Don't want no mediocre, won't hit no mediocre

TSC · Dec 15, 2014

My concern is that even when healthy this team just doesn't have enough elite/top end talent to be more that just an above average, but not great team.

And worse - they have no reasonable expectation that anyone on the team is going to become better offensively than they already are - and that the improvements defensively (for Hamilton/Krug) are negated by the declines in performance by Chara and Seidenberg.

And with their cap issues, and Chia's insistence on everyone getting NMC's/NTC's - it's going to be very hard to retool this team on the fly.

I was actually thinking about this the other night - but when the Bruins traded Seguin, the belief on this board was that the trade signified that the Bruins believed in Juliens system. I wonder if the belief in that system may have been wrong. Maybe it's frustration in seeing players like Kessel, and Seguin, and Wheeler leave the team and become game changing offensive players, while the Bruins still desperately need game changing offensive players.

Whatever it is, I don't envy the position Chia is in over the next 3-4 seasons.

NickEsasky · Dec 15, 2014

TheShynessClinic said:
I was actually thinking about this the other night - but when the Bruins traded Seguin, the belief on this board was that the trade signified that the Bruins believed in Juliens system. I wonder if the belief in that system may have been wrong. Maybe it's frustration in seeing players like Kessel, and Seguin, and Wheeler leave the team and become game changing offensive players, while the Bruins still desperately need game changing offensive players.

Whatever it is, I don't envy the position Chia is in over the next 3-4 seasons.

Unfortunately I am just not sure they have the players to match Julien's system top to bottom anymore. It shows up quite a bit on the defensive end these days where they have a bunch of smaller more offensive oriented d-men. Plus obviously RW on the top line and the re-shuffled 4th line.

Titoschew · Dec 15, 2014

I mentioned this in the game thread on Saturday, but I think now is the time to move a core piece, whether it be anyone mentioned in Flaw's initial post or otherwise. It's a little of the NBA syndrome, where you can't truly rebuild until you truly go belly up and like 9-72. They pushed every resource to the middle of the table last season and lost and financially they're paying for that this season, in addition to paying by watching a majority of their younger offensive talent not do a whole lot.

It seems like a cycle that can easily repeat itself next year, though not to an extreme. If you count 91's LTIR they sit around $20m in cap space if the cap goes up to $73m, which is no guarantee with the decline of the CAD. But, they'll need to pay Dougie, Soderberg, Smith and Krug, if they so choose and plug whatever holes remain from this year. With no luxury UFA's out there, you throw what little flexibility you have at aging players.

Moving a piece and reaping the dual benefits of additional picks and added cap room, helps both ends of the equation. They need to start hitting on draft picks, because that is ultimately what is hurting them right now. Locking your core in and back filling through your farm system is the equation they want, but the farm isn't helping in the areas they need it. Moving a high cost core piece gives them another chance to get that right with some semblance of a successful core remaining.

erfus · Dec 15, 2014

TheShynessClinic said:
My concern is that even when healthy this team just doesn't have enough elite/top end talent to be more that just an above average, but not great team.

And worse - they have no reasonable expectation that anyone on the team is going to become better offensively than they already are - and that the improvements defensively (for Hamilton/Krug) are negated by the declines in performance by Chara and Seidenberg.

And with their cap issues, and Chia's insistence on everyone getting NMC's/NTC's - it's going to be very hard to retool this team on the fly.

I was actually thinking about this the other night - but when the Bruins traded Seguin, the belief on this board was that the trade signified that the Bruins believed in Juliens system. I wonder if the belief in that system may have been wrong. Maybe it's frustration in seeing players like Kessel, and Seguin, and Wheeler leave the team and become game changing offensive players, while the Bruins still desperately need game changing offensive players.

Whatever it is, I don't envy the position Chia is in over the next 3-4 seasons.

I'm not sure Chiarelli is going to be in his position for 3 to 4 seasons.

My take on the Seguin trade at the time was that Eriksson in Julien's system would be a short-term wash for Seguin's production or at least a near wash. Boy, that was wrong. Reilly Smith exceeded expectations, but it doesn't make up for Loui going from a first line player to a third line player. Eriksson plays in all situations and his hockey IQ is apparent, but I have no idea what happened to the guy I would see in Dallas occasionally that showed some snipe and playmaking chops. Maybe that's not true either...John Scott and Brooks Orpik happened to him.

