Boston Bruins 2023 Off-Season CAP, Trade Rumors and Free Agent Talk

[Clint Eastwood]

This is gonna be a fascinating offseason. No idea what they're gonna do. No idea what the team is gonna look like. Hell I have no idea what I would do.

 

[Fenian24]

Do you go back to Lindholm-McAvoy as your top paring? Then one physical D on each of the bottom pairings? Still can't believe they brought in Orlov to bounce him around with a new D partner every night.

OEL-Mac
Lindholm-Gudas
Burroughs-Carlo
Mackey

 

[quietbruinfan]

OEL-Mac
Lindholm-Gudas
Burroughs-Carlo
Mackey

I cannot believe, you, of all people, want OEL. The rest I understand

 

[The don godfather]

This is gonna be a fascinating offseason. No idea what they're gonna do. No idea what the team is gonna look like. Hell I have no idea what I would do.

donny is gonna make another run watch. Book it!

 

[Matt8871]

Schenn and Burroughs, also a physical non fighter who should be cheap is Andreas Englund who is a UFA. Those are my choices to replace Forbort and Clifton.

Up front, first choice is still Lucic, followed by Austin Watson and Scott Sabourin. Woods physical play has declined steadily the past few seasons. Michael Carcone is a pain in the ass that scores in the minors and would be a decent risk to bring in and hope he becomes a better Greer. Conor Mackey would be my D version of this.

If none of that occurs I would take a chance on Claudes kid, he can go and isn't a terrible skater.

Top 4 D to replace Grizz would either be Gudas or Mayfield

Edit: missed the under 30 part but I'm not rewriting this.

This is…serious?

 

[Matt8871]

You guys are joking about wanting OEL right? Like I’m in the middle of a bad dream…horrible on ice xG%…only played 54 games…22 dzone giveaways…this is the kind of guy that gets bought out 3 years into an 8 year deal after getting traded a season out of being named captain and signing said deal with a team that could have afforded to keep his deal…

 

[Colt.45Orr]

I want Zadorov. There is a large deal to be made w Calgary, including Alberta boys (JDB and Calgary-born Hall) who won't abandon them.

 

[quietbruinfan]

I want Zadorov. There is a large deal to be made w Calgary, including Alberta boys (JDB and Calgary-born Hall) who won't abandon them.

Given Sweeney's obsession with Hanafin, and E.LIndholm possibly being available, you may be right. Do not forget Backlund either. He is definitely more of a third liner, but I have always liked him. I think the Flames re-sign Lindholm, but who knows. ...If we only had a decent pick.

 

[Matt8871]

I want Zadorov. There is a large deal to be made w Calgary, including Alberta boys (JDB and Calgary-born Hall) who won't abandon them.

Zadorov, in short, is not a good NHL player.

Why would we give up our two fastest skaters and our two clutchest playoff performers for…a tall guy???

 

[Matt8871]

Take one look at OEL’s numbers. Suddenly preaching into an abyss. I would much rather have Matt Grzelcyk’s hair doctor.

 

[MarchysNoseKnows]

Zadorov, in short, is not a good NHL player.

Why would we give up our two fastest skaters and our two clutchest playoff performers for…a tall guy???

He punches some stuff I think

 

[JoeIsAStud]

You guys are joking about wanting OEL right? Like I’m in the middle of a bad dream…horrible on ice xG%…only played 54 games…22 dzone giveaways…this is the kind of guy that gets bought out 3 years into an 8 year deal after getting traded a season out of being named captain and signing said deal with a team that could have afforded to keep his deal…

I don't know if they will be interested in OEL or not. I do know they are very likely to have 1 or quite likely 2 defensemen next season on the roster who will be on something very close to an NHL minimum contract.

So the question is who do you want to gamble on with these contracts. Do you want to go for a former very good defenseman coming off a disastrously bad season? Do you want to give it to guys who have basically topped off as a 6/7 defenseman in their career

 

[Matt8871]

I don't know if they will be interested in OEL or not. I do know they are very likely to have 1 or quite likely 2 defensemen next season on the roster who will be on something very close to an NHL minimum contract.

