Line Combos: Roster overhaul in order?

UncleRico

Registered User
May 8, 2017
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The playoffs were a real challenge for Backes, so for all of his physicality and grit and gumption and intangibles...he couldn't really do much of anything on the ice.

I think it was safe to say he was terrible in the playoffs. He actually had a decent regular season after the injury but he looked incredibly slow in the playoffs. He even got sent down to the 4th line at times.
 

Colt.45Orr

Registered User
Mar 23, 2003
14,708
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Canada
I wouldn't be too shocked to see Krejci in a deal for Elias Lindholm.... probably a move that benefits both guys as Krejci would be given better wingers in Carolina (on a consistent basis) and Lindholm would be given Pastrnak.
 

Dizzay

Registered User
Jul 8, 2004
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Moncton
As sweet as it sounds to trade Krejci and Backes, I think we need to remember that the UFA market is pretty thin and none of our current roster/prospects are ready to take on #2C role as of yet. I would absolutely trade Backes for a tin of skoal and 24 beers but Krejci is a different story. Unless Krejci is going out with a prospect and we're getting a surefire #2c coming back, I think he needs to stay.
 

Blowfish

Count down ...
Jan 13, 2005
22,760
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Southwestern Ontario
As sweet as it sounds to trade Krejci and Backes, I think we need to remember that the UFA market is pretty thin and none of our current roster/prospects are ready to take on #2C role as of yet. I would absolutely trade Backes for a tin of skoal and 24 beers but Krejci is a different story. Unless Krejci is going out with a prospect and we're getting a surefire #2c coming back, I think he needs to stay.

I’m on the fence with Krejci. He’s still effective however if you can trade him you make that move while you can still get some good return. I can see the bruins giving JFK Donato or Kuraly a shot up the middle. . Maybe Frederic. I believe he goes to Carolina. Only place he and his family would waive no trade.
 

veganbruin

Registered User
Sep 20, 2013
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Boston, MA
Unless you have a replacement it doesn’t make sense to move on from Krejci. I’m a fan of his but have been clamoring to trade him since we drafted Tyler Seguin. At this point this team is a contender and unless you are upgrading we can’t afford to loose him. I’m not opposed to trading the Backes contract but I think he was an important part of turning around the leadership that had us missing the playoffs two years in a row.
 

chizzler

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Jan 11, 2006
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Unless you have a replacement it doesn’t make sense to move on from Krejci. I’m a fan of his but have been clamoring to trade him since we drafted Tyler Seguin. At this point this team is a contender and unless you are upgrading we can’t afford to loose him. I’m not opposed to trading the Backes contract but I think he was an important part of turning around the leadership that had us missing the playoffs two years in a row.
I think Backes deserves a break considering what he went through last year.
 
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Estlin

Registered User
Sep 25, 2013
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New York City
If Sweeney has a chance to trade Backes and his bad contract, then he should not hesitate to do it. He can be replaced easily, and I think that his leadership qualities are overrated.

I’d like to see Krejci moved, but a #2 center would be needed right away to replace him. (Too bad Boston didn’t draft Barzal, which would have removed that urgency.)
 

ODAAT

Registered User
Oct 17, 2006
52,172
20,203
Victoria BC
I'm giving him a mulligan.

with you there Wally, once the emotional and irrational part of my pea sized brain settled down, I`ve accepted that all that he went through this past season medically, it`s a bloody miracle he played playoff hockey.
I definitely have some concerns about how his game translates when the speed is amped up at playoff time but this was a season where he overcame a ton
 

Mainehockey33

Powerplay Specialist
Jul 15, 2011
10,225
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Even if Backes had a rough season last year due to injury, I don’t think we need him moving forward. Let’s say the Bruins sign Kovalchuk for 2 years, it would be nice to move Backes’s $6M. Guys like Heinen, Donato, or Bjork can fit right in on 3rd line RW.
 
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BruinDust

Registered User
Aug 2, 2005
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Even if Backes had a rough season last year due to injury, I don’t think we need him moving forward. Let’s say the Bruins sign Kovalchuk for 2 years, it would be nice to move Backes’s $6M. Guys like Heinen, Donato, or Bjork can fit right in on 3rd line RW.