I'd like to see the Bruins add speed and skill to the core and get a little less homogeneous in terms of their skill set. Left-shot heavy, smart, better play-making than shooting, not blazing fast, nor overly big (except Looch). The NTC/NMC issues are real, but if the team continues to struggle, guys may decide the grass is greener somewhere else.

cshea · Dec 15, 2014

Julien's system has produced a top-5 offense in 4 of his 7 full seasons in Boston despite the lack of a game changer. That is a pretty good track record, I don't think the system is the problem. My gripe with Julien this season has been that he's spread his talent out too much in an effort to make the Bruins tougher to defend. in my opinion all that he's done there is create 2 lines that feels like it's 4 on 5 when they're on the ice. This is why I do think they need to find a reliable winger though. Fraser/Griffith/Cunningham aren't the answer. You can live with 1 of them in the top 9 but not 2 or 3. They need to find a righty to play with Krejci and Lucic.

I'm actually OK with the defense as of now. I wouldn't make a move there.

TSC · Dec 15, 2014

FL4WL3SS said:
To be fair, the team has a ton of sell-able assets and if one or two of those guys waive their NTC, then others will likely follow suit. There aren't too many guys that would stick around to watch half the team get traded off, if that's the route management went.

However, the team really isn't that far off from being a playoff team and making some noise, but in order to do that I think they need to look at a bigger type deal instead of adding a few smaller supplementary pieces. They already have those pieces that they can plug in, the problem with this team is at the top of the lineup.

Do they really have a lot of sell-able assets though?

Marchand/Lucic/Loui are young enough where some teams may covet them, but then again their value is probably very low in a trade because of their recent performance and contracts.

Tuukka could probably net you some great prospects, but then you're relying on Subban becoming who the Bruins hope he becomes.

Chara could be a deadline deal for a team looking to add that one piece that they think could win them the Cup - but then you're setting your own D back pretty significantly.

Soderberg? But he's the kind of player you need a lot of to win the Cup - a good player outplaying his contract.

cshea said:
Julien's system has produced a top-5 offense in 4 of his 7 full seasons in Boston despite the lack of a game changer. That is a pretty good track record, I don't think the system is the problem. My gripe with Julien this season has been that he's spread his talent out too much in an effort to make the Bruins tougher to defend. in my opinion all that he's done there is create 2 lines that feels like it's 4 on 5 when they're on the ice. This is why I do think they need to find a reliable winger though. Fraser/Griffith/Cunningham aren't the answer. You can live with 1 of them in the top 9 but not 2 or 3. They need to find a righty to play with Krejci and Lucic.

I'm actually OK with the defense as of now. I wouldn't make a move there.

Eh. He's had Savard, Kessel, Krejci, Seguin, Horton, Iginla.... unfortunately though - the line of succession ends there. He also had Marchand and Lucic putting up career years, while seemingly regressing offensively since.

erfus said:
My take on the Seguin trade at the time was that Eriksson in Julien's system would be a short-term wash for Seguin's production or at least a near wash. Boy, that was wrong. Reilly Smith exceeded expectations, but it doesn't make up for Loui going from a first line player to a third line player. Eriksson plays in all situations and his hockey IQ is apparent, but I have no idea what happened to the guy I would see in Dallas occasionally that showed some snipe and playmaking chops. Maybe that's not true either...John Scott and Brooks Orpik happened to him.

Yea - Loui not being the 30 goal, 60/70 point player he was in Dallas is really making the Seguin trade look awful, and is really hurting the Bruins on-ice performance.

cshea · Dec 15, 2014

erfus said:
My take on the Seguin trade at the time was that Eriksson in Julien's system would be a short-term wash for Seguin's production or at least a near wash. Boy, that was wrong. Reilly Smith exceeded expectations, but it doesn't make up for Loui going from a first line player to a third line player. Eriksson plays in all situations and his hockey IQ is apparent, but I have no idea what happened to the guy I would see in Dallas occasionally that showed some snipe and playmaking chops. Maybe that's not true either...John Scott and Brooks Orpik happened to him.

Loui's offense falling off a cliff a total mystery to me. The only thing I can think of is the Bruins vastly underestimated the affect that moving him to his off wing would have on him.

Haunted · Dec 15, 2014

As much of a negative nancy I can be, and as frustrated I am with the results, I still think you have a good-to-very-good team here with everyone back and roughly healthy. The defense has been crap but with Chara back I'm hoping for a rather significant improvement. We'd all love a go-to scorer as well, but who, and at what cost?

