Speculation: Who takes over after Bergeron?

[Easternbull]

A few quality centers could be available this summer take your pick or give some suggestions.

Sebastian Aho is my pick will be a UFA after next season, he is the perfect replacement IMHO.

PLD and Elias Lindholm also fit the bill.

No one can replace Patrice but what do you do..

Click to read more...

 

[UncleRico]

What a terrible position to be in. No draft picks and the only shot of actually competing is massively overpaying for a top line center.

 

[Bruinfanatic]

Crazy that they haven’t been able to develop a Center in all these years .

 

[KrugAvoy]

Auston Matthews is a free agent coming up next season too

 

[Bruinswillwin77]

Auston Matthews is a free agent coming up next season too

No thanks.

 

[Dennis Bonvie]

A few quality centers could be available this summer take your pick or give some suggestions.

Sebastian Aho is my pick will be a UFA after next season, he is the perfect replacement IMHO.

PLD and Elias Lindholm also fit the bill.

No one can replace Patrice but what do you do..

Can't see how they can afford any of them.

Also, don't really think any will be available.

 

[Lobster57]

there's zero cap space to add a #1 C next year, even trading Hall only frees up enough room for a #2 type guy. One of Zacha or Coyle will center the top line, probably for a couple years/

 

[rocketdan9]

Crazy that they haven’t been able to develop a Center in all these years .

Instead of "develop".... draft a top 6 center

This is the gap

there's zero cap space to add a #1 C next year, even trading Hall only frees up enough room for a #2 type guy. One of Zacha or Coyle will center the top line, probably for a couple years/

I feel confident in Coyle and Zacha for now

They won enough regular season games....especially late in the season and two game away in the playoffs

 

[Gee Wally]

right now the Cap says ‘no soup for you’.

 

[UConn126]

Lol at anyone thinking Aho is making it to UFA. Strong rumors PLD wants to be Hab. So that leaves Lindholm, who will be 30 by that point and who's not even really that big of an upgrade, if at all, over Zacha and Coyle spare for his one statistical outlier season.

Mods, go ahead and shut this poll down lol.

 

[Sheppy]

We're in for hard times, folks.

 

[NDiesel]

Really just have to hope one of Harrison/Merkulov/Poitras/Locmelis/Beecher develops into a top 6C....which is asking quite a lot...unless you can grab a similar struggling guy to Zacha, not sure who that person could be.

 

[Lobster57]

Really just have to hope one of Harrison/Merkulov/Poitras/Locmelis/Beecher develops into a top 6C....which is asking quite a lot...unless you can grab a similar struggling guy to Zacha, not sure who that person could be.

looks like a safe bet that Beecher won't be a top 6 guy.

 

[NDiesel]

looks like a safe bet that Beecher won't be a top 6 guy.

Most likely 4th liner, but hey development isn't always linear so there is a far outside chance...the other's listed have a bit more offense and likely a better chance to contribute in the top 6.

 

[Lobster57]

Most likely 4th liner, but hey development isn't always linear so there is a far outside chance...the other's listed have a bit more offense and likely a better chance to contribute in the top 6.

yep, i'm holding out hope that Beecher turns into a stud bottom six centre, his size and speed are a rare combination even if he never produces big offensive numbers. He could be a great PK guy for years and a forechecking demon

 

[KrejciMVP]

need lotto picks and a rebuild to get to the stage NJ is at now

 

[ON3M4N]

need lotto picks and a rebuild to get to the stage NJ is at now

Soooo 8-10 years of being a cellar dweller.

 

[Jorah Marshmont]

Zacha is the only answer

 

[the negotiator]

yep, i'm holding out hope that Beecher turns into a stud bottom six centre, his size and speed are a rare combination even if he never produces big offensive numbers. He could be a great PK guy for years and a forechecking demon

Beecher could be slotted to replace Nosek who is a UFA...Beecher is big, fast and most importantly cheap

with the salary cap crunch ..unless they find a way to off- load several contracts expect to see a number of minimum salary guys filling out the roster.

i totally respect management for going all in this year ...it was a good gamble that didn't work and now we pay the price without the reward...such is sports

 

[KrejciMVP]

Soooo 8-10 years of being a cellar dweller.

what goes up must come down and vice versa

 

[Over the volcano]

Crazy that they haven’t been able to develop a Center in all these years .

They've been stacked at C - no where to develop to or reason to develop for.

Would love to see PLD come in but don't think it's realistic that they sign anyone on big $ and term deals

 

[BigBadBruins7708]

PLD is probably the cheapest one to get. Also a great choice. Big, physical, near PPG and only 24.

He's an RFA so may have to be a sign and trade (Gryz + 1st?) or bite the bullet and make a crazy offer sheet

 

[Mad Dr Pepper]

Bergeron

 

[Deal Law]

PLD is probably the cheapest one to get. Also a great choice. Big, physical, near PPG and only 24.

He's an RFA so may have to be a sign and trade (Gryz + 1st?) or bite the bullet and make a crazy offer sheet

Which 1st? 2025? that's our next one. We also can't make a crazy offer sheet because we don't have any of our own picks with which to make it.

 

[KnightofBoston]

Auston Matthews is a free agent coming up next season too

tell you what, my biggest criticism of the leafs was that mathews isnt a big game guy but he took that step this season

dont think the bruins can afford a 15 million dollar contract tho lolol

Soooo 8-10 years of being a cellar dweller.

meh, that's what they said after 2015/16. One game away from a cup 3 years later.

After that? it's over. Covid f***ed us up. But, still, a few years later and they're setting NHL records. The end wasn't what we wanted, but the team was clearly good

bruins will be better than people expect next year and I think they can compete for a cup seriously in 2-3 years if Sweeney keeps making more good moves than bad as he's trended