The Athletic - Boston Neely: "We have to be as brutally honest as possible"

[Aussie Bruin]

I wonder if "change" might involve moving Krejci, bumping Coyle up to 2C, and handing the 3C job to Studnicka.

I mean... I love DK46, but he's got a $7.25 million cap number, he's got one year left on his deal, and he only has a limited no trade clause in his contract.

Depending on what they got back in return, moving Krejci's money could open up a lot of possibilities. Taylor Hall, perhaps?

If Coyle is our 2C next season then IMO they can kiss their Cup chances goodbye before the year has even started. I like Coyle, he's been a great pickup for the Bruins, probably Sweeney's best acquisition to date. Fantastic puck-winning skills and ability to maintain possession, excellent defensively, strong body. But his play-making and passing skills just aren't elite and I don't think they're good enough for a 2nd line on a Cup contender. He's a clear step down from Krejci in that crucial regard, even now. They could staple Panarin to his left wing and I still don't think it would be enough. He's much better suited to a real grunt, checking line that can take advantage of match ups against weaker opposing lines, not trying to drive a line that needs to produce serious points. Let's not turn a strength into a potential weakness.

 

[member 96824]

If they aren't 100% sure they are going to go all in to compete this season Krejci @50% retained would give us a really nice futures package.

I think somewhere in between what Hall, Zucker, and Toffoli got personally.

 

[sarge88]

If Coyle is our 2C next season then IMO they can kiss their Cup chances goodbye before the year has even started. I like Coyle, he's been a great pickup for the Bruins, probably Sweeney's best acquisition to date. Fantastic puck-winning skills and ability to maintain possession, excellent defensively, strong body. But his play-making and passing skills just aren't elite and I don't think they're good enough for a 2nd line on a Cup contender. He's a clear step down from Krejci in that crucial regard, even now. They could staple Panarin to his left wing and I still don't think it would be enough. He's much better suited to a real grunt, checking line that can take advantage of match ups against weaker opposing lines, not trying to drive a line that needs to produce serious points. Let's not turn a strength into a potential weakness.

The beauty of Coyle is that he's better than 90% of the 3C's out there, giving them a leg up in most games.

Shoehorning him into the 2C role is the same mistake they are making with JDB.

Get Krejci at least one elite winger --- put JDB with Coyle and they are legit contenders again.

 

[remer]

I think you will see Krug gone, Krejci traded and Chara given a contract where he can still play but sparingly.
The Bruins will look to revamp the 2nd line and bring in a top Left Defenseman.
Smaller players like Kase, Bjork, Kuhlman, Grez and Clifton will be given limited opportunity and some likely traded.

 

[Aussie Bruin]

The beauty of Coyle is that he's better than 90% of the 3C's out there, giving them a leg up in most games.

Shoehorning him into the 2C role is the same mistake they are making with JDB.

Get Krejci at least one elite winger --- put JDB with Coyle and they are legit contenders again.

My thoughts exactly!

 

[bp13]

I wonder if "change" might involve moving Krejci, bumping Coyle up to 2C, and handing the 3C job to Studnicka.

I mean... I love DK46, but he's got a $7.25 million cap number, he's got one year left on his deal, and he only has a limited no trade clause in his contract.

Depending on what they got back in return, moving Krejci's money could open up a lot of possibilities. Taylor Hall, perhaps?

Years ago I'd have signed onto this, but Krejci was the same dominant playoff Krejci we'd seen in earlier years. IMO he was the best forward besides Marchand all playoffs. At $7.25m, he's on a pretty decent deal actually. Think I'd far prefer to keep him, unless the return was hard to turn down.

 

[NeelyDan]

If Coyle is our 2C next season then IMO they can kiss their Cup chances goodbye before the year has even started. I like Coyle, he's been a great pickup for the Bruins, probably Sweeney's best acquisition to date. Fantastic puck-winning skills and ability to maintain possession, excellent defensively, strong body. But his play-making and passing skills just aren't elite and I don't think they're good enough for a 2nd line on a Cup contender. He's a clear step down from Krejci in that crucial regard, even now. They could staple Panarin to his left wing and I still don't think it would be enough. He's much better suited to a real grunt, checking line that can take advantage of match ups against weaker opposing lines, not trying to drive a line that needs to produce serious points. Let's not turn a strength into a potential weakness.

This is such a terrific post. Spot on.

 

[Gator Mike]

If Coyle is our 2C next season then IMO they can kiss their Cup chances goodbye before the year has even started. I like Coyle, he's been a great pickup for the Bruins, probably Sweeney's best acquisition to date. Fantastic puck-winning skills and ability to maintain possession, excellent defensively, strong body. But his play-making and passing skills just aren't elite and I don't think they're good enough for a 2nd line on a Cup contender. He's a clear step down from Krejci in that crucial regard, even now. They could staple Panarin to his left wing and I still don't think it would be enough. He's much better suited to a real grunt, checking line that can take advantage of match ups against weaker opposing lines, not trying to drive a line that needs to produce serious points. Let's not turn a strength into a potential weakness.