So I'm up for using the 2+ months before the trade deadline to let Chara and Krejci come back and settle in. If the team stays floundering or sinks further I think your suggestion of a shakeup trade would be a good idea.

I'm normally the reactionary type, but with all the injuries I just can't bring myself to get too worked up and advocate an overhaul.

Toe Nash · Dec 15, 2014

It's pretty simple to me. Healthy, they are not that far from the team that won the presidents' trophy last year and was a bunch of posts away from making at least the ECF. I mean, Iginla and Boychuk are good, but they're not THAT good. So while there are certainly longer-term questions about the team as Chara ages, they are built to win now and with full health I don't see why they can't.

So no, you don't make a team-changing move. You already made that decision when you traded Seguin, and to a lesser extent when you extended Krejci. This is the team. Even with the injuries, they're 6th in Corsi % at even strength. Bergeron is still one of the best players in the game and Tuukka didn't suddenly become average.

In the offseason, you see where you are and figure out what to do with Hamilton, and what you're thinking of doing with Lucic the year after, but for now...you don't overreact over 30 games.

There is, however, absolutely a chance to improve by jettisoning Campbell and playing Spooner, Khokhlachev, or...random waiver wire pickup. Campbell is just horrible (-11% CorsiRel) and the 4th line constantly gets pinned in their own end. Given Claude likes to play his 4th line a lot this is more important than it would be for most teams. I don't know if the young guys would be better but it's a very low bar to cross and getting a head start on figuring out what you have there would be nice.

TSC · Dec 15, 2014

Toe Nash said:
It's pretty simple to me. Healthy, they are not that far from the team that won the presidents' trophy last year and was a bunch of posts away from making at least the ECF. I mean, Iginla and Boychuk are good, but they're not THAT good. So while there are certainly longer-term questions about the team as Chara ages, they are built to win now and with full health I don't see why they can't.

So no, you don't make a team-changing move. You already made that decision when you traded Seguin, and to a lesser extent when you extended Krejci. This is the team. Even with the injuries, they're 6th in Corsi % at even strength. Bergeron is still one of the best players in the game and Tuukka didn't suddenly become average.

In the offseason, you see where you are and figure out what to do with Hamilton, and what you're thinking of doing with Lucic the year after, but for now...you don't overreact over 30 games.

There is, however, absolutely a chance to improve by jettisoning Campbell and playing Spooner, Khokhlachev, or...random waiver wire pickup. Campbell is just horrible (-11% CorsiRel) and the 4th line constantly gets pinned in their own end. Given Claude likes to play his 4th line a lot this is more important than it would be for most teams. I don't know if the young guys would be better but it's a very low bar to cross and getting a head start on figuring out what you have there would be nice.

Yea, they kind of are, especially for how this team is built. Iginla was the best pure goal scorer this team had last year, and he was a physical player who could create his own offense. And Boychuk fit the Bruins D perfectly. His physicality and defensive abilities are sorely missed this year (boy was I wrong about that trade) especially with Z's injury, Seidenbergs decline, and McQuaid turning into a pumpkin.

TheRealness · Dec 15, 2014

TheShynessClinic said:
Yea, they kind of are, especially for how this team is built. Iginla was the best pure goal scorer this team had last year, and he was a physical player who could create his own offense. And Boychuk fit the Bruins D perfectly. His physicality and defensive abilities are sorely missed this year (boy was I wrong about that trade) especially with Z's injury, Seidenbergs decline, and McQuaid turning into a pumpkin.

The idea of blowing up this team is fucking crazy, and anyone suggesting it needs their head examined. Injuries are the reason they are so mediocre, and they are heavily reliant on Krejci to be their #1 offensive player. Not having him for this long has been crippling to their offense, and their overall roster construction. As a result, they are forced to jumble up the lines and spread the talent around, which just further complicates the problem.

I think they need to seriously considering moving Eriksson. He's basically become a finnish Chris Kelly at this point. If they are interested in a roster shakeup on the front lines, he is the guy as part of a package with other prospects to get a more significant top 6 player back. They need to hold on to Lucic, Marchand and Smith, IMO, as all of those players have much more value to the Bruins than Loui does. I admit, I was optimistic about him coming over as well, but that has proven pretty off. He's the guy, IMO, to trade if they are going to touch the current roster. Other than him, they need to do something with Spooner. A deal with Loui and Spooner should bring a decent return, and that's where I would start.

