Sportsnet Bruins Still in Win-Now Mode

[BostonBob]

from sportsnet.ca:

Saying good-bye to Patrice Bergeron and David Krejci might mark something different for the Boston Bruins if they were more similar to other really good teams.

Usually, when your first- and second-line centres hang ‘em up, it’s a sure sign a cohort of close-in-age players who’ve won together are ready to move on, creating a natural pivot point for an organization that needs to start again.

Duncan Keith, Patrick Kane and Jonathan Toews, more or less, came to the end of the road with the Chicago Blackhawks around the same point. When Sidney Crosby, Evgeni Malkin and Kris Letang are done chasing Cups, the Penguins can kick off a rebuild by trading Erik Karlsson ahead of the final year on his contract.

Even in Tampa Bay, Steven Stamkos, Victor Hedman and Nikita Kucherov are all within three years of each other.

The record-setting Bruins from last year are a different beast, though. Their No. 1 centre — Bergeron — was 37 years old. But top winger David Pastrnak just turned 27 in May and stud D-man Charlie McAvoy won’t hit 26 until Christmas. Both are locked up on massive, long-term contracts.

Yes, there’s a gaping hole up the middle in Boston now, but this team is going to keep the pedal pinned to the floor in win-now mode.

And pin it, they should.


Full story: www.sportsnet.ca/nhl/article/a-different-beast-bruins-still-in-win-now-mode-even-without-bergeron-krejci/

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[smithformeragent]

They don’t have a choice.

They traded their picks away for one last kick at the can, so there’s little incentive to bottom out.

However, if things really go sideways, they still have a few moveable pieces they can deal in order to recoup some draft capital.

 

[Absurdity]

They will be like last year's Kings.

 

[KillerMillerTime]

They don’t have a choice.

They traded their picks away for one last kick at the can, so there’s little incentive to bottom out.

However, if things really go sideways, they still have a few moveable pieces they can deal in order to recoup some draft capital.

They can still retain their '24 #1 pick as its top 10 protected. Its unlikely they will fall off that much but its not unthinkable they could have the 10th worst record in the league if they get hit with injuries to Ullmark and one of McAvoy\Lindholm.

 

[DarrenBanks56]

They will be like last year's Kings.

they have waaaaay better goaltending than last years kings

 

[Absurdity]

they have waaaaay better goaltending than last years kings

I think more in terms of direction, not selling/buying, if a trade is to be made, make it, otherwise try to make the playoffs with a younger core so that they can build experience.

 

[Dellstrom]

They don’t have a choice.

They traded their picks away for one last kick at the can, so there’s little incentive to bottom out.

However, if things really go sideways, they still have a few moveable pieces they can deal in order to recoup some draft capital.

Yup. We wont have a pick before pick #100 unless I’m reading the site wrong. You have to go for it, at least this year. Not sure anyone expects them to contend but would be nice to see them at least develop some players and make some noise.

Center is a massive void but we have two top 10 forwards (and arguably the #1 winger), 2 top 10 defensemen (one top 5) and two of the best goaltenders from last year. Depth will be a struggle unless some of our players and prospects step up but this is easily a playoff team.

 

[DKH]

I’d like to see Bruins start playoffs on road - limited pressure

I hope Sweeney waits on getting a center (if they need one) till at least after Black Friday

No need for another opening night roster with basically a full roster

 

[DaStinger]

If you consider wildcard to be win-now then I guess.

 

[PlayMakers]

I agree with the premise, the infrastructure of this team is still very strong; Pasta, Marchand and DeBrusk on the wings, Zacha and Coyle are strong middle6 centers, McAvoy, Lindholm, Carlo, Gryz are an elite defense, Ullmark and Swayman are the best goalie tandem in the league and a Jack Adams winning coach.

BUT, I would be very surprised if the Bruins move Swayman, Grzelcyk, Lysell, etc., not just in trade but to free up cap. It's too much.

What I could see, is Scheifele or Lindholm (if he's still a pending UFA), being considered at the trade deadline. They would only need around $1.3m in cap space to fit those pro-rated contracts in. That alone keeps a lot of valuable role players on the team instead of being dumped as cap casualties.

 

[Aussie Bruin]

The Bruins are in a transition year. They have a compromised roster because of what was done last season (no judgment, just an acknowledgement of reality), but nonetheless their best course of action in the first instance is to 'go for it', because they are not yet in a position where a proper re-tool or restructure is possible and they still have some solid pieces in place. They'll start the season with the intention of contending again and then see what happens. If things are looking good, Sweeney can try and make an add or two before the deadline and see how they fare. If it goes badly, then we start to look at what assets might be worth moving in-season to bolster our futures, if its somewhere in the middle we can simply stand pat and wait until the cap situation improves in the '24 offseason.

Boston's never going to go for a full rebuild, nor do they really need to with the core pieces they still have, but other than that they will have options as to how management want to proceed in the medium-longer term. But those options will only properly manifest once the upcoming season is over and the Bs can settle the books and take stock of their draft situation. In the meantime they float and have a crack this year, see how it all shakes out and find out who excels and who doesn't in a team that will not have quite the same star-power and experience as recent times.