The problem with trading DeBrusk to fix the hole at no. 2 RW is that it would create just as big of a hole at no. 2 LW.
Yeah but it would have to be part of a larger shakeup. They aren’t just moving DeBrusk and saying the offseason is over. Bruins clearly with lots of fires in the burner right now looking for a shakeup.
What isn’t clear is what direction they are going. Are they trying to go for it all the way now and use some of the young talent to add more proven guys? Are they trying to just move chairs around to change the make up of the team? Are they trying to move out guys like they did with Hamilton and Lucic and strike on the 2020 draft to try to have more young talent come up when Pasta and McAvoy hit their prime? Are guys like Krejci or Rask low key in the table as well? Are they going to make a run at AP or Hall?
Who the f*** knows.
We do know that both Sweeney and Neely noted at the end of season press conferences that they needed more offense from the blue line, even if it meant sacrificing some defense. We all assumed that meant “bye bye Chara”...but maybe it means “bye bye Carlo”. We also know they both said that the playoffs were different than the regular season and that they needed the ability in the forward group to “get inside more” and get more dirty goals...also goes the other way. Tampa scored most of their goals on tips and deflections.
So my guess is they want to move away from having three smurfs in the D group (even if Krug and Clifton don’t play like smurfs), they want to add guys that can get their shot thru on the blue line, and they want to add size to the group up front.
I just hope that last statement doesn’t lead us into another Backes, Beleksey, Hayes type move.
What wasn’t clear is if they are going for it, retooling or some magical hybrid half measure approach. They only said they had to be brutally honest.
Now...looping this all back to DeBrusk. It’s clear that the team thinks DeBrusk has more to offer. He is inconsistent with finish and inconsistent with his skating game and inconsistent with getting into dirty areas. Is part of the team being brutally honest not wanting to give him a contract based on projection because they want to win now? Plausible. Could also be a negotiating strategy to push him into a bridge deal. Could also be a “well, if we sign Hall or do other deal X, moving DeBrusk makes sense for other reasons.”
Hard to say with so much up in the air. Only thing that is certain is that this is Sweeney’s biggest offseason since 2015, one he did not do well with, and his job will ultimately be tied to what this offseason accomplishes.
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