Salem's Lot · Dec 15, 2014

They need to make a trade but they don't need a complete rebuild. They need to find a big right handed goal scorer that can play with Krejci & Lucic. Basically a replacement for Horton. They also need to get Krejci healthy. Having the threat of a guy like a Horton who can come out of the corner and beat a goalie clean with a shot opens up a ton of space for Lucic and Krejci. Lucic has to be the least skilled forward on his line to be effective offensively, but when he is playing with those kind of players he adds a great physical dynamic to a scoring line. They need to be willing to dump a guys like Kelly, Eriksson, Paille and Campbell to make this happen. They have plenty of forwards in Providence that could fill bottom six roles for this team at half the money. I think their D group will be fine when Chara gets up to speed and Seidenberg gets further away from his surgery. Guys coming off ACL tears tend to not play up to their normal level for the first 12 months or so. Rask also has to play better, and while I hate his cap hit and would have probably went another direction at that position if I were the GM, he's still a top goalie and should rebound with better play out of Chara and Seidenberg.

steveluck7 · Dec 15, 2014

Salem's Lot said:
They need to make a trade but they don't need a complete rebuild. They need to find a big right handed goal scorer that can play with Krejci & Lucic. Basically a replacement for Horton.

This has been the prevailing sentiment since the offseason... TV and radio personalities saying some variation of "ONCE they replace Iginla..." as if it's a foregone conclusion and a simple fix. Finding a top line winger is not that easy and trading for one is tough when you have
a. little cap flexibility
b. tons of guys with varying degrees of NMCs
c. to wait for teams to accept that they're not going ot make the playoffs
d. find a guy that fits the system

Coming into the season, i was concerned that Lucic and Marchand were going to have to cary too much of the offensive load and their streaky histories could hurt the team. Turns out, not only has that happened but they've faced a ton of injuries too. Add the fact that Rask, while still an elite goaltender has been a notch below his usual stellar self and we have a team that's been spinning its wheels for 1/3 of the season

cshea · Dec 15, 2014

FL4WL3SS said:
I've been wracking my brain, but I just can't come up with a name that either the other team would want to trade or the Bruins could afford.

Any suggestions?

There has been a lot of smoke around Chris Stewart. UFA, is big, right handed and has a track record of scoring when he gives a shit. The question is if he'd give a shit for Boston. The Sabres seem to be getting antsy to dump him off sooner rather than later, but the B's haven't bitten on him yet. He'd be cheap to acquire and the Sabres would have to eat salary to make it work, but even still he'd basically take up all of the Bruins remaining cap space. Therefor, IMO, Stewart should be a last resort.

I'd love Byfuglien. Hits all the check marks with the added benefit of providing an insurance policy on defense. His availability comes and goes. Winnipeg is hanging around the playoff picture as of now, but of they fall off he may be available.

Eddie Jurak · Dec 15, 2014

TheRealness said:
The idea of blowing up this team is fucking crazy, and anyone suggesting it needs their head examined. Injuries are the reason they are so mediocre, and they are heavily reliant on Krejci to be their #1 offensive player. Not having him for this long has been crippling to their offense, and their overall roster construction. As a result, they are forced to jumble up the lines and spread the talent around, which just further complicates the problem.

I don't think it's crazy. The problem they have is that keeping the current team together, even if that were the right idea, is not really an option beyond the end of this season. They don't have much money coming off of the books next year and they have several players that will be up for new contracts. The big ones are Soderberg (UFA), Hamilton (RFA), Krug (RFA), and Smith (RFA). They will have Iginla's dead money coming off of the cap, but that won't be enough to sign those four players. So they will have to either pick and choose, dump salaries, or both. The best that can be hoped for next year is the 2013-14 team, minues Iginla and a couple of other guys.

I think this team's run is over. The next Bruin team that will be thought of as a legit contender is going to look very different than this one. It might still have Bergeron, Chara, and Rask, but most of the supporting cast won't be recognizable from 2011.

Toe Nash · Dec 15, 2014

TheRealness said:
The idea of blowing up this team is fucking crazy, and anyone suggesting it needs their head examined. Injuries are the reason they are so mediocre, and they are heavily reliant on Krejci to be their #1 offensive player. Not having him for this long has been crippling to their offense, and their overall roster construction. As a result, they are forced to jumble up the lines and spread the talent around, which just further complicates the problem.

