have rather been a Bruin instead of an Oiler in 2010 as well. In 2020 with 31 teams to chose from, he’ll probably go with the team that gives him the most money. And it’ll probably be a contract that the Bruins should avoid.
 

Dummy Hoy

Angry Pissbum
SoSH Member
Jul 22, 2006
8,232
Falmouth
Why do we assume he’ll follow the cash? Everything I’ve ever heard about him or from him has been about wanting to win or bring frustrated he hasn’t won.

dude has 40m+ in career earnings. I won’t speak to what he wants, nor say I know what I would do, but is it that farfetched that a player would sign a short(er) term deal to go to a team where they could win?

Dude could sign a 2x9 somewhere and still only be 30 and in line for a last big ticket if things go well
 

jk333

Member
SoSH Member
Feb 26, 2009
4,323
Boston
I would have rather been a Bruin instead of an Oiler in 2010 as well. In 2020 with 31 teams to chose from, he’ll probably go with the team that gives him the most money. And it’ll probably be a contract that the Bruins should avoid.
Agree with your overall point, the dollar$ are always (usually) #1.

At the draft there was talk about how his favorite player was Bobby Orr and how he liked the Bruins style of hockey. We will see.

I do think Colorado has a nice situation for him if he fits capwise as they extend people.
 

TheRealness

Member
SoSH Member
Feb 8, 2006
11,694
The Dirty Shire
There were some rumors that appeared to suggest Mike Hoffman as a consolation prize to Hall yesterday. Dom Tiano seems to know who they are targeting, and suggested it was a good prize, but not THE prize. Also suggested the Bruins may have circled back to Hall with more term.

I just keep refreshing Twitter, especially because I am going to be dragged apple picking today.
 

TSC

SoSH's Doug Neidermeyer
SoSH Member
Oct 25, 2007
12,280
Between here and everywhere.
There were some rumors that appeared to suggest Mike Hoffman as a consolation prize to Hall yesterday. Dom Tiano seems to know who they are targeting, and suggested it was a good prize, but not THE prize. Also suggested the Bruins may have circled back to Hall with more term.

I just keep refreshing Twitter, especially because I am going to be dragged apple picking today.
I have it on good authority that you are exaggerating this claim and you actually enjoy putting on your best flannel and 3/4 boots while taking instagram worthy photos at the Big Apple.
 

TheRealness

Member
SoSH Member
Feb 8, 2006
11,694
The Dirty Shire
I have it on good authority that you are exaggerating this claim and you actually enjoy putting on your best flannel and 3/4 boots while taking instagram worthy photos at the Big Apple.
Sources can confirm I do not own a Flannel anything or a 3/4 boot. They can also confirm we are in active negotiations to avoid said apple picking. Sources Do not expect a deal to be reached prior to kickoff today.
 

RedOctober3829

Member
SoSH Member
Jul 19, 2005
55,299
deep inside Guido territory
There were some rumors that appeared to suggest Mike Hoffman as a consolation prize to Hall yesterday. Dom Tiano seems to know who they are targeting, and suggested it was a good prize, but not THE prize. Also suggested the Bruins may have circled back to Hall with more term.

I just keep refreshing Twitter, especially because I am going to be dragged apple picking today.
I was dragged last week. The key is to go right when the place opens and home by 10 or 11.
 

cshea

Member
SoSH Member
Nov 15, 2006
36,047
306, row 14
Agree with your overall point, the dollar$ are always (usually) #1.

At the draft there was talk about how his favorite player was Bobby Orr and how he liked the Bruins style of hockey. We will see.

I do think Colorado has a nice situation for him if he fits capwise as they extend people.
We don't know what teams are involved, but the Avs would certainly pose a threat. They are kind of similar to the Bruins. In Boston, Hall would fit in on the 2nd line playing with Krejci. In Colorado, he'd go to the 2nd line with Kadri. The Avs play a more up tempo skilled game than the Bruins which could be appealing and the Avs core is obviously younger than the Bruins so they are more entering their window than having it close. Cap wise. the Saad trade brings the Avs down to $9.9 million in space with 17 players signed. The remaining RFA's are Jost, Namestnikov and Ryan Graves on the back end. They could fit Hall in for a year, but next offseason they have big ticket items in Makar and Landeskog to take care of so that could be a squeeze.

