If Boston loses to Florida, SHOULD they blow it up?

[WarriorofTime]

Note the question, not "WILL" they blow it up, which is a very different question, but should they? They obviously got very close to winning the whole thing in 2019 (lost in Game 7 at home as a favorite to St. Louis)

Since then:

2019-20: Lost second round to Lightning (4-1)
2020-21: Lost second round to Islanders (4-2)
2021-22: Lost first round to Hurricanes (4-3)
2022-23: Lost first round to Panthers (4-3)

Notable retirements: Zdeno Chara, David Krejci, Tuuka Rask, Patrice Bergeron

Brad Marchand turns 36 years old tomorrow (May 11th).

Right now the series with Florida is FAR from over. Obviously if they come back, they should not do anything from a blow it up standpoint.. However, if Florida ultimately does prevail, is the writing on the wall that Boston's sustained period of contention is over? In which case, should they make an attempt to salvage what they can from an asset perspective, or keep riding it out as far as it'll go?

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[Kimota]

I mean they were one of the best teams this year. They have the team concept down, a culture that most teams would love to have. They just need scoring depth.

They probably need to do a big coup to give them the depth to go further in the playoffs.

 

[Gizmo Tkachuk]

Wonder what the Ullmark trade would’ve been with LA

 

[WarriorofTime]

I mean they were one of the best teams this year. They have the team concept down, a culture that most teams would love to have. They just need scoring depth.

They probably need to do a big coup to give them the depth to go further in the playoffs.

Their only real play is to trade Ullmark for that sort of of thing.. but goalie trade market is notoriously not great. Everyone knows you are trading from a place of relative weakness because having two goaltenders is just excessive.

 

[stempniaksen]

Pasta, Marchand, McAvoy, Lindholm, Swayman aren’t going anywhere. I’m not sure shuffling the deck chairs below then them is considered blowing it up. I would imagine there’s going to be some changes but nothing that would be considered major outside of moving on from Ullmark and maybe losing DeBrusk.

So no, not a blow-up. Maybe a reset but this is still one of the better regular season teams over the last few years who have a good to great core and pretty good coaching. I do think they’ll have to do something at the Center position but with an asset like Ullmark available maybe there’s a fit for a hockey trade.

 

[Over the volcano]

What's to blow up?

Trade Marchand, Pastrnak, Swayman or McAvoy... nope.

This was supposed to be a transition year and it is.

Bunch of cap space next year, good young core developing, they're killing the retool.

 

[who_me?]

Yes.

Tim Thomas won them their last Cup. Chara, Ras, Krejci, Bergeron, Pastrnak,Marchand...are not playoff performers who will win them a Cup.

 

[GrumpyKoala]

Plenty of time during summer to discuss that. Unless you can't live in the momment.

 

[WarriorofTime]

What's to blow up?

Trade Marchand, Pastrnak, Swayman or McAvoy... nope.

This was supposed to be a transition year and it is.

Bunch of cap space next year, good young core developing, they're killing the retool.

Sorry, who is the "good young core"?

 

[Gil Gunderson]

They have a good top-10 dman in McAvoy and an incredible goalie in Swayman. It’s not like they’re Calgary.

 

[DitchMarner]

I think they'll be like Tampa now: not as good as they were but good enough to challenge for a spot in the playoffs and possibly scare some teams. Both teams have lost good players but still have some of their top guys.

FLA may dominate the Atlantic for a while. BOS and TB have declined and teams like BUF, DET and OTT still haven't gotten to the playoffs with their current cores. Who knows if TOR will ever figure it out for the playoffs.

 

[JoeSakic13]

Yes - Colorado will take that bum Swayman off your hands.

 

[Over the volcano]

Sorry, who is the "good young core"?

Swayman 25, McAvoy 25, Pastrnak27, Lorhei 22 to start.

Poitras 22, Frederic 25, Zacha 25, Brazzeau 26, behind em. . .

 

[Ratsreign]

Man, it’s only 2 games to 1 currently. What are we doing here?

 

[WarriorofTime]

Swayman 25, McAvoy 25, Pastrnak27, Lorhei 22 to start.

Poitras 22, Frederic 25, Zacha 25, Brazzeau 26, behind em. . .

So either not young or not good or an intersection when discussing 22 year old depth players?

 

[BB79]

it's already imploding so might as well. We had a good core but they're all gone, time to move on

Man, it’s only 2 games to 1 currently. What are we doing here?

C'mon, stop pretending you don't see the writing on the wall

 

[Over the volcano]

So either not young or not good or an intersection when discussing 22 year old depth players?

Some teams think you need to be horrible for 5-10 years to draft top 10 and hope you can rebuild from there.
Some teams don't.

Chicago is a good example of the former.
Boston is a good example of the latter.

Only one of em is in the second round and playing above their heads

 

[Nothingbutglass]

So either not young or not good or an intersection when discussing 22 year old depth players?

They havent had picks. Thats a decent core with cap space to add and we need to draft well.

 

[Ratsreign]

it's already imploding so might as well. We had a good core but they're all gone, time to move on


C'mon, stop pretending you don't see the writing on the wall

Idk, nothing is guaranteed. Things break the Bs way Sunday and it becomes a best of three.

 

[RiverbottomChuck]

Yes.

Tim Thomas won them their last Cup. Chara, Ras, Krejci, Bergeron, Pastrnak,Marchand...are not playoff performers who will win them a Cup.

Interesting take

 

[WarriorofTime]

Some teams think you need to be horrible for 5-10 years to draft top 10 and hope you can rebuild from there.
Some teams don't.

Chicago is a good example of the former.
Boston is a good example of the latter.

One of em is still playing

Ok now, let's relax 1 Cup in 50 years... I'm not a personification of the Chicago Blackhawks.

 

[Over the volcano]

Ok now, let's relax 1 Cup in 50 years... I'm not a personification of the Chicago Blackhawks.

It's just a discussion of philosophy. Boston isn't looking to blow anything up, they're retooling while remaining competitive and taking some real legit shots at the cup (like last year).

 

[BB79]

Idk, nothing is guaranteed. Things break the Bs way Sunday and it becomes a best of three.

I'm basing on what I saw the last 2 games. They're not going to be able to hang. Maybe they decide to play hockey out of the gate and steal a game at best. Win 3 more? Extremely doubtful.

 

[WarriorofTime]

They havent had picks. Thats a decent core with cap space to add and we need to draft well.

Yeah, the core is what it is, but I wouldn't call it "young" considering they're all UFA age.

It's just a discussion of philosophy. Boston isn't looking to blow anything up, they're retooling while remaining competitive and taking some real legit shots at the cup (like last year).

Don't understand why you brought the Blackhawks into discussion.. just seemed like a deflection.

 

[Over the volcano]

Yeah, the core is what it is, but I wouldn't call it "young" considering they're all UFA age.


Don't understand why you brought the Blackhawks into discussion.. just seemed like a deflection.

Don't think any of the guys I mentioned are UFAs