The Athletic - Boston Fluto: Bruins trade tiers: Who’s movable and who’s untouchable

[Fenway]

Don Sweeney is making and taking phone calls. The Bruins general manager is anxious to deal to improve his aging roster.

Sweeney’s challenge is to obtain value for players who aren’t necessarily among the trade market’s leaders. It’s one thing, for example, for Toronto to receive a first-rounder from Pittsburgh as part of a package for 24-year-old Kasperi Kapanen (36 points, $3.2 million average annual value). Whether a similar market exists for 24-year-old Anders Bjork (19 points, $1.6 million) remains to be seen.

Following are the tiers for 34 players in the organization. They’re classified by six categories of calls Sweeney would have with his fellow GMs.

1. Don’t bother calling

W Brad Marchand
D Charlie McAvoy
W David Pastrnak

2. Make it fast, I’m hanging up soon

C John Beecher
C/W Jack Studnicka
G Jeremy Swayman

3. I’ll listen, but I’m not really listening

C Patrice Bergeron
C/W Charlie Coyle
G Jaroslav Halak
G Tuukka Rask

4. Let’s talk business

W Anders Bjork
W Anton Blidh
D Connor Clifton
C Trent Frederic
D Steve Kampfer
G Kyle Keyser
W Karson Kuhlman
C Jakub Lauko
D Jeremy Lauzon
D John Moore
W Zach Senyshyn
C/W Oskar Steen
D Urho Vaakanainen
G Dan Vladar
W Chris Wagner
D Jakub Zboril

5. All ears if you’ve got a serious hockey deal

D Brandon Carlo
W Jake DeBrusk
D Matt Grzelcyk
W Ondrej Kase
W Nick Ritchie

6. Call back near the deadline

C David Krejci
C/W Sean Kuraly
C/W Par Lindholm

Click to read more...

 

[since76]

The let’s talk business is very poor....in value

 

[Dr Hook]

I wonder how Fluto splits up categories 4 and 5? Category 4 are players that we move in a non-serious deal? Like Lauko for your assistant trainer or Kampfer for a new sound bar for the lounge TV? I suppose this IS a pretty big step up from his last entry about faceoffs, though.

 

[NJ Bruin]

How Bergeron isn't in the first tier is beyond me.

 

[Gonzothe7thDman]

Why is Debrusk and Ritchie in the same tier?

 

[Blowfish]

The let’s talk business is very poor....in value

Not a bad job by the food critic and agree the "let's talk business" is very poor.

Bergeron is the only puzzling thing.

 

[BigBadBruins7708]

How Bergeron isn't in the first tier is beyond me.

removing the laundry and looking objectively.

aging center who cant stay healthy only playing 64, 65, 61 games the last 3 seasons. 2 weak playoffs by his standards the past 2 seasons as well.

Now, obviously you never trade Bergeron, come hell or high water he retires a Bruin. But just thinking what an outsider would say on the situation. Basically, the Belichick evaluation of an aging player

 

[bp13]

I think he's wrong on Rask. I don't think for a second DS wouldn't listen on him. In fact I bet he's calling.

And the Bergeron thing is silly. Nobody would bother to call on him and DS would have to be overpaid triple to move the guy. He's a legend and still a top 3 player on the team.

 

[Gordon Lightfoot]

You can't have Beecher, but let's talk Bergeron.

 

[Ratty]

Just one person’s opinion. No more value than what we read from informed HF posters.

 

[BruinDust]

Who is this Fluto? Is he the same guy who thinks face-offs should go the way of the dodo bird?

 

[Gordoff]

Who is this Fluto? Is he the same guy who thinks face-offs should go the way of the dodo bird?

Yes...

 

[DangleCity]

What a ridiculous list

 

[JCRO]

Is Fluto imploding? Never thought his pieces were that *out there. But these last few have been...Yikes.

 

[stungun54]

i could come up with a better list. does he get paid to write trade proposals on HF....hahah

 

[RoccoF14]

What a ridiculous list

If Wayne Gretzky can be traded then anyone can be traded.

This is a silly column.

 

[LouJersey]

I think he's wrong on Rask. I don't think for a second DS wouldn't listen on him. In fact I bet he's calling.

And the Bergeron thing is silly. Nobody would bother to call on him and DS would have to be overpaid triple to move the guy. He's a legend and still a top 3 player on the team.

They said all the right things at the time, but I could see them dealing him...They have honestly never seemed to be his biggest fans.

 

[Bruinaura]

I have an idea!!!

Let's do away with general managers, and let the beat writers handle all the trades!!

Would anyone like to pay me after reading this fine idea????

 

[KrejciMVP]

I think only Pastrnak would make my list

 

[bp13]

I think only Pastrnak would make my list

Really? I feel like Marchand is twice the overall player.

 

[KrejciMVP]

Really? I feel like Marchand is twice the overall player.

he's great but I'd deal the older players if the right deal came along

 

[LouJersey]

The "Let's Talk Business" group looks like items in a scratch and dent sale.

 

[Dr Hook]

The "Let's Talk Business" group looks like items in a scratch and dent sale.

It's the sort of group you made available for the 2000 NHL expansion draft

 

[TheReal13Linseman]

I’m definitely listening if someone calls about Rask.

Ritchie, he’s in a column all by himself: “Building 19: Good Stuff Cheap“

 

[Baddkarma]

Why is Debrusk and Ritchie in the same tier?

SO TRUE!!!!