I'm not saying Coyle could step in for DK46 seamlessly. I agree - he's not an ideal 2C. And I love DK and and what's he done for this organization. He's one of the most underrated Bruins of all-time in my opinion.

But reading between the lines....

• Sweeney's making noise about potentially being players in free agency if they can make roster changes.
• In order to be players in free agency, they're going to have to move a significant amount of salary.
• Most of the players on the roster with significant salaries either have No Trade or No Movement clauses or they're guys you don't really want to move. (Pastrnak, McAvoy)
• Neely says that they have a lot of players whose careers are winding down, and they have to be brutally honest when they assess their own roster.
• Studnicka is an NHL-ready prospect who plays DK's position.

I'm just saying, if they get offered significant futures for DK, they have to consider it. Yes, moving from Krejci and Coyle as your middle six centers to Coyle and Studnicka is a downgrade. But at some point, you gain enough additional assets - cap space, draft picks, prospects, etc. - to make that downgrade worth it in other areas. Especially when you consider that Krejci only has one more year left on his contract.

 

[member 96824]

If Coyle is our 2C next season then IMO they can kiss their Cup chances goodbye before the year has even started.

I feel the same way about Gryz being our #1 LD or any of the internal RW options being #2 RW.

 

[rocketdan9]

If Kuraly is core, your core is done.

What? Kuraly is an important part of the Bruins. He is only 27

You saw the lack of zip when he went out after game 2. He is also a top rated PK in the league.

Yes he is not a stat performer. But thats like saying Boone Jenner is not a stat performer ..... we all know how valuable he is to that CBJ team

 

[Aussie Bruin]

I'm not saying Coyle could step in for DK46 seamlessly. I agree - he's not an ideal 2C. And I love DK and and what's he done for this organization. He's one of the most underrated Bruins of all-time in my opinion.

But reading between the lines....

• Sweeney's making noise about potentially being players in free agency if they can make roster changes.
• In order to be players in free agency, they're going to have to move a significant amount of salary.
• Most of the players on the roster with significant salaries either have No Trade or No Movement clauses or they're guys you don't really want to move. (Pastrnak, McAvoy)
• Neely says that they have a lot of players whose careers are winding down, and they have to be brutally honest when they assess their own roster.
• Studnicka is an NHL-ready prospect who plays DK's position.

I'm just saying, if they get offered significant futures for DK, they have to consider it. Yes, moving from Krejci and Coyle as your middle six centers to Coyle and Studnicka is a downgrade. But at some point, you gain enough additional assets - cap space, draft picks, prospects, etc. - to make that downgrade worth it in other areas. Especially when you consider that Krejci only has one more year left on his contract.

I agree with a lot of your reasoning here and I also agree that moving Krejci could potentially benefit the Bruins long-term, as long as they get good value out of it.

But my point essentially is that if Krejci is traded then we know management have given up on the old, existing core winning another Cup, because in the short term you're left with a 2C that almost certainly isn't good enough for a serious Cup bid, whether that's Coyle who won't quite cut it, or Studnicka who's not yet ready for that level of responsibility.

If they choose to go for the full rebuild now then so be it, as long as they do it properly, but I personally think the current core have got one shot left and they can support and boost that without compromising their future prospects too much. But we'll just have to wait and see which road they choose to take.

 

[Aussie Bruin]

I feel the same way about Gryz being our #1 LD or any of the internal RW options being #2 RW.

I could just barely accept Kase as our 2RW if the LW is an absolute stud and 2018 Ducks Kase turns up for the Bruins. But nobody else on the current roster.

 

[Dennis Bonvie]

just have a massive fire sale on anyone over 23 and only take picks and prospects in return. Call up a bunch of Providence kids and go for it

At my age, during a pandemic, I say no to that crap.

 

[mjhfb]

As great as they are, no more cup runs without addressing center ice. Playing center is a very demanding position. I'll say it again, is there another team with a #1C over 35 years old, with chronic groin problems?

 

[JerseyBruin]

I agree with a lot of your reasoning here and I also agree that moving Krejci could potentially benefit the Bruins long-term, as long as they get good value out of it.

But my point essentially is that if Krejci is traded then we know management have given up on the old, existing core winning another Cup, because in the short term you're left with a 2C that almost certainly isn't good enough for a serious Cup bid, whether that's Coyle who won't quite cut it, or Studnicka who's not yet ready for that level of responsibility.