So the question is who do you want to gamble on with these contracts. Do you want to go for a former very good defenseman coming off a disastrously bad season? Do you want to give it to guys who have basically topped off as a 6/7 defenseman in their career

If by former good coming off a disastrously bad season you mean a player who has had 2 out of the last 3 years playing less than 60 games after a career of playing most games and a guy who has been below 50% of xG share for the past four seasons (read: he isnt coming off ONE bad season, but about 4) who got salary retained like 2 years into an 8 year deal…then maybe. But id take my chances with Zboril as our 6D or some other free agent defender. Its really not worth what this guy is going to get paid. He might get $1.5 million. Thats about .8 million too much.Its way more of a gamble with OEL than it is with someone like Zboril or Lohrei.

 

[BradMarchandismydad]

If by former good coming off a disastrously bad season you mean a player who has had 2 out of the last 3 years playing less than 60 games after a career of playing most games and a guy who has been below 50% of xG share for the past four seasons (read: he isnt coming off ONE bad season, but about 4) who got salary retained like 2 years into an 8 year deal…then maybe. But id take my chances with Zboril as our 6D or some other free agent defender. Its really not worth what this guy is going to get paid. He might get $1.5 million. Thats about .8 million too much.Its way more of a gamble with OEL than it is with someone like Zboril or Lohrei.

I agree. I'd rather develop our dmen then roll the dice on expensive guys who hit hard and can't do much else.

1 dimensional dmen don't fly anymore.

OEL would be a serviceable bottom pair dman, though. I think his deployment is just very tough and Vancouver is a defensive blackhole.

 

[dugg133]

Zadorov, in short, is not a good NHL player.

Why would we give up our two fastest skaters and our two clutchest playoff performers for…a tall guy???

Cause he’s tall… duh.

 

[Fenian24]

I cannot believe, you, of all people, want OEL. The rest I understand

You need talent and toughness, also need a bridge to hopefully Lohrei becoming a top 4, OEL can still pass, has good vision and can move the puck, for 1m he is a no risk addition

 

[Fenian24]

If by former good coming off a disastrously bad season you mean a player who has had 2 out of the last 3 years playing less than 60 games after a career of playing most games and a guy who has been below 50% of xG share for the past four seasons (read: he isnt coming off ONE bad season, but about 4) who got salary retained like 2 years into an 8 year deal…then maybe. But id take my chances with Zboril as our 6D or some other free agent defender. Its really not worth what this guy is going to get paid. He might get $1.5 million. Thats about .8 million too much.Its way more of a gamble with OEL than it is with someone like Zboril or Lohrei.

I really don't care about xg% or any advanced analytics. Zboril is not an NHL D man 8 years post draft, no reason to think that will change. If you want to ruin Lohrei you put him in the lineup this year, you want him to MAYBE be an NHL D someday you give him a year in Providence with a good vet D partner

 

[quietbruinfan]

You need talent and toughness, also need a bridge to hopefully Lohrei becoming a top 4, OEL can still pass, has good vision and can move the puck, for 1m he is a no risk addition

In theory I get it of course, but Oel is about as tough as a whipped dog. I am still surprised you support it. Kudos for having an open mind. It's weird, I am probably the biggest proponent of finesse d and play here, and you love toughness, and the shoe is on the other foot for both of us I think. For example,I am now willing to acknowledge the need for at least a Gudas Luke Schenn type.

 

[PlayMakers]

I want Zadorov. There is a large deal to be made w Calgary, including Alberta boys (JDB and Calgary-born Hall) who won't abandon them.

You and I are on the same wavelength lately. I literally watched 10 minutes of video on Zadorov yesterday. I like him because not only is he a guy who can eliminate players with open ice hits but he’s become a good goal scorer which our D lacks.

Hanifin is probably the guy Sweeney wants, but Zadorov fills a few needs.

 

[GordonHowe]

You guys are joking about wanting OEL right? Like I’m in the middle of a bad dream…horrible on ice xG%…only played 54 games…22 dzone giveaways…this is the kind of guy that gets bought out 3 years into an 8 year deal after getting traded a season out of being named captain and signing said deal with a team that could have afforded to keep his deal…

To repeat: No.