The two other teams mentioned the most have been Columbus and Nashville.. Players seem to love Nashville but in my opinion that team is trending down. John Hynes is the coach however, and Hall had his Hart season for Hynes in New Jersey so maybe there is a connection. Columbus is a good team but I'm not sure they are contender yet. I don't think Hall is the piece that would put them over the top, but he'd probably get a huge role there.

I'm not sure who else would be involved. Vegas always seems to go big game hunting, but they seem focused on Pietrangelo. The Flyers have been pretty quiet so far, but were rumored to be involved in the Laine trade talks so maybe they could pivot to Hall.
 

cshea

Member
SoSH Member
Nov 15, 2006
36,047
306, row 14
Speaking of Vegas, they might be a spot for an LHD. They have $1.8 million in cap space and would obviously need to move some serious money if they land Pietrangelo. Nate Schmidt and Alec Martinez are 2 LHD that could be on the move. Schmidt has 5 years left at $5.9 AAV, Martinez is entering the final year of his deal at a $4 million cap hit..
 

RedOctober3829

Member
SoSH Member
Jul 19, 2005
55,299
deep inside Guido territory
Speaking of Vegas, they might be a spot for an LHD. They have $1.8 million in cap space and would obviously need to move some serious money if they land Pietrangelo. Nate Schmidt and Alec Martinez are 2 LHD that could be on the move. Schmidt has 5 years left at $5.9 AAV, Martinez is entering the final year of his deal at a $4 million cap hit..
If they get Hall, a forward for Martinez or Schmidt would make sense.
 

jk333

Member
SoSH Member
Feb 26, 2009
4,323
Boston
If that's at all accurate. it's a nice spot for the Bruins. Nashville is a draw though,
I heard that the draw for Hall was:
1) playing with Eichel and ability to put up points
2) Chance to get contract next offseason
3) ability to choose destination/avoid expansion draft; supposedly this was a significant factor

I was wrong about the Bruins being a draw it seems.
 

lexrageorge

Member
SoSH Member
Jul 31, 2007
18,099
I heard that the draw for Hall was:
1) playing with Eichel and ability to put up points
2) Chance to get contract next offseason
3) ability to choose destination/avoid expansion draft; supposedly this was a significant factor

I was wrong about the Bruins being a draw it seems.
I'm guessing Boston wasn't willing to offer the long term contract Hall wanted, so it went to Plan B. It's still strange that Boston wasn't even in the running for the one-year deal.
 

Haunted

The Man in the Box
SoSH Member
Aug 23, 2006
6,196
So, no defense upgrade then? Is there anyone left on the table that can provide a material upgrade?
 

TheRealness

Member
SoSH Member
Feb 8, 2006
11,694
The Dirty Shire
I'm guessing Boston wasn't willing to offer the long term contract Hall wanted, so it went to Plan B. It's still strange that Boston wasn't even in the running for the one-year deal.
This isn’t a fair reading of what happened. Hall was offered a few long term deals, an alleged three year deal from the Bruins.... and signed a one year deal with Buffalo.

The issue here is not the offer with the Bruins, but a perplexing decision by Hall to join a poorly run franchise with only two real viable players and no real shot at the playoffs even with Hall. And not only that, but a one year deal that is likely less per year than what was offered to him.

Very strange decision.
 

TheRealness

Member
SoSH Member
Feb 8, 2006
11,694
The Dirty Shire
Adrian Dater says the Avs offered Hall a 1 year, $6.5 million offer and got turned down. It looks like Hall's motivation was to get the most money on a 1-year contract and get back on the market this coming summer. He chose a situation where he'd be playing with somebody in Eichel who will help him put up big numbers.
View: https://twitter.com/adater/status/1315464154120024064
Is there any confirmation this was the highest one year offer for Hall? If so, I find that a little weird, but he must really believe the offers will be better next year.

Seems hopeful to me when you choose Buffalo, and the strangeness of this year, but hey maybe this is 3D chess on his part.
 