Backes would have so much more value to this team if he was used in the middle.
 

Mainehockey33

Powerplay Specialist
Jul 15, 2011
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Backes would have so much more value to this team if he was used in the middle.

Probably, some of his best games were the times he played center. Doesn’t seem like that’s going to happen now though and while I realize he was injured last year, he’s not getting any younger.

It would have been interesting to see Backes as 3rd center instead of Nash.
 

maxl7

Registered User
Jun 14, 2017
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1,445
Backes as a 3C is perfect with me. As a 4RW or basically any RW I'm not thrilled but I like him as a player. Old school guy.
The problem with playing him at 3C is that A) the team is thin at right-shot RW and B) it potentially blocks one of our younger guys from being groomed to take Krejci/Bergeron's spot. The latter is pretty important because the team needs to start planning for one or both of those guys to be supplanted soon before age-related decline catches up. Can't depend on them both having the longevity that Chara has had.
 

zaYG

Nerevarine
Jun 29, 2012
3,468
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Santa Cruz, CA
Who plays center if we sign Nash and Kovalchuk? Re-sign Riley as a #2? Hope one of Frederic/JFK are ready? Dreger said teams were inquiring about Krejci, but you have to think the answer is "no" unless there is another deal out there being looked at for a center that we haven't heard about (I consider Tavares a LOOOOOOONG shot to sign here).

Trade for Ryan Spooner :sarcasm:
 
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Mainehockey33

Powerplay Specialist
Jul 15, 2011
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I’m not counting out Heinen for 3C yet either. The guy is on a Krejci like career trajectory. Caught fire in the AHL playoffs, came over and had a solid rookie season in the NHL. Actually Heinen scored more points his rookie year and in his playoff run with Providence, so I’d be interested to see what he looks like at center. He’s not bad defensively either.
 

zaYG

Nerevarine
Jun 29, 2012
3,468
684
Santa Cruz, CA
I’m not counting out Heinen for 3C yet either. The guy is on a Krejci like career trajectory. Caught fire in the AHL playoffs, came over and had a solid rookie season in the NHL. Actually Heinen scored more points his rookie year and in his playoff run with Providence, so I’d be interested to see what he looks like at center. He’s not bad defensively either.
Heinen was drafted as a center and I believe played a year in college as a center (might be wrong on that last point). I could definitely see him growing into a #2C role.
 
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Dr Hook

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I’m not counting out Heinen for 3C yet either. The guy is on a Krejci like career trajectory. Caught fire in the AHL playoffs, came over and had a solid rookie season in the NHL. Actually Heinen scored more points his rookie year and in his playoff run with Providence, so I’d be interested to see what he looks like at center. He’s not bad defensively either.

That would be nice- If I remember right (It was so long ago!) Bergeron played on the wing his rookie year also- right? It may just be that a try at center was always in the plans for Heinen once he learned some basics of the pro game. :dunno:
 
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CHRDANHUTCH

Registered User
Mar 4, 2002
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Auburn, Maine
That would be nice- If I remember right (It was so long ago!) Bergeron played on the wing his rookie year also- right? It may just be that a try at center was always in the plans for Heinen once he learned some basics of the pro game. :dunno:
ALSO REMEMBER, Bergeron played in Providence at 19....
 

Mainehockey33

Powerplay Specialist
Jul 15, 2011
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Heinen was drafted as a center and I believe played a year in college as a center (might be wrong on that last point). I could definitely see him growing into a #2C role.

For sure, he’s already a great playmaker so I think he’d fit the role great.

That would be nice- If I remember right (It was so long ago!) Bergeron played on the wing his rookie year also- right? It may just be that a try at center was always in the plans for Heinen once he learned some basics of the pro game. :dunno:

That’s true. I know a line of Donato-Heinen-Bjork looks like a defensive nightmare on paper, but so does Wheeler-Krejci-Ryder. I’d like to see a youthful 3rd line next year and Heinen build off an amazing rookie season. Can’t beli some still want to trade him away for a bag of chips.
 
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