BruinDust
Registered User
- Aug 2, 2005
- 24,485
- 22,159
Because I think McQ is a rapidly depreciating asset not worth the $2.875M we're paying him and that I'd rather see Lauzon and Zboril up to replace McQ and Holden.
Well we don't even know if either are even ready for the NHL, and neither are going to be in Boston next year as the 7th and 8th D-men the way it projects that the entire Top 6 will now be back next year. Then factor in both are left-shot guys (it matters). If there are injuries on the left-side (and there will be), they'll get a chance then to show what they can do, same as Gryz did this year.
McQuaid is a "rapidly depreciating asset"? On the vast majority of NHL teams, he's an everyday player. Just so happens he plays on a team with a lot of good D-men who also play the right side. His best NHL season was last year, he's been solid this year. He's not exactly old, and he's improved both his skating and puck-movement to be able to compete in this very fast NHL.
Not worth the 2.875? Maybe for his role I would agree. But unless they have a purpose for that cap space next year (he's a UFA the following summer when they will need his cap space), what difference does it make? Unused cap space doesn't help win hockey games. Bruins also have essentially no depth in the system in right-shot D-men, unless you want another "Postma-level" guy in that spot.
Bruins project to be a contending team again next year. Trade McQuaid in the off-season, get a middling-level asset (i.e. draft pick), then to have just go out and get another "McQuaid" at the deadline using another middling-level asset makes no sense. That's not "asset management", it's mismanagement, Bruins gain nothing at the end of the day really, and lose the services of the player for 3/4 of the season until they trade for his replacement at the deadline., when they could of used him.