RedOctober3829

Member
SoSH Member
Jul 19, 2005
55,299
deep inside Guido territory
Is there any confirmation this was the highest one year offer for Hall? If so, I find that a little weird, but he must really believe the offers will be better next year.

Seems hopeful to me when you choose Buffalo, and the strangeness of this year, but hey maybe this is 3D chess on his part.
No confirmation that this is the highest 1 year offer, but you would have to assume it is. Just looking at the Bruins cap situation and roster, I find it hard to believe that they offered $8 million or higher. I bet their offer was for more years, but less AAV.
 

jk333

Member
SoSH Member
Feb 26, 2009
4,323
Boston
I don’t understand why the Bruins wouldn’t offer even 1/10 or more unless they thought making him the highest paid player would create locker room issues? I mean, they have cap space.
 

Salem's Lot

Andy Moog! Andy God Damn Moog!
SoSH Member
Jul 15, 2005
14,465
Gallows Hill
I don’t understand why the Bruins wouldn’t offer even 1/10 or more unless they thought making him the highest paid player would create locker room issues? I mean, they have cap space.
I don’t think they could give him $10 million, resign Grzelcyk, then sign DeBrusk or trade him for a LHD that makes $4 million. I bet they offered him 2 years @ about $5 million AAV.
 

Salem's Lot

Andy Moog! Andy God Damn Moog!
SoSH Member
Jul 15, 2005
14,465
Gallows Hill
They have 11M in cap space with Gryz and Debrusk left to sign. You can call that 6M, but it’s closer to 10M if they hadn’t signed Smith.

https://www.capfriendly.com/teams/bruins
I was referring to the cap space that they presently have after the Smith signing. And if you hadn’t signed Smith and gave Hall ten million, how are you paying Grzelcyk and DeBrusk (or his trade return)? I’m not interested in trading them for picks/prospects.
 
Last edited:

lexrageorge

Member
SoSH Member
Jul 31, 2007
18,099
The Bruins are still very deep in GFIN mode to trade DeBrusk and especially Grzelcyk for picks. And with Krug gone, they can't really afford to lose Grzelcyk.

It's always the one risk with free agents; they can sign anywhere, and so it's easy to end up the 2nd place team. Throwing $10M at Hall doesn't seem like it would have been the best use of resources. The trade market is still open, so we'll see what happens.
 

Maximus

Member
SoSH Member
Jul 18, 2005
5,774
The Bruins are still very deep in GFIN mode to trade DeBrusk and especially Grzelcyk for picks. And with Krug gone, they can't really afford to lose Grzelcyk.

It's always the one risk with free agents; they can sign anywhere, and so it's easy to end up the 2nd place team. Throwing $10M at Hall doesn't seem like it would have been the best use of resources. The trade market is still open, so we'll see what happens.
This. Disappointed we couldn't work something out with Hall and Sweeney now needs to get creative to upgrade the roster. I like both the Smith and Miller signings but we need to do more.
 

Salem's Lot

Andy Moog! Andy God Damn Moog!
SoSH Member
Jul 15, 2005
14,465
Gallows Hill
This. Disappointed we couldn't work something out with Hall and Sweeney now needs to get creative to upgrade the roster. I like both the Smith and Miller signings but we need to do more.
The problem is that no one is taking money on right now. Teams don’t seem to want DeBrusk at the $4 million he’s probably looking at on his RFA deal.
 

FL4WL3SS

Member
SoSH Member
Jul 31, 2006
14,913
Andy Brickley's potty mouth
I would love to see the team just go with what they have and assess at the trade deadline. If they are out of it, trade Krejci and others and go into 2021 with tons of cap room and good draft picks.

Build around the young guys.
 

Salem's Lot

Andy Moog! Andy God Damn Moog!
SoSH Member
Jul 15, 2005
14,465
Gallows Hill
I would love to see the team just go with what they have and assess at the trade deadline. If they are out of it, trade Krejci and others and go into 2021 with tons of cap room and good draft picks.

Build around the young guys.
This is where I am as well. I want to see if one of Vaakanainen or Zboril can take that left D spot on the third pair. I want to see if Studnicka or Frederic can play center in a bottom 6 role.
 