Thank you.

I don't want another softie on the blue line.

Let someone else pick up his contract.

I agree with Evan and Conor per Bruce Cassidy.

Also, Conor says:

A. Go big on the back end.

B. Go speed on the front end.

Sounds like a plan,

 

[Colt.45Orr]

Zadorov, in short, is not a good NHL player.

Why would we give up our two fastest skaters and our two clutchest playoff performers for…a tall guy???

No, I meant there is a larger deal to be made with Calgary and our Alberta-boy pieces for a #1C in Lindholm but I'm just saying I also want Zadorov. Z was a high draft pick for a reason (potential once he put it all together). There have been lots of growing pains over the years but he has turned into a really unique D who can be very effective when he doesn't over-extend himself.

Zadorov had TWICE as many goals as Gryz and Carlo COMBINED. That's crazy.

 

[Mainehockey33]

In theory I get it of course, but Oel is about as tough as a whipped dog. I am still surprised you support it. Kudos for having an open mind. It's weird, I am probably the biggest proponent of finesse d and play here, and you love toughness, and the shoe is on the other foot for both of us I think. For example,I am now willing to acknowledge the need for at least a Gudas Luke Schenn type.

I think they need both a finesse type and a Neanderthal back there. If they trade Grizz then it makes sense to get a stop gap before Lohrei is ready. I also agree we need a punishing D like Gudas on the bottom pair that can clear the front of the net. Basically upgrading Grizz and Forbort to players that can perform in the playoffs. I’m not saying OEL will perform either but for a no risk contract it’s like signing Stralman.

 

[UncleRico]

Only way I would want OEL on the roster is if the team was going with a 2015 retool type year and they grabbed a few one year rentals and maybe a couple surprise and do well. But it would have to be on a situations where if things went sideways they could be moved for picks at the deadline.

Don’t see that happening though

 

[Matt8871]

I really don't care about xg% or any advanced analytics. Zboril is not an NHL D man 8 years post draft, no reason to that will change. If you want to ruin Lohrei you put him in the lineup this year, you want him to MAYBE be an NHL D someday you give him a year in Providence with a good vet D partnet

We know you dont. And I dont care that you think Kyle Burroughs will solve any of our issues. Zboril is a year removed from an ACL surgery where he couldn’t get into a lineup with 6 defenseman better than he was. Lindholm, Mac, Carlo, Orlov, Gryz, Clifton (righty) were the 6 better. If he stays he will play and he will he solid. Mark my words. I’ve played hockey, analyzed hockey, and importantly have watched far more than most people on this forum. Lohrei should not be rushed, but if he was hes still better than OEL. OEL is a net negative and does not belong on a team trying to win anything.

 

[Fenian24]

We know you dont. And I dont care that you think Kyle Burroughs will solve any of our issues. Zboril is a year removed from an ACL surgery where he couldn’t get into a lineup with 6 defenseman better than he was. Lindholm, Mac, Carlo, Orlov, Gryz, Clifton (righty) were the 6 better. If he stays he will play and he will he solid. Mark my words. I’ve played hockey, analyzed hockey, and importantly have watched far more than most people on this forum. Lohrei should not be rushed, but if he was hes still better than OEL. OEL is a net negative and does not belong on a team trying to win anything.

Let's say neither Zboril, who is 26 and has played 76 total NHL games, or OEL are very good options. Burroughs at a million is a good bottom pair option to me because I want some D who will hit, clear the crease and drop his gloves when Swayman gets run.

I would rather have Trouba, Gudas, Zadarov, Middleton, Dillion, Murphy and a host of others over OEL, Grizz, Burroughs or Forbort but none of those players are coming for a million dollar cap hit like a Burroughs, Englund or Mackey.

I've watched and played a little hockey in the past 55 years too. I may have a type of player I like more than others but I base it on watching those players not analytics, reason my number 1 D free agent to add is Gudas then Soucy.