I think they need to seriously considering moving Eriksson. He's basically become a finnish Chris Kelly at this point. If they are interested in a roster shakeup on the front lines, he is the guy as part of a package with other prospects to get a more significant top 6 player back. They need to hold on to Lucic, Marchand and Smith, IMO, as all of those players have much more value to the Bruins than Loui does. I admit, I was optimistic about him coming over as well, but that has proven pretty off. He's the guy, IMO, to trade if they are going to touch the current roster. Other than him, they need to do something with Spooner. A deal with Loui and Spooner should bring a decent return, and that's where I would start.

Eriksson is Swedish, but otherwise I agree with this.

Again, they are 6th in possession numbers with their #1a center and #1 defenseman out for much of the year and a bunch of other injuries on defense.

If Tuukka were putting up a .930 like he did last year, they would have ~12 fewer GA and if they were killing penalties a little better, they'd have a few fewer goals and 3-4 more wins, and there would be no issue.

Plus, all their players with trade value have some type of NMC except Soderberg, Smith, Krug and Hamilton, all of whom are cheap and the kind of deals you want to keep around. Doesn't make trades impossible, but it makes the idea of "blowing it up" quite a bit tougher. You can sell guys on trades but not so easily in-season, and what if, say, Seidenberg just really likes New England? You're stuck.

TheRealness · Dec 15, 2014

Eddie Jurak said:
I don't think it's crazy. The problem they have is that keeping the current team together, even if that were the right idea, is not really an option beyond the end of this season. They don't have much money coming off of the books next year and they have several players that will be up for new contracts. The big ones are Soderberg (UFA), Hamilton (RFA), Krug (RFA), and Smith (RFA). They will have Iginla's dead money coming off of the cap, but that won't be enough to sign those four players. So they will have to either pick and choose, dump salaries, or both. The best that can be hoped for next year is the 2013-14 team, minues Iginla and a couple of other guys.

I think this team's run is over. The next Bruin team that will be thought of as a legit contender is going to look very different than this one. It might still have Bergeron, Chara, and Rask, but most of the supporting cast won't be recognizable from 2011.

From what I understand, if the cap is at $73m that should leave them enough room to re-sign those guys. Adding someone else in the top 6 is more of the issue. That is going to take creativity from Chiarelli.

I also strongly disagree this teams run is over, but then again I'm not entirely sure you believe that either.

McDrew · Dec 15, 2014

Eddie Jurak said:
I think this team's run is over. The next Bruin team that will be thought of as a legit contender is going to look very different than this one. It might still have Bergeron, Chara, and Rask, but most of the supporting cast won't be recognizable from 2011.

We already have 50% turnover from that roster. Chara Bergeron Boychuk Campbell Ference Horton Kaberle Kelly Krejci Lucic Marchand McQuaid Paille Peverley Rask Recchi Ryder Seguin Seidenberg Thomas Thornton.

erfus · Dec 15, 2014

FL4WL3SS said:
Do we really want to put our hopes in a guy that the Sabres are shipping out of town? Sounds interesting, but I'm not sold that he would be the answer.

Right. That's the problem with the trade market this time of year. There's no reason for sellers to have reasonable prices and there's not much supply beyond other team's problem children. Evander Kane maybe? There was some smoke there for a while. He's a LW though.

TFP · Dec 17, 2014

Here's a crazy option that would help this year (but might be self-defeating in the long run)...what about bringing back the Jagr? NJ is terrible, he's a UFA, has proven he can play here, and would be a quick option to slot in on the RW next to Krejci and Lucic.

Am I crazy that it wouldn't be a bad idea? And who doesn't want more Jagr in their lives?

cshea · Dec 17, 2014

Jagr has a $3.5m cap hit for this season, but he's got another $2 million in potential performance bonuses which could carry over to next season. I'd like to stay away from that. As a player I do think he'd fit and help stabilize the top 6. Figuring out the cap is the main roadblock there.

mcpickl · Dec 17, 2014

I'd try to make a smaller deal to add a little depth to the wings and not subtract from the core of the team.

If Edmonton is looking to shuffle it up, I'd have my eye on Teddy Purcell.

I'd think if he's available they could get him for prospects and/or picks and maybe get Edmonton to retain some of his salary.