RedOctober3829

Member
SoSH Member
Jul 19, 2005
55,299
deep inside Guido territory
This is where I am as well. I want to see if one of Vaakanainen or Zboril can take that left D spot on the third pair. I want to see if Studnicka or Frederic can play center in a bottom 6 role.
Are you doing a disservice to the veteran core for not doing more than they've done to this point? Or is this the end of the road, they've had their chances, and Sweeney feels like they can't mortgage any kind of future parts for a run at a Cup?
 

Salem's Lot

Andy Moog! Andy God Damn Moog!
SoSH Member
Jul 15, 2005
14,465
Gallows Hill
Are you doing a disservice to the veteran core for not doing more than they've done to this point? Or is this the end of the road, they've had their chances, and Sweeney feels like they can't mortgage any kind of future parts for a run at a Cup?
It’s really their only option given the financial situation of the league. They have to move money to bring in another impact veteran, and nobody is willing to take on money. Next year when Krejci and Rask’s deals are up they have more options.
 

lexrageorge

Member
SoSH Member
Jul 31, 2007
18,099
Are you doing a disservice to the veteran core for not doing more than they've done to this point? Or is this the end of the road, they've had their chances, and Sweeney feels like they can't mortgage any kind of future parts for a run at a Cup?
The team traded away 2 recent first round draft picks without a whole lot to show (although maybe Kase turns into something for them). McAvoy (2022) and Carlo (2021) will turn RFA in a couple of years. Both goalies are in the final years of their contracts, with one likely and one possibly retiring after their current contracts are up. And the vaccine calendar is not really working in the league's favor for 2021.

Hall made sense at a certain price; not much Sweeney could do once Hall decided his price was different. Still, shoring up the lower half of the roster to improve the team's overall 5-on-5 play is not the worst move for the upcoming season.
 

DourDoerr

Well-Known Member
Lifetime Member
SoSH Member
Oct 15, 2004
2,937
Berkeley, CA
This isn’t a fair reading of what happened. Hall was offered a few long term deals, an alleged three year deal from the Bruins.... and signed a one year deal with Buffalo.

The issue here is not the offer with the Bruins, but a perplexing decision by Hall to join a poorly run franchise with only two real viable players and no real shot at the playoffs even with Hall. And not only that, but a one year deal that is likely less per year than what was offered to him.

Very strange decision.
Perhaps post-COVID (we pray) next year he perceives that the market will loosen up even more. And/or there's a winning team he really wants to play for, but got the news that they won't have cap space and will not clear cap space until next year (admitted long shot). Going to a poorly run team means he may be able to focus on offense and not worry so much about playing D.
 

Jed Zeppelin

Member
SoSH Member
Aug 23, 2008
51,291
What’s interesting is that I don’t think anyone would be surprised to see them once again looking like beasts next season. The trick is making sure they improve what has brought them down the last two years. They have objectively not really done that, but there is still time for more moves and potential for internal improvement. It is also a slight concern that one of the things driving beastly regular season numbers—the power play—has lost its QB.
 

cshea

Member
SoSH Member
Nov 15, 2006
36,047
306, row 14
Their biggest need going into the off season was a top 4 LHD. The only UFA available was Krug and they seem to have decided long ago they weren't committing to him. That put them in a spot with a tough needle to thread. They were always going to have to make a trade to find said LHD. The best way to accomplish this was to bolster the forward depth through free agency with Smith and Hall and then wheel the surplus wingers like DeBrusk. Bjork, and futures for the LHD. Unfortunately despite Sweeney's best efforts, Hall chose Buffalo. That's the problem with free agency, the best laid plans don't always come to fruition.

We'll see where they go from here. They still have some money to spend. There is still some things they can do in free agency. Vegas should have a defender or two to trade. Maybe they circle back to OEL and Arizona comes to their senses. I know OEL had the ultimatum, but would he really squash a trade at this point?

I lean more towards wanting the Bruins to be more aggressive. Chara may be gone. They are entering Krejci and Rask's final year. Bergeron aging and breaking down. Marchand is on the wrong side of 30. I think they have a max of 2 more years with these guys before we're talking serious rebuild/retool.