If they choose to go for the full rebuild now then so be it, as long as they do it properly, but I personally think the current core have got one shot left and they can support and boost that without compromising their future prospects too much. But we'll just have to wait and see which road they choose to take.

We just witnessed Krejci disappear against TBL . I'd contend Coyle is more suited to the playoffs and even more so against teams like the Lightning/Blues. Krejci's game is not suited to the banging required in the playoffs and he certainly only slows down his wingers if they want to play uptempo. Too many are being lulled in by the numbers he put up against a smaller Hurricanes team.
I almost view him as a tweener which is certainly not what you need from a #2 Center. Time to get what you can for him instead of hearing well they brought in Hall but if they only had another winger for Krejci's other side excuses.

 

[member 96824]

What? Kuraly is an important part of the Bruins. He is only 27

You saw the lack of zip when he went out after game 2. He is also a top rated PK in the league.

Yes he is not a stat performer. But thats like saying Boone Jenner is not a stat performer ..... we all know how valuable he is to that CBJ team

Sure absolutely, I'm not saying he's not important to the team or that he's a bad player but he's not a core building block that you build your franchise around. If he is, you've got 99 problems but planning a cup parade route ain't one.

 

[BruinsFanSince94]

Being brutally honest starts at the mirror, Cameron.

Every time he wakes up, he should look in the mirror and say,

“I will not involve myself in team personnel decisions.”

he must say it 3 times.

 

[BruinsFanSince94]

If Kuraly is core, your core is done.

Thankfully, he’s not actually a core member.

 

[Dr Hook]

At my age, during a pandemic, I say no to that crap.

Of course. It was post made tongue-in-cheek in response to another satiric post. I don't want them to do it either, nor do I think they will.

 

[LouJersey]

This is such a terrific post. Spot on.

Amen, @Aussie Bruin is one of the best. 100% spot on

 

[Estlin]

Being brutally honest means accepting that the current veteran core had its last shot at Stanley Cup versus St. Louis in game 7. Break up the band and inject some new blood into the team and rebuild from there. So, goodbye to the following: Krejci, Krug, Chara and Rask.

 

[Oates2Neely]

Give Bergeron one more kick at the can. It’s already lined up perfectly, Krejci and Rask contracts expire next season. That’s almost 15m in cap space. Rebuild then.

Or... pull a Bill Belichick and ship Bergeron Krejci Rask now. Let Krug walk. Build around Pastrnak & McAvoy

 

[sarge88]

I'm not saying Coyle could step in for DK46 seamlessly. I agree - he's not an ideal 2C. And I love DK and and what's he done for this organization. He's one of the most underrated Bruins of all-time in my opinion.

But reading between the lines....

• Sweeney's making noise about potentially being players in free agency if they can make roster changes.
• In order to be players in free agency, they're going to have to move a significant amount of salary.
• Most of the players on the roster with significant salaries either have No Trade or No Movement clauses or they're guys you don't really want to move. (Pastrnak, McAvoy)
• Neely says that they have a lot of players whose careers are winding down, and they have to be brutally honest when they assess their own roster.
• Studnicka is an NHL-ready prospect who plays DK's position.

I'm just saying, if they get offered significant futures for DK, they have to consider it. Yes, moving from Krejci and Coyle as your middle six centers to Coyle and Studnicka is a downgrade. But at some point, you gain enough additional assets - cap space, draft picks, prospects, etc. - to make that downgrade worth it in other areas. Especially when you consider that Krejci only has one more year left on his contract.

I'd rather they trade Moore, Kase, Ritchie & Bjork for futures, and use that 8 Million plus the space they already have to improve via FA.

Moore - Expendable

Kase -- if they get the two wingers that I feel they need for Krejci, he doesn't fit in a 3rd line role.

Bjork - See Kase

Ritchie - Who cares if he goes


Bergeron Line

XXXX - Krejci - XXXX

JDB - Coyle - Studnicka

Kuraly - Frederic - Wagner

(Lindholm)

 

[BB88]

Give Bergeron one more kick at the can. It’s already lined up perfectly, Krejci and Rask contracts expire next season. That’s almost 15m in cap space. Rebuild then.

Or... pull a Bill Belichick and ship Bergeron Krejci Rask now. Let Krug walk. Build around Pastrnak & McAvoy

& They could do it, if for just once they'd be aggressive on the market and not go with half effort.

Half effort leads nowhere

 

[MattFromFranklin]

I'll be brutally honest too, Cam. You're not very good at your job. You and your GM have signed off on numerous decisions (free agent signings, trades, draft picks) that have hurt this franchise and contributed to the rapidly closing window. Time to break up the Old Boys Club and get some outsiders with no connection to the organization. Also, strip Sinden of his advisory role.