TSC · Dec 17, 2014

And how does that help the team? The Bruins have plenty of guys who can't really score all that often. They need a player who CAN score often.

mcpickl · Dec 17, 2014

TheShynessClinic said:
And how does that help the team? The Bruins have plenty of guys who can't really score all that often. They need a player who CAN score often.

I think he's an upgrade over Seth Griffith on Krejcis' line.

I think that would help the team.

PedroSpecialK · Dec 17, 2014

wrong thread

TSC · Dec 17, 2014

mcpickl said:
I think he's an upgrade over Seth Griffith on Krejcis' line.

I think that would help the team.

4 goals in 32 games for Purcell. 5 in 23 for Griffith.

Purcell is the definition of a replacement level player. The Bruins don't need to be giving up anything to acquire someone they probably have a better version of in Providence.

mcpickl · Dec 17, 2014

TheShynessClinic said:
4 goals in 32 games for Purcell. 5 in 23 for Griffith.

Purcell is the definition of a replacement level player. The Bruins don't need to be giving up anything to acquire someone they probably have a better version of in Providence.

Yep, Purcell has one goal less than Griffith. Just one less than Bergeron and Soderberg as well.

If you think Griffith or someone at Providence is better than Purcell, you're welcome to the opinion. It's OK to disagree.

I'm not too wrapped up in a third of a season stats. I think he's a pretty good player who'd upgrade their RW and be acquired fairly cheaply.

I could be wrong. I might still be having visions of him being a pain in the 2011 ECF.

RIFan · Dec 18, 2014

Yep, Purcell has one goal less than Griffith. Just one less than Bergeron and Soderberg as well.

If you think Griffith or someone at Providence is better than Purcell, you're welcome to the opinion. It's OK to disagree.

I'm not too wrapped up in a third of a season stats. I think he's a pretty good player who'd upgrade their RW and be acquired fairly cheaply.

I could be wrong. I might still be having visions of him being a pain in the 2011 ECF.

You do realize he comes with a $4.5M cap hit for this year and next? It's fine if you think he'd out produce Griffith (and there is nothing to indicate that will be the case), but are you willing to give up Loui, Lucic, or Marchand to get him so that he fits in the cap? It's fine to like a player, but you need to look at the whole situation. Also, you might not be too wrapped up in a 1/3 of a season stats, but he is dead on track to replicate last year's season.

cshea · Dec 18, 2014

http://www.csnne.com/boston-bruins/some-smoke-and-fire-oshie-bruins

The Oshie chatter seems to be picking up a bit. I guess McKenzie made mention of Oshie, Berglund and Vermette as B's targets on the broadcast last night. Oshie would be a good fit, but I don't see how the Bruins make it work cap wise. St. Louis isn't going to sell him off for futures.

TheRealness · Dec 18, 2014

Yeah, he also mentioned David Perron of the Oil and that the Bruins had inquired on a lesser deal with him instead of Hall or something like that.

The Oshie thing is definitely generating a lot of buzz though. He was talking about how concerned they were with re-signing Tarasenko after his blow up this year and that they wanted cap flexibility to do it.

cshea · Dec 18, 2014

I like Oshie the most among the names bandied about. Oshie is not much of a goal scorer, but he's right wing that'll boost the top 6 and plays a game that's right in Julien's wheelhouse. Physical, north-south, two-way player who can pop the puck in on occasion. They'll likely need to find 3rd team to take make it work.

Eddie Jurak · Dec 18, 2014

FL4WL3SS said:
Oshie would be a nice addition with some room to grow into a 25-30 goal scorer. On Krejci's RW, that just might happen.

He won't be a 25-30 goal scorer. He's 27 and has seasons of 21, 19, and 18 goals in his full seasons - and he's played at a roughly similar pace in his injury shortened seasons.

If he comes here, expect scoring comprable to Loui Eriksson.

mcpickl · Dec 18, 2014

RIFan said:
You do realize he comes with a $4.5M cap hit for this year and next? It's fine if you think he'd out produce Griffith (and there is nothing to indicate that will be the case), but are you willing to give up Loui, Lucic, or Marchand to get him so that he fits in the cap? It's fine to like a player, but you need to look at the whole situation. Also, you might not be too wrapped up in a 1/3 of a season stats, but he is dead on track to replicate last year's season.

I do.

That's why I mentioned having Edmonton retain part of his salary in a deal.

Looked at the whole situation.

TheRealness · Dec 18, 2014

cshea said:
I like Oshie the most among the names bandied about. Oshie is not much of a goal scorer, but he's right wing that'll boost the top 6 and plays a game that's right in Julien's wheelhouse. Physical, north-south, two-way player who can pop the puck in on occasion. They'll likely need to find 3rd team to take make it work.

The only problem I have with Oshie is that if it takes getting rid of Eriksson or Smith to add him, he's not really good enough to justify that deal. Sure, he might make Krejci and Lucic more productive, but Soderberg will be less so without Loui.

Jack from RI called into Felger and Mazz today, and he presents himself as a sort of insider. He was talking about how the Bruins don't value Lucic the way fans do, and that he expected the Bruins to get Hall if the Oil traded him and that they would be willing to deal Lucic in return. I don't know how I feel about that, but it's intriguing, no? Hall is a much better use of that $6m cap hit, but Lucic is a key part of the Bruins identity as a physical and tough team. I think we should be able to agree Hall is an upgrade offensively, and could solve a lot of problems for the Bruins long term. Still, trading Lucic is going to take mega balls, and you would have to think the only guy who could pry Lucic away is someone like Hall.

Big moment for Chiarelli.

Eddie Jurak · Dec 18, 2014

Lucic for Hall is not happening. (But if it did it would be fun to see how quickly the fans turned on Hall).

BoSoxFink · Dec 18, 2014

Eddie Jurak said:
Lucic for Hall is not happening. (But if it did it would be fun to see how quickly the fans turned on Hall).

and that is why I hate the Bruins fan base a lot of the time.

Also it would take more than Lucic to get Hall. It would have to be something like Lucic, Subban, and a couple picks or something or a d man instead of the picks

Toe Nash · Dec 19, 2014

FL4WL3SS said:
I think he still has room to grow. Entering his prime.

Stop repeating this. Scoring peaks between age 24-27. Other skills may peak later but that's not what we're talking about. It tends to kind of plateau, so there's not a reason to expect a drop until a player's early 30s, but unless there is something special about Oshie he's not likely to improve.

http://www.arcticicehockey.com/2010/1/21/1261318/nhl-points-per-game-peak-age

http://www.cbc.ca/news/when-nhl-players-peak-hockey-metrics-1.2646054 (headline is wrong -- later on in the article it says age 25-27 is peak)

http://www.sbnation.com/nhl/2014/3/13/5500522/nhl-scoring-stats-rates-age-analysis

Reardon's Beard · Dec 19, 2014

With Krejci playing the domino effect on the rest of the team is huge. Lucic's production goes up and you keep that physical presence in the lineup that shapes on ice performance of the opposing first line. Second line can stay united and Berger-on. Yeti and Loui can play consistently together matched up against third lines, and I would argue that could be the best third line in all of the NHL as a result. I'd figure out which kid plays with them the best then plug Kelly in to center the fourth line with Campbell and Paille which should consistently beat fourth lines across the league.

I'm of the opinion that if everyone is healthy (and that is the most important dynamic that has killed them in the last month) you can probably make do with Chris Stewart filling out the RW spot on the top line. He'd be a vast improvement over the status quo and give you that physical presence in the vein of Nathan Horton. I'm under the impression he's in that 4M salary range so would be curious to see how that could work in regards to the cap without moving any of the current core.

TFP · Dec 19, 2014

That's the kicker though. You can't add someone with Stewart or Oshie's salary without removing one two guys in your post, so it becomes a lateral move at best.

I do agree with the domino effect Krejci has though.

cshea · Dec 19, 2014

The only way to add a guy like Oshie without subtracting from the core is finding a taker for Chris Kelly. That will be immensely difficult due to Kelly's limited no-trade. If CapGeek has it right, he can submit a list of 8 teams he'd approve for so the Bruins don't have a lot to work with. Stewart could be a bit easier. Buffalo has an abundance of cap space so I'd imagine the Bruins could sweeten the deal and have Buffalo retain salary.

Right now the Bruins have $912K in cap space. I feel bad for Gagne but at this point he should be waived and demoted to Providence to clear some space. Trotman/Morrow getting demoted would free ~$1.5 million. I'm not sure if they could completely bury Gagne's salary in the minors, but demoting those doesn't affec the lineup and could free up $2.1 million at most. That leaves them at $3 million in space with 12 forwards and 7 D.

FelixMantilla · Dec 22, 2014

So what does last night's game tell us?

Does Chia give the team another week or two to come out of